How to delete Instagram Account or deactivate it

Follow the steps below to quickly 'delete your Instagram Account':

  1. Access the 'Delete Your Account Page' on your desktop
    (because your Instagram account can't be deleted from within the application).
  2. After visiting, log into your Instagram account if you are not already logged in.
  3. Select the reason why you want to delete instagram account, just next to “Why are you deleting your account,”
  4. Re-enter your Instagram password
  5. Finally click on “Permanently delete my account.”

Read through this guide, if you want step by step visuals to delete your Instagram Account.

How to delete or deactivate Instagram Account

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How to backup all the data uploaded on Instagram account:

  1. Log in to your Instagram Account and go to your profile.
  2. Click on the hamburger icon and navigate to settings.
  3. Click "Data Download" it will ask for your email address and password. You can also click here to view data download page.
  4. Once done, your data will be sent to your email address within 24 hours.

How to delete Instagram Account permanently?

  1. Access the “Delete Your Account Page” on your desktop. page.
    Note: You can’t delete your Instagram account within Instagram application.
  2. After visiting, log into your account if you are not already logged in.
    delete your account
  3. Next to “Why are you deleting your account”, select the reason why you wish to delete your Instagram account from the options in the “drop-down menu”.
    delete your account
  4. Re-enter your Instagram password.
    enter your password
  5. Finally click on “Permanently delete my account”.
    how to remove instagram account

How to disable Instagram Account temporarily?

You may not want to disable your Instagram account permanently for now. If so, you can delete your Instagram account temporarily by following these steps:

  1. Log in to your Instagram account from its website via browser as your account cannot be disabled through the app.
  2. Next, click “Edit Profile.”
  3. Select reason for disabling your account from the drop-down menu next to "Why are you disabling your account".
  4. Re-enter your password to confirm and procced to disable your account.
  5. Click "Temporarily Disable Account".
    Note: All of your data and followers with in the profile remain hidden until you reactivate it by logging back in.

Instagram’s Privacy Policy

If you have landed here you must be wondering "how private is Instagram? Are they collecting any information besides the photos that you’re posting?" The short answer is yes. Like any other social network, they are collecting information including cookies and browsing behaviors.

Like Facebook, Instagram isn’t privacy friendly at all. It does collect your private information and uses this information to share targeted ads, and earn money on your behalf. Instagram is a free social network platform, and just like any other free social network platform, you’re their product!

These are the types of information that Instagram collects:

  • Your basic account information: your name, phone number, username, password, and email address.
  • Your content information: any photos, comments, and other content that you post on Instagram.
  • Your communications information: any communications between you and Instagram, which may include service emails and account notices.
  • Your contacts information: if you use Instagram’s “Find Friends” feature, Instagram will look through your contacts list and your social media accounts so it can recommend other Instagram users you might know.
  • Your device information: Instagram can use “device identifiers” to learn the type of device you’re using to access their service.
  • Your usage information: Instagram can use cookies to monitor how you’re using their service.

After collecting your information, Instagram may use it in the following ways:

  • Advertising: Instagram uses the gathered information to show you targeted ads.
  • Sharing to third parties: Since Instagram works with multiple third-parties, it is possible for them to share user data with companies they are legally a part of (Facebook, WhatsApp) and third-party advertising partners. Instagram may also be required to submit information to legal authorities so it can aid in case of an investigation.
  • Product testing: Instagram may also use the information it collects to help them develop new products and services through which they can start earning in the future.

You can read more about Instagram and its privacy policy here.

Is Instagram Safe?

Update: It was reported in March 2019, that Facebook employees had access to passwords of 600 million Instagram users. An internal investigation was carried out by the company which concluded that passwords stored were not misused or leaked to any third party. However, it is an alarming sign for users who are concerned about their internet privacy and online freedom.

Who’s to say your account details weren’t or can’t be misused? Security experts have advised all users to take precautionary measures before it’s too late!

Apparently, Instagram is safe for use. However, the platform compromises your privacy and security making you vulnerable to external threats by hackers and cybercriminals. For e.g. a hacker can learn a lot more about you by checking out your pictures on Instagram. They can use this information to harm you and hack into your accounts or devices.

Cyberstalkers also use this information to monitor your daily activities and gather enough information so they can blackmail you or harm you in any manner.

Want to reclaim your online privacy? You might want to check below guides: