Quick answer
In Instagram, go to Accounts Center > Profiles and personal details. To deactivate, choose your profile > Deactivation or deletion > Deactivate account. To delete, tap Manage next to the account type > Deactivation or deletion > your profile > Delete account. Before deleting, export your information: Meta says you can’t once the profile is deleted. Meta says the profile is permanently deleted 30 days after your request (the cancel window varies by region), and the full process can take up to 90 days.
Does this match what you see?
- You want to leave Instagram for a while or for good.
- You can’t find the delete or deactivate option.
- You want to delete an account you can’t log in to.
iPhone & iPadAndroidComputer (browser)
Delete and deactivate steps are from Instagram’s Help Center for computer, Android, iPhone, iPad and mobile browser.
Why this happens: the possible causes
Deactivate or delete? The difference, from Meta’s Help Center.
| Deactivate | Delete | |
|---|---|---|
| What happens | Photos, comments and likes hidden | Profile, photos, videos, comments, likes and followers permanently removed |
| Coming back | Log back in to reactivate | Can’t be restored after the cancel window |
| How often | Once a week | — |
- Deactivating is temporaryCheck this first
Meta says your photos, comments and likes are hidden until you reactivate by logging back in.
- Deleting is permanentCheck this first
Meta says your profile and all your information are permanently deleted 30 days after your request.
Try these 60-second checks first
- Only want a break? Deactivate instead of deleting.
- Deleting? Export your information first.
How to fix it, step by step
Work through these in order. They start with the quickest, safest checks and only move to steps that sign you out or remove data later.
Fix 1: Before deleting: export your information
Meta says you may want to export a copy of your information, like your photos and posts, before deleting, because after your profile is deleted you won’t have access to Instagram’s Export your information tool.
- Open your profile > Menu (on a computer, More > Settings; in a mobile browser, Settings in the top left), then Meta Account (or Accounts Center) > Your information and permissions > Export your information.
- Tap or click Create export, choose the profile, then Next.
- Choose Export to device, pick what to include, the date range, format, notification email and media quality, then Start export. (Or choose Export to external service to send your photos and videos to another service.)
- When it’s ready, download it from Available downloads in the Export your information tool.
Meta says you have 4 days to download a ready export, and it may take up to 30 days to email you the link. The export won’t include things other people shared, like their photos you’re tagged in. Meta says you can’t export from a profile that’s deactivated (reactivate it first) or scheduled for deletion (cancel the deletion first). High-quality videos make the file larger, so check your storage.
Did it work? You have a copy of your photos and posts.
Did Fix 1 solve it?
Great, you fixed it with Fix 1. Tell us it worked, or bookmark this page in case it happens again.
Fix 2: Take a break: temporarily deactivate
Meta says deactivating hides your photos, comments and likes until you reactivate by logging back in. You can deactivate only once a week, from a computer, a mobile browser or the Instagram app.
- Open Accounts Center: on iPhone and Android, tap Profile in the bottom right > Menu in the top right; on iPad, your profile picture on the left > Menu; on a computer, More in the bottom left > Settings; in a mobile browser, your profile picture > Settings in the top left. Then tap Accounts Center > Profiles and personal details.
- Choose the profile, then tap or click Deactivation or deletion.
- Choose Deactivate account > Continue. Instagram will ask you to confirm your password on its own screen, then to pick a reason.
- Tap or click Deactivate account.
To come back, Meta says just log back in. If you only want to control who sees your posts, Meta suggests making your account private or blocking people instead.
Did it work? Instagram confirms your profile is deactivated.
Did Fix 2 solve it?
Great, you fixed it with Fix 2. Tell us it worked, or bookmark this page in case it happens again.
Fix 3: Permanently delete your profile
Meta says deleting permanently removes your profile, photos, videos, comments, likes and followers. You can go straight to Accounts ownership and control (external site, opens in a new tab) in Accounts Center, or follow these steps.
iPhone & iPad
- Go to your profile, tap Menu in the top right, then Accounts Center.
- Tap Profiles and personal details, then Manage next to the account type you want to delete.
- Tap Deactivation or deletion, choose the profile, then Delete account > Continue.
Android
- Tap Profile or your profile picture in the bottom right, then Menu in the top right, then Accounts Center.
- Tap Profiles and personal details, then Manage next to the account type you want to delete.
