How to Delete Your Instagram Account Permanently

Deleting your Instagram account permanently removes your profile, photos, videos, comments, and likes for good — there’s no undo once the grace period ends. This guide walks through the exact path Instagram currently uses, on both the app and a browser, plus what actually happens to your data afterward.

Before you start

Permanent deletion cannot be reversed after roughly 30 days, so it’s worth spending five minutes on preparation first:

• Save your photos and videos. See our guide on downloading your Instagram data before you delete anything.
• Note your username if you might want it again later — it becomes available to anyone once your account is fully gone.
• Unlink connected apps that use “Log in with Instagram,” since they’ll lose access once the account disappears.
• Consider deactivating first if you’re not fully sure — see the difference below.

Deleting your account from the app

Instagram intentionally does not let you delete an account directly from its iOS or Android app — Apple and Google’s app-store rules require the deletion request to happen through a full browser session, not inside the native app itself. Here’s the workaround:

1. Open Instagram and go to your profile, then tap the menu icon and choose Settings and privacy.
2. Tap Accounts Center, then Personal details.
3. Scroll down and tap Account ownership and control.
4. Tap Deactivation or deletion, then select the account you want to remove.
5. Choose Delete account, pick a reason from the list, and re-enter your password to confirm.

On most recent app versions this in-app flow does complete the deletion directly. If your version instead redirects you to a browser page, follow the desktop steps below in Safari or Chrome — the destination page is the same either way.

Deleting your account from a browser

1. Go to instagram.com and log in.
2. Click your profile picture, then Settings, then Accounts Center.
3. Select Personal details → Account ownership and control → Deactivation or deletion.
4. Choose your account, then Delete account.
5. Select a reason, enter your password when prompted, and confirm Delete Account.

Instagram may ask you to re-enter your password once more as a final confirmation — this is expected and simply protects against accidental deletion.

What happens after you confirm

Your profile disappears from Instagram immediately — other users can no longer find your posts, comments, or profile. Behind the scenes, though, Instagram holds your account in a 30-day grace period. Logging back in with your username and password during that window cancels the deletion entirely and restores everything exactly as it was.

Once the 30 days pass without a login, deletion becomes permanent. Instagram then works through removing the data from its systems and backups, which the company says can take up to 90 days to fully complete.

Delete vs. deactivate — which one do you need?

If you’re taking a break rather than leaving for good, temporary deactivation is almost always the better option — it hides your profile the same way deletion does, but logging back in instantly brings it all back. Permanent deletion only makes sense once you’re certain you won’t want the account, posts, or username again.

Common problems and fixes

The “Delete account” option is missing or grayed out. This usually means the account is a Business or Creator account tied to a Facebook Page — unlinking the Page in Accounts Center first typically resolves it.

I don’t remember my password. Use Instagram’s account recovery flow through your registered email or phone number first — see our guide on deleting Instagram without a password.

I changed my mind after deleting. Log back in with your original username and password before the 30-day window closes, and your account and content are fully restored.