How to Delete Your Instagram Account (and what happens next)

Thinking of leaving Instagram—for good or just for a while? Here’s the current, no-nonsense guide to deleting or deactivating your account, plus what to do before you pull the plug.

Before you delete: 3 quick prep steps

1. Download your data (photos, videos, messages, etc.). You can request an export from Accounts Center → Your information & permissions → Download your information (wording may vary slightly). Instagram’s Help Center explains how the export works.
2. Know the timelines. If you request deletion, you have 30 days to change your mind by logging back in; after that, the account is permanently removed from active systems, though cleanup can take up to 90 days on the backend.
3. Understand the Threads link. Deleting your Instagram also deletes your linked Threads profile. Deleting Threads alone does not delete your Instagram.

Option A — Permanently delete your Instagram account

You can delete from the app or a web browser via Meta’s Accounts Center.

On iPhone/Android (Instagram app):

1. Go to your profile → ☰ (menu) → Settings & activity (or Settings & privacy).
2. Accounts Center → Personal details → Account ownership and control → Deactivation or deletion.
3. Choose the account → Delete account → follow the prompts and confirm with your password.

On a computer (instagram.com):

1. Click More (bottom left) → Settings → Accounts Center.
2. Personal details → Account ownership and control → Deactivation or deletion → select the account → Delete account and confirm.

What to expect after you request deletion

• Your profile becomes invisible immediately. You can cancel deletion by logging back in within 30 days. After that window, your account is gone; full data removal from active systems may take up to 90 days.

Option B — Take a break: temporarily deactivate your account

Deactivation hides your profile, posts, comments, and likes until you log back in.

App or browser (via Accounts Center):

• Accounts Center → Personal details → Account ownership and control → Deactivation or deletion → choose your account → Deactivate account and confirm.

Good to know

• You can only deactivate once per week. Logging back in reactivates the account instantly.

FAQs

• Is deletion really permanent?
  Yes—after the 30-day grace period, it’s irreversible. Instagram also notes the service can take up to 90 days to finish removing data from its systems, with limited backups retained for safety/legal reasons.
• Will my username be available again?
  It might be released at some point, but there’s no guarantee you can reclaim it after deletion. (Instagram doesn’t commit to a timeline publicly.)
• Does deleting Instagram affect Threads?
  Yes—your Threads profile tied to that Instagram account is removed when you delete Instagram. Deleting Threads alone doesn’t impact Instagram.
• Can I do all this from the app?
  Yes—the current flow runs through Accounts Center in the Instagram app or a web browser; wording may vary slightly by region and app version.

Quick checklist

• Exported my Instagram data from Accounts Center.
• Told close contacts how to reach me elsewhere.
• Chose Delete (permanent) or Deactivate (temporary).
• Aware of the 30-day reversal window and 90-day backend cleanup.
• If I use Threads, I know it will go too if I delete Instagram.