How to Delete Instagram Account Permanently: Easy Steps

To delete your Instagram account, open Accounts Center in your settings, tap Deactivation or deletion, then tap Delete account. Instagram hides your account right away and deletes it for good 30 days later.

Quick answer

Profile → ☰ → Accounts Center → Profiles and personal details → Manage (next to Instagram) → Deactivation or deletion → Delete account → Continue

Older menu? It's Accounts Center → Personal details → Account ownership and control → Deactivation or deletion. Want to keep your photos? Download them first, because you can't once the account is deleted.

How to Delete Instagram Account on iPhone or Android

Here's how to delete an Instagram account in the app, one tap at a time. The purple circle shows what to tap. Checked November 2026 against Instagram's Help Center.

Step 1: Open the Instagram app. Tap your profile picture in the bottom-right corner.
Tap
Step 2: Tap the three lines (☰) in the top-right corner.
yourname ⌄ Tap
128posts412followers455following
Step 3: Tap Accounts Center. It's near the top.
Settings and activity
Your account
Accounts CenterPassword, security, personal details Tap
How you use Instagram
Step 4: Tap Profiles and personal details.
Some phones say Manage accounts here. Tap that instead. If you see Personal details, tap it, then tap Account ownership and control and jump to step 6.
Accounts Center
Profiles and personal details Tap
Step 5: Tap Manage next to your Instagram account.
Profiles and personal details
InstagramyournameManage Tap
Manage
Step 6: Tap Deactivation or deletion.
Your Instagram account
Deactivation or deletion Tap
Step 7: Tap Delete account, then tap Continue.
If Instagram asks which account, tap your Instagram account first.
Deactivation or deletion
Deactivate account
Delete account Tap
Continue
Step 8: Keep tapping Continue. Pick any reason when Instagram asks why, and type your password when it asks.
Delete account
Continue Tap
Step 9: Tap Delete account. Instagram shows the date your account will be gone for good.
Write that date down. If you log back in before then, the deletion is canceled.
Delete account
Delete account Tap

On Android and can't find Delete account? Instagram's help page says Android users may need a browser for this. Go to instagram.com, log in, and follow the computer steps below.

How to Delete Instagram Account on a Computer

Go to instagram.com and log in. Click More in the bottom-left corner, then Settings, then Accounts Center. From there, follow steps 4 to 9 above.

Free tool

Instagram Unfollowers Checker

Before you go, see who doesn't follow you back. The checker reads the same Export your information file Instagram tells you to download before you delete, so you can drop it straight in.

See who doesn't follow you back

How Do I Delete My Instagram Account but Keep My Photos?

Download a copy first. Instagram calls it Export your information, and the file has your photos, videos, messages and followers list. After your account is deleted, there's no way to get this file.

On a computer? Open Instagram's export page, log in if it asks, and start at step 3.

Step 1: Do steps 1 to 3 above to open Accounts Center. Then tap Your information and permissions.
Accounts Center
Account settings
Your information and permissions Tap
Step 2: Tap Export your information.
On some phones it says Download your information. Tap that instead.
Your information and permissions
Export your information Tap
Step 3: Tap Create export.
Export your information
Create export Tap
Step 4: Tap your Instagram account so it has a check mark, then tap Next.
Choose a profile
yournameInstagram
Next Tap
Step 5: Tap Export to device.
Export your information
Export to device Tap
Export to external service
Step 6: Tap Date range, pick All time, then tap Save.
Leave Customize information as it is, so you get everything: photos, videos, messages and your followers list.
Date range
Last year
All time Tap
Save
Step 7: Tap Start export. Type your password if Instagram asks.
Export your information
Customize information
Date rangeAll time
Start export Tap
Step 8: When Instagram says your file is ready, go back to Export your information. Under Available downloads, tap Download.
You get a notification or an email. Download the file within 4 days, or Instagram deletes it and you have to ask again.
Export your information
Available downloads
yournameAll timeDownload Tap

Wait until the file is saved on your phone or computer before you delete. Then drop it into the Instagram unfollowers checker to see who doesn't follow you back while you still can. Instagram's export help page has more on what's in the file.

How to Permanently Delete Instagram: The 30-Day Wait

Tapping Delete account doesn't delete anything right away. Instagram hides your account from everyone at once. Then, 30 days after you asked, your profile, photos, videos, comments, likes and followers are deleted for good, and you can't get them back.

There's no way to skip the wait. Instagram says the full cleanup on its side can take up to 90 days, and some copies can stay in its backups after that.

How to Cancel Deleting Your Instagram Account

Changed your mind? Log back in to Instagram before the date it showed you. Instagram tells you the account is set to be deleted and lets you keep it. Keep it, and your account comes back as it was.

Don't leave it to the last day. Instagram says the number of days you get to cancel can depend on where you live. Once the date passes, the account is gone and can't be brought back.

Should You Delete or Deactivate?

If you only need a break, deactivate instead. It hides your account until you log back in, and nothing gets deleted. Here's how to deactivate Instagram.

What changes	Deactivate	Delete
Your account	Hidden until you log back in	Gone for good after 30 days
Photos, videos and followers	Kept	Deleted
To undo it	Log back in	Log back in before the date
Your username	Still yours	Anyone can take it

How to Delete an Instagram Account You Can't Log Into

You have to be logged in to delete an account, and Instagram says it can't delete one for you.

Forgot your password? Tap Forgot password? on the login screen and make a new one. Then follow the steps above.

Frequently asked questions

How do I delete my Instagram account on iPhone?

Tap your profile picture, then the three lines (☰), then Accounts Center. Tap Profiles and personal details (or Personal details, then Account ownership and control), then Deactivation or deletion. Tap Delete account, then Continue, and follow the screens. Your account is hidden right away and deleted for good after 30 days.

How to delete Instagram account on Android?

The steps are the same as on iPhone: Accounts Center, Deactivation or deletion, then Delete account. Instagram's help page says Android users may need a browser for this, so if you don't see Delete account in the app, go to instagram.com, log in, and do it from Settings there.

How to permanently delete Instagram without waiting 30 days?

You can't skip the wait. Instagram hides your account as soon as you ask, so nobody can see it, and deletes it for good 30 days later. If you log back in before then, the deletion is canceled, so stay logged out until the date passes.

Can I get my Instagram account back after deleting it?

Yes, if you're quick. Log back in before the date Instagram showed you and you can keep your account. After that date, it's deleted for good and Instagram can't bring it back. The number of days you get can depend on where you live.

How to delete my Instagram account if it's linked to Facebook?

Follow the same steps. When you get to Deactivation or deletion, pick your Instagram account. Only that account is deleted. Your Facebook account stays as it is.

How to delete my Instagram account without the app?

Go to instagram.com in a browser and log in. Click More in the bottom-left corner, then Settings, then Accounts Center. From there it's the same as in the app: find Deactivation or deletion, pick Delete account and click Continue.

How to delete Instagram account if you forgot your password?

Reset your password first. Instagram can't delete an account for you, so you need to be able to log in. Tap Forgot password? on the login screen, make a new password, then follow the delete steps.

Can I use my username again after deleting my account?

Yes, as long as nobody else has taken it. Once your account is gone, your username is free, so anyone could grab it. If Instagram removed your account for breaking its rules, you may not be able to use that username again.

Wrapping Up 👋

Download your file, tap Delete account in Accounts Center, then stay logged out for 30 days. That's all it takes. If you just need a break, deactivating is easier to undo.