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Even easier and more private than our web appUpdated January 2026
Step-by-step guide to permanently delete your Instagram account on iPhone, Android, or Desktop. Takes less than 2 minutes.
Quick Answer
Go to Settings → Account Center → Personal details → Account ownership and control → Deactivation or deletion → Delete account. Your account will be permanently deleted after 30 days.
Open the Instagram app or go to instagram.com. Tap your profile picture, then the menu icon (☰) in the top right corner.
Select Settings and privacy.
Scroll down and tap Account Center, then select Personal details.
Tap Account ownership and control, then Deactivation or deletion.
Select your Instagram account, choose Delete account, enter your password, and confirm.
Your account will be hidden immediately and permanently deleted after 30 days. You can recover it by logging back in within this period.
Before you delete
Leaving Instagram without knowing who unfollowed you? Discover the truth about your followers before deleting everything.
Check your unfollowers💡 You can download your data first: Settings → Account Center → Your information and permissions → Download your information
Instagram permanently deletes your account 30 days after you request deletion. During this period, your account is hidden but can be recovered by logging back in. After 30 days, all your data including photos, comments, likes, and followers are permanently removed and cannot be recovered.
Yes, but only within 30 days of requesting deletion. Simply log back into your account during this grace period and select 'Keep Account' when prompted. After 30 days, your account and all data are permanently deleted and cannot be recovered under any circumstances.
When you delete your Instagram account, your side of conversations disappears. However, messages you sent to others will still appear in their inbox - they just won't be able to see your profile or username anymore. Group chats will show 'Instagram User' instead of your name.
Yes, deleting the Instagram app and deleting your account are completely different. Removing the app from your phone doesn't affect your account - it remains active and others can still see your profile. To permanently remove your presence from Instagram, you must delete your account through the steps above.
Choose deactivation if you want a temporary break - your account becomes invisible but all data is preserved for when you return. Choose deletion if you want to permanently leave Instagram and remove all your data. Deactivation is reversible anytime; deletion is permanent after 30 days.
No, you need access to your account to delete it. If you forgot your password, use Instagram's 'Forgot password' feature to reset it via email or phone number. If you no longer have access to those, you'll need to go through Instagram's identity verification process.
No, deleting your Instagram account does not affect your Facebook account, even if they're linked. They are separate accounts managed independently. However, any Instagram content shared to Facebook will remain on Facebook after deletion.
Log into the specific account you want to delete, then follow the same deletion steps. If you have multiple accounts, make sure you're logged into the correct one before starting the deletion process. Check the profile picture in the top right to confirm which account is active.
Check who unfollowed you and who doesn't follow back before you delete your account.
Free • No password required • Works on iOS