How to Delete Your Instagram Account

What You Need to Know Before Deleting Your Account

After you request your Instagram account deletion, whether through the app or website, Instagram keeps your account in a 30-day cancellation window. Once this period ends, Instagram will permanently delete your account and all its data. If you sign back in during the waiting period, the deletion will be canceled. Instagram warns that the number of days you have to cancel the deletion may vary by region, so check the exact period before confirming. 

To avoid issues with restoring access to your Instagram account should you change your mind, make sure the email and phone linked to your account are up to date.

How to Delete Your Instagram Account Using the Mobile App

If you are currently logged into the Instagram app, this is the quickest way to delete your Instagram account permanently. The process is available for both iOS and Android versions of the Instagram app. 


How to delete your Instagram account using the mobile app:

1. Open the Instagram app and log into the account you want to delete.

2. Tap your profile icon in the bottom-right corner.

3. Tap the “Menu” (three lines) in the top-right.

4. Choose “Accounts Center.” 

5. Select “Personal details” → “Account ownership and control.”

6. Tap “Deactivation or deletion.”

7. Select the Instagram account you want to delete permanently.

8. Choose “Delete account”, then tap “Continue.”

9. Instagram will ask for the reason for deleting the account — select any option.

10. Enter your password and confirm.




Before you delete your account, we recommend downloading your data. Go to “Menu” → “Accounts Center” → “Your information and permissions” → “Export your information.” Request an archive with all your posts and activity history in HTML or JSON format. This ensures you don’t lose anything important. Keep in mind that creating an archive can take some time, especially if you are downloading your entire Instagram account history. 

How to Delete Your Instagram Account on Your PC or Mac

You can also delete your Instagram account using any browser.


How to delete your Instagram account on your PC or Mac:

1. Open any browser, e.g., Chrome, Safari, or Firefox.

2. Go to instagram.com and login to the account you want to delete.

3. Click “More” in the bottom-left corner.

4. Choose “Settings.”

5. Select “Accounts Center.”

6. Click “Personal details.”

7. Choose “Account ownership and control.”

8. Select “Deactivation or deletion.”

9. Choose “Delete account.”

10. Enter your password to confirm.

If you’ve decided to delete your Instagram account due to regional restrictions, you may want to reconsider. The web version of Instagram can still be accessed with an anti-detect browser, such as Octo Browser. Octo Browser creates separate profiles with real digital fingerprints and allows you to use proxies from countries where Instagram is available. This helps bypass any geographical bans on accessing Instagram.

The Difference Between Deleting and Deactivating Your Instagram Account

Deleting your Instagram account is not the only way to hide your profile. You can also deactivate your account. Let’s examine the difference:

Here’s how to deactivate your Instagram account using the mobile app:

1. Open the Instagram app and log into the account you want to deactivate.

2. Tap your profile icon in the bottom-right corner.

3. Tap “Menu” (three lines) in the top-right corner.

4. Select “Accounts Center.”

5. Go to “Personal details” → “Account ownership and control.”

6. Tap “Deactivation or deletion.”

7. Select the account you want to deactivate.

8. Choose “Deactivate account”, then tap “Continue.”

9. Follow on-screen instructions to complete the process.

Note: You can deactivate your Instagram account only once per week.

Conclusion

Deleting your Instagram account is simple when you follow the correct steps, but remember that the consequences of this are permanent.

Checklist before deleting your Instagram account:

1. Consider whether permanent deletion is necessary, or if temporary deactivation might be enough.

2. Back up your data by downloading your Instagram archive.

3. If you want to delete Instagram due to regional restrictions, consider using an anti-detect browser (such as Octo Browser) instead. It will help you continue accessing the web version of Instagram securely.

4. Follow the step-by-step guide above to complete the deletion process.

FAQ

Will Instagram Really Delete My Data When I Delete My Account?

Yes. When you delete your Instagram account, your public profile, posts, comments, messages, and likes are removed once the grace period ends. Instagram may still keep limited backup copies for safety, legal, or technical reasons, but it will permanently remove your profile and content.

How Long Does It Take to Delete an Instagram Account?

After you confirm your account deletion, Instagram gives you an average 30-day grace period. If you change your mind, you can cancel the deletion by logging in during that time. Once the 30 days elapse, the account cannot be restored. Instagram notes that it may take up to 90 days to delete all stored data from its servers, but your account will already be gone from public view.

Can I Delete Instagram Without Logging In?

No. You must be able to log into your Instagram account to delete it. If you can’t sign in, try using “Forgot password” or other account recovery options to regain access to your Instagram account. If you no longer have access to the email or phone number linked to your account, use Instagram’s guide to verify your identity before deleting the account.

How Do I Back Up My Data Before Deleting Instagram?

To back up your data, go to “Menu” → “Accounts Center” → “Your information and permissions” → “Export your information.” Select “Export to device” or “Export to external service” (such as Google Drive, Dropbox, or other services). Set your export preferences, including which data to save, the time period, the format (HTML or JSON), the notification email, and the file quality. Then click “Start export.”


Important: The time needed to prepare the archive depends on the amount of your Instagram data and may take up to 30 days. Once the archive is ready, you will have 4 days to download it from the “Current activity” section. In the same section, you can delete prepared files or view your export history.

What’s the Difference Between Deactivating and Deleting My Instagram Account?

Deactivating your Instagram account is temporary. It hides your profile, photos, and activity, but nothing is deleted. You can log back in anytime to restore your data.

Deleting your account is permanent. It starts a process that removes your data forever. Once the grace period ends, you cannot recover your Instagram account or restore any content.

In short:

• Deactivate your Instagram account if you just want a break from the platform.

• Delete your Instagram account if you’re leaving Instagram for good.