With Instagram’s provision to have up to 6 accounts attached to a single phone number or email address, it is possible to have too many Instagram accounts and you may want to get rid of one or more. 

It could also be the desire to cut back on social media, or you could be closing an outdated group account, or even leaving Instagram altogether. This guide will walk you through the process of deleting your Instagram account.

Whatever your reason; you can delete your Instagram account either by deactivating your account, using a delete account link, or through the Accounts Centre.

Ways to delete your Instagram account

There are four ways to delete an Instagram account; 

• Through Accounts Center
• By deactivating account
• Using a delete account link
• Getting yourself suspended or disabled by Instagram
  

1. Through Accounts Center

Open Instagram using the browser on your phone or computer, or open your Instagram app and go to your profile page by clicking your profile picture in the bottom right corner.

Hint:

If you have multiple accounts on one device, click on the drop-down arrow next to your username on the profile page and select the account you want to delete. It will take you straight to the profile page.

Tap on the three lines in the top right corner of the app and choose Settings and Privacy or the bottom left corner of the web and select Settings. 

App

Web

Go to the Accounts Centre section and select Personal details. 

App

Web

Hint:

If you’re using the browser and are signed into several accounts, it is at this stage that you can choose which one you want to delete before continuing to personal details.

In personal details, choose Account Ownership and Control and then Deactivation or Deletion. After reading the guidelines, click Continue.

App

Web

Select Delete account and continue. You will be asked to select a reason for deciding to delete your account, click on any, and continue.

App

Web

Tip:

Depending on what reason you choose, you will be prompted to act accordingly. Follow the guidelines and then continue.

You will be asked to enter your password just to confirm that it is you and not a scammer. Input your password and continue to Delete account.

2. By deactivating account

There are instances where you will not have the option of deleting or deactivating your account on your mobile app.

In that case, even the web version will most likely only provide an option to temporarily deactivate your account but not permanently delete it.

Go to Instagram and log into your account. Tap on the three lines in the left bottom corner and choose Settings. 

Scroll down to the bottom and you will see the option of Temporarily deactivate my account then proceed.

Select a reason for this decision, re-enter your password, click Temporarily deactivate account, and then Yes to continue. 

Now that your account is deactivated, all you have to do is ignore it and wait until Instagram deletes it for you.

Even though Instagram does not clearly state that it deletes inactive accounts, when asked on its help page, it encourages logging in and using your account.

Experiences from some people also indicate that Instagram can delete an inactive account after 28 days, 90 days, one year, 2 years, or even not at all.

3. Using a delete account link

If none of the above options works for you, you can use this Delete Instagram account link; it will redirect you to a page asking you to log into your account. 

Input your username and password and continue to a page asking for a reason for deleting your account.

Choose any reason, follow the guidelines accordingly, confirm your password, and then click the Delete button. 

Note:

You will not be able to proceed without selecting a reason for deleting your account.

You will be prompted to confirm that you are sure, Click OK to finish deleting your account. 

It will give you a date when your account will be permanently deleted, till then, you have an option of logging into your account and keeping it.

4. Getting yourself suspended or disabled by Instagram

If you are desperate to get rid of that Instagram account by whatever means necessary then you can resort to this extreme method.

There are several reasons why Instagram may permanently disable, suspend, and eventually delete an account. For example, if it repeatedly violates the Instagram Community Guidelines and policy by;

• Repeatedly logging in with false credentials
• If you are not able to prove that you are human and not a bot
• Not responding within the given time and appropriately after the account has been temporarily banned or disabled

Note:

If you use this method to delete your account, you will not be able to retrieve it or even use that same email or phone number to create a new Instagram account. 

Bonus hint about deleting your Instagram account

It usually takes up to 30 days to permanently delete an Instagram account but you will not appear in searches or receive any notifications during that period.

However, in case you change your mind within those 30 days, you can log in with the same username and password and choose to keep your account. 

All your information including; profile picture, following and followers, and messages; including any that may have been sent while you were away will be restored.

After the account is permanently deleted, which can take up to 90 days, you can create a new account or add an account with that same username, as long as it is available.

FAQs

Conclusion

Even though sometimes it may take a long process, or seem like an impossible task, you can still delete that Instagram account you do not wish to keep.

Try any of the methods described above and see which method works for you. If you have one you tried and it worked but is not mentioned here, please feel free to leave it in the comment section.