How to Delete Your Instagram Account
There’s no shame in letting go of a social media platform. Burnout, privacy concerns, or just simplifying your life are valid reasons to delete your Instagram account.
Depending on which device you use to delete your Instagram account, there are a few different steps to take. In this article, we will explain how to delete your account from your computer, iPhone, and Android.
How to Delete an Instagram Account From Your Computer
There are two ways to delete your Instagram account from your computer, either with a direct link or through your account settings.
Delete an Instagram account via a direct link
- Once there, a field will appear in which you can select the reason for saying goodbye to your Instagram account. Depending on the reason, Instagram will try to retain you as a user by offering you an option to temporarily disable your account.
- If you want to proceed, log into the account you want to delete and enter your username.
- In the next step, re-enter your password. You’ll need to confirm to the platform that it’s you.
- Finally, click on the red button that indicates the following: “Permanently Delete my account.”
Delete an Instagram account via account settings
- On the Instagram desktop version, click on the three lines in the bottom left corner. Click on “Settings”.
- Inside the Settings page, click on the Meta Accounts Center.
- Underneath Account settings, click on the “Personal details” tab. On this page, press “Account ownership and control.”
- After clicking on “Deactivation or deletion” you will select the account you want to delete, and then choose a reason for deletion.
- Finally, you will re-enter your password to finalize your account deletion.
How to Delete an Instagram Account From Your Phone
To delete your Instagram accounts from your phone instead of your computer, the steps are slightly different so be sure to follow these steps.
How to delete an Instagram account from your phone (iPhone or Android)
Deleting an Instagram account from your mobile device is slightly different, as you need to submit a request via your privacy settings. To do this:
- Go to your profile, and click on the three lines in the top right corner.
- At the top of the page, click on the “Account Center” tab.
- This will show your Meta accounts center, in which you will click on “Personal details.”
- On the Personal details page, you will see your contact info, birthday, identity confirmation, and finally, account ownership control. Click on the last option. The page will look like this:
- When clicking “Deactivation or deletion”, you can choose between deactivating your account or permanently deleting the account.
- If you decide to delete your account, you will be asked the reason for deletion:
- Finally, after clicking “Continue”, you will select the account to delete and re-enter your password to continue before permanently deleting your account.
What happens when you delete your Instagram account?
Your photos, comments, followers, and profile data will disappear forever. You won’t be able to recover them. Why? Because Instagram permanently deletes this content so that it can’t be used fraudulently.
Careful! Your username will also no longer be available for use. Keep this in mind before choosing to permanently close the account.
How to Temporarily Deactivate Your Instagram Profile
Do you want to disconnect from Instagram for a few days? Instead of deleting your Instagram account, you can temporarily disable your Instagram account.
Here’s how to do it:
- You’ll need to log into the account that you want to deactivate. Access your profile and look for the option ‘Edit my profile’.
- In the lower corner of your screen, on the right, you will now see the option ‘temporarily deactivate my account’.
- Instagram will want to know the reason for your departure, so select your option. It will also try to persuade you not to leave. If you have your mindset, proceed!
- Introduce your password. The same one that you use to start the app.
- Now you’ll need to press the button with the call to action ‘Temporarily disable the account’. Confirm that you want to disable it.
How to reactivate your Instagram account
To reactivate your account if you choose to delete it permanently, it must be within 30 days of deleting your account. After 30 days your account will be deleted forever. If it is within the 30 days all you you have to do is simply log into Instagram with your old login information on either the mobile app or web browser.
If you have deactivated your account, to reactivate all you have to do is enter your log-in info, and boom you are back in!
Your Instagram account has been disable by mistake
When you try to log into your Instagram account, do you realize that it has been disabled? You may be breaking some of the rules and conditions of this social network. Instagram is very strict and if they sense a violation in this regard, they will disable your profile without prior notice.
If you believe it is a mistake, you can request that your infraction be reviewed. How?
- Open the Instagram app.
- Enter your username and password.
- Follow the instructions that will appear on the screen to submit your appeal.
Alert! If someone else has managed to log into your account, use your profile, and proceeded to delete the account, there is nothing that can be done!
Remember that you can always open another account with the same email, but under no circumstances can you use Instagram again with the exact same username as your old profile.
Reasons to Delete Your Instagram Account
There are a variety of reasons for wanting to disappear from the social network that is uniquely focused on images. What’s yours? Among the most common we find:
- Being a victim of trolls or haters that continuously harass.
- Creating a new Instagram Marketing Strategy. Replace the one you had previously used with the new one.
- Fatigue with social networks and all that is implied (spending time monitoring interactions, updating profiles, uploading images, etc).
- The account was from a brand, association, or institution that has ceased or will cease to exist.
Whichever reason, it’s your choice to move ahead with deleting your Instagram account!
But before you rush into saying goodbye, I recommend that you save your photos and videos that have been published. Once your Instagram is deleted, you will lose everything that hasn’t been backed up.
I hope that I’ve made things a bit easier for you and that today’s instructions have been useful.
If you have any other questions about how to delete or temporarily disable your Instagram account, drop them in the comments! 😉
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