Want a break from Instagram? Here’s how to delete or deactivate your ccount

February 6, 2024

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Instagram began as a photo-sharing social media platform, but in recent years, the platform’s content has changed dramatically, with several studies indicating that it is negatively impacting the mental health of both children and adults.

Last year, a survey conducted by TRG Datacentres, a US-based firm, revealed that Instagram was the social media platform that users were most eager to delete, with over one million people searching for it worldwide. If you want to take a break from Instagram or simply leave the platform, here’s how to deactivate or delete your account in a few steps.

How to delete or deactivate an Instagram account.

Deactivating and deleting an Instagram account are the same process because they are both available on the same page. Keep in mind that deactivating does not mean deleting your account. Deactivating it allows you to later restore your account with all of your existing posts and stories, but deleting your Instagram account is permanent and requires you to create a new one from scratch.

1. Open Instagram on your phone and tap on your profile photo in the bottom right corner of the window.

2. On your profile page, tap the three-line menu on the top right and select ‘Settings and privacy’.

3. Navigate to the ‘Accounts Center’ section of the window that appears, then select ‘Personal details’ under ‘Account settings’.

4. Select ‘Account ownership and control’, then ‘Deactivation or deletion’ and select the account you want to remove.

5. Instagram will now prompt you to enter your account password before deactivating or deleting your account, depending on your preference.

It’s also worth noting that Meta takes up to 30 days to permanently delete your account. During this time, your Instagram profile will be hidden from others, but you can cancel the deletion process at any time. In some cases, it may take up to 90 days to delete all of your information.