- Tap Deactivation or deletion, choose the profile, then Delete account > Continue.
Computer (browser)
- Computer: click More in the bottom left > Settings > Accounts Center > Profiles and personal details. Mobile browser: tap Settings in the top left > Accounts Center > Profiles and personal details.
- Click or tap Manage next to the account type you want to delete, then Deactivation or deletion.
- Choose the profile, then Delete account > Continue.
Meta’s Android page also says that if you use the Android app, you’ll need to use instagram.com in a browser to delete your profile, while listing these in-app steps too. Our tip: try Accounts Center in the app first; if you don’t see the option, use instagram.com in a browser.
Did it work? Instagram confirms your deletion request.
Did Fix 3 solve it?
Great, you fixed it with Fix 3. Tell us it worked, or bookmark this page in case it happens again.
What happens after you delete: 30 days and 90 days
- Meta says that 30 days after your deletion request, your profile and all your information are permanently deleted and can’t be retrieved. During those 30 days, your content isn’t visible to other people on Instagram.
- Meta says the number of days you can cancel a deletion varies by region. Our advice: if you change your mind, act quickly.
- Meta says the full deletion process can take up to 90 days after it begins, and copies may remain after that in backup storage used for disaster recovery. It may also keep information for things like legal issues, terms violations or harm prevention.
Can you get your username back?
- Meta says that after your profile is deleted, you can sign up again with the same username, or add it to another profile, as long as no one else has taken it.
- Meta says that if your profile was removed for violating the Community Standards, you may not be able to sign up again with the same username.
- Meta’s disabled-accounts page also says a deleted account can’t be restored, and that you can use the same email address for a new account but may not be able to get the same username.
Want to delete an account you can’t log in to?
Meta says that for security reasons, Instagram can’t delete a profile for you: you need to be able to log in to request deletion or deactivation. If you’ve forgotten your password or username, start with Can’t log in to Instagram. If you think someone else has your account, see Instagram account hacked.
Our advice: never pay a service that claims it can delete or recover an Instagram account for you.
How to know it worked
- Your profile is deactivated or your deletion request is confirmed.
Still not working? Your next steps
- Account disabled rather than deleted? See Can’t log in to Instagram.
- Leaving Facebook too? See Deactivate or delete your Facebook account.
Official help routes
SocialAppFix can’t see or change your account. For account decisions, recovery and appeals, only the platform’s own tools can help. These links go to the official sites.
Frequently asked questions
Why can’t I download my Instagram data?
Meta says you can’t export from a profile that’s deactivated or scheduled for deletion, so reactivate it or cancel the deletion first. A ready export is available for 4 days, and the email link can take up to 30 days.
What’s the difference between deactivating and deleting Instagram?
Meta says deactivating hides your photos, comments and likes until you log back in. Deleting permanently removes your profile, photos, videos, comments, likes and followers.
How long does Instagram take to delete an account?
Meta says the profile and all your information are permanently deleted 30 days after your request, and the whole process can take up to 90 days. The number of days you can cancel varies by region.
Can Instagram delete my account for me?
No. Meta says that for security reasons it can’t delete a profile for you; you need to be able to log in to request deletion.
How often can I deactivate Instagram?
Meta says you can only deactivate your profile once a week.
Will I lose my photos if I delete Instagram?
Yes. Meta says they’re permanently removed, and you can’t use the Export your information tool after deletion, so export first.
Did this solve your problem?
Your answer stays in your browser — nothing is sent or stored. The “tell us” link opens your own email app.
Out of date or didn’t work? Email us — never include passwords or codes.
Sources and how we checked this guide
We base steps on the platforms’ own help pages and the phone makers’ official guides. Menu names change often and can differ by device, app version and region. Where a platform page could not be independently read, we link it so you can check the current wording yourself.
- Review and export a copy of your Instagram information (external site, opens in a new tab)
- Permanently delete or deactivate your Instagram profile (external site, opens in a new tab)
- Temporarily deactivate your Instagram profile (external site, opens in a new tab)
- About disabled Instagram accounts (external site, opens in a new tab)
Last reviewed 28 October 2026 by the SocialAppFix editorial team against the sources above. Next scheduled review: 28 April 2027. How we write and review guides.
What changed
- 28 October 2026: First published.
SocialAppFix is an independent guide and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Meta or Instagram. We never ask for passwords, login codes or payment to fix an account.