How to Deactivate an Instagram Account (Complete Guide)

Feeling like taking a break from Instagram? Well, then deactivating your account might be the best available option, rather than permanently deleting it. So, if you are ready to deactivate your Instagram account, just follow this guide on how to deactivate an Instagram account.

Key Takeaways:

• Social media can divert a person’s mind or can sometimes cause a possible cyber security threat. Hence, people opt for a temporary leave from social media sites like Instagram.
• The best way to start a social media detox is by deactivating your accounts for a while. 
• Instagram also allows its users to deactivate their accounts temporarily.
• Users can easily deactivate their account either through the Instagram app (only on iPhones), or the web version of the site.
• A user can also opt for permanent deletion of his/her Instagram account if they are sure they want to leave Instagram for good.
• It is advised to download your Instagram data before permanently deleting your account.

How to deactivate an Instagram account?

To deactivate your Instagram account temporarily, you just need to tap on Settings > Account > Delete account > Deactivate account, and then follow the prompts accordingly (on iPhone), or visit Instagram.com from your web browser > login into your account > Edit Profile > Temporarily deactivate my account, and then follow the prompts accordingly.

However, if you are using your Facebook account to login into your Instagram account, then firstly you will have to unlink your Facebook account from your Instagram account by accessing the Account Center inside the Settings menu and then resetting your Instagram account’s password. 

You must have access to the email address that is associated with your Instagram account to reset the password successfully.

Want a step-by-step tutorial?

Well, then just skip to the next part.

Deactivating Instagram account using iPhone:

• Open the Instagram app on your iPhone.
• Then, login into your account.
• After that, tap on your profile picture which is visible at the bottom right corner of the screen to open your Instagram profile.
• Now, tap on the “Hamburger” menu.
• Next, tap on “Settings” (the gear icon).
• Then, scroll down to find the “Account” option.
• Tap on it.
• You will find an option called “Delete account” at the bottom.
• Tap on it.
• Now, you will be prompted with two options; “Deactivate account” & “Delete account.”
• Tap on “Deactivate account.”
• You will get a drop-down menu along with the question “Why are you deactivating your account?“
• Select an appropriate option from the drop-down menu.
• Now, re-enter your password.
• Then, tap on the “Temporary deactivate account” option.
• You will get a confirmation pop-up saying “You’re about to temporarily deactivate your account. Go ahead?”
• Tap on “Yes“, and done. You have successfully deactivated your Instagram account temporarily using the Instagram app on your iPhone.

Using your android mobile browser:

• Open the browser on your Android device.
• Now, access Instagram.com.
• Then, login into your account using your credentials.
• Next, tap on your profile picture located at the bottom right of the screen to access your Instagram profile.

• Now, tap on the “Edit Profile” option.

• After that, scroll to the bottom of the screen to find the “Temporarily deactivate my account” option.

• You will now be redirected to the “Temporary Deactivate your account” page.

• Select a reason from the drop-down menu to justify “Why are you deactivating your account?“
• Then, re-enter your Instagram password to confirm.

• Next, tap on the “Temporary deactivate account” option.

• You will get a confirmation pop-up that says, “You’re about to temporarily deactivate your account. Go ahead?”
• Tap on “Yes“, and done. 

• You have successfully deactivated your Instagram account temporarily using your android mobile browser.

Using your computer:

• Open the browser on your computer.
• Then, access “Instagram.com” on it.
• Next, login into your account using your credentials.
• Now, click on your profile picture that is visible at the top right of the screen.

• Then, click on “Profile.”

• Next, click on “Edit Profile.”

• You will see an option that says “Temporarily deactivate my account” at the bottom right side of the page.

• Click on it.
• Now, you will be redirected to the “Temporarily deactivate your account” page, where you will be asked to justify “Why are you deactivating your account?“

• Select the appropriate option from the drop-down menu.
• After that, re-enter your Instagram password.

• Then, click on the “Temporarily deactivate account” option.

• You will get a confirmation pop-up.
• Lastly, click on “Yes“, and it’s done.

• You have successfully deactivated your Instagram account.

Note: Temporarily deactivating your Instagram account will hide your photos, likes, comments, and profile. You can unhide them by simply logging back in and reactivating your account. Moreover, Instagram only allows the deactivation process once a week, so if you have reactivated the account within a week, then you won’t be able to deactivate it again before the completion of a week’s period.

Can an Instagram account be deleted instead of deactivation?

If you have no plans to use your Instagram account in the future, then it would be great to just delete it permanently instead of deactivating it.

But be informed, by deleting your account permanently, you will lose access to your photos, followers, likes, and messages completely. 

Not just that, your username will become void, and therefore, no one will be able to search for you on the platform.

Now, if you are ready to delete your Instagram account permanently, then just follow this simple guide mentioned below.

The guide is bifurcated into three parts; Deleting using an iPhone, Deleting using an Android browser & Deleting using your computer.

Deleting your Instagram account using your iPhone:

• Open your Instagram app.
• Now, tap on your profile picture that is visible at the bottom right corner of the screen.
• You will now land on your profile page.
• Next, tap on the “Hamburger” menu visible at the top right-hand corner of the screen.
• Then, tap on “Settings” (the gear icon).
• After that, tap on “Account.”
• Now, tap on “Delete account” at the bottom.
• Next, tap on “Delete account” followed by “Continue deleting account.”
• You will now get a drop-down menu that will ask you “Why do you want to delete x account?“
• Select one that suits your situation.
• Now, re-enter your password.
• Then, tap on “Delete (username).”
• Lastly, tap on “OK” to confirm, and that’s it, your Instagram account deletion process has begun.

Deleting Instagram account permanently using a mobile browser:

• Open your mobile browser.
• Now, either search for “how to delete Instagram account permanently” and then tap on the first link, or just tap on this link.
• You will be asked to login into your account if you haven’t. 
• Next, you will get a drop-down menu and a short question asking you, “Why do you want to delete x account?“

• Select the option that suits your situation.
• Now, re-enter your password.

• Lastly, tap on “Delete (username)“.

• That’s it, your Instagram account deletion process has now been initiated.

Deleting Instagram account permanently using a computer:

• Open your computer’s browser.
• Now, either do a quick Google search on “how to delete Instagram account” and then click on the first link, or just click on this link.
• Next, you will be asked to login into your account, if you haven’t.
• After that, you will get a drop-down menu along with a short question that says, “Why do you want to delete x account?“

• Select an appropriate answer according to your situation.
• Now, you will be asked to re-enter your password. So, do the needful.

• Lastly, click on the “Delete (username)” option.

• The process of Instagram account deletion has now been executed successfully.

Note: The process of account deletion may take up to 30 to 90 days, so if you find your username on the platform, don’t panic, and wait for the said period of time.

Additionally, according to Instagram’s “Privacy Policy” the copy of your virtual data will remain on their server even after 90 days, as they will use it in the event of a disaster, software error, legal issues, terms violation, harm prevention efforts, or other data loss event.

Final Remarks

Sometimes social media sites like Instagram can become overwhelming and can cause hindrances in our day-to-day life. 

Hence, it is better to take a break from Instagram by deactivating it using the above-mentioned methods.