If you’re looking to temporarily deactivate your Instagram account or permanently delete it, this guide walks you through every step, what you’ll lose, and how to back up your data first.

# 1. Deactivate vs Delete Instagram: What’s the Difference?

Before you do anything, decide whether you want to:

# Temporarily deactivate Instagram

  • Your profile, photos, comments, and likes are hidden, not erased.
  • You can reactivate anytime by logging back in.
  • Good option for a social media break or digital detox.

# Permanently delete Instagram

  • Your profile, photos, videos, comments, followers, and likes are permanently removed.
  • Your username may become available for others later.
  • You cannot recover your account once the deletion is complete.

Instagram’s official help page explaining this:
https://help.instagram.com/139886812848894

# 2. How to Temporarily Deactivate Instagram (Disable Account)

You cannot deactivate your account from within the Instagram mobile app. You must use a mobile browser or desktop browser.

# Step-by-step: Deactivate Instagram

  1. Open a browser (Chrome, Safari, Edge, Firefox).
  2. Go to: https://www.instagram.com and log in to the account you want to deactivate.
  3. Click or tap your profile picture (top right) and select Profile.
  4. Click Edit Profile.
  5. Scroll down and click “Temporarily deactivate my account” (bottom right on desktop, bottom of page on mobile).
  6. From the dropdown, select a reason for deactivating.
  7. Re-enter your password when prompted.
  8. Click “Temporarily Deactivate Account” to confirm.

Your account is now hidden until you log in again.

More details from Instagram:
https://help.instagram.com/728869160569983

# 3. How to Reactivate a Deactivated Instagram Account

If you’ve only temporarily disabled your account:

  1. Open the Instagram app or go to https://www.instagram.com.
  2. Log in with your username, email, or phone and your password.
  3. Your account should be automatically reactivated.

Note: If you deactivated very recently, you might need to wait a few hours before you can log back in.

# 4. How to Permanently Delete Your Instagram Account

If you’re sure you want to delete Instagram forever, follow these steps carefully.

# Important: Download your data first (recommended)

If you want a copy of your photos, videos, messages, and profile data, request a download before deletion:

  1. Open the Instagram app or go to https://www.instagram.com.
  2. Go to your profile → tap the menu (☰) → Your Activity (or Settings & privacy → Your information and permissions).
  3. Look for Download your information.
  4. Enter your email and choose HTML or JSON format.
  5. Tap Request Download and enter your password.

Instagram will email you a download link when it’s ready (this can take a few hours).

More info:
https://help.instagram.com/181231772500920

# Step-by-step: Permanently delete Instagram account

Instagram has a dedicated Account Deletion page.

  1. Go to the official delete page:
    https://www.instagram.com/accounts/remove/request/permanent/
  2. Log in if you’re not already signed in.
  3. Select a reason from the dropdown menu.
  4. Re-enter your password when asked.
  5. Click or tap “Delete [username]” to confirm.

Instagram will schedule your account for deletion. For a short period (usually about 30 days), you may still be able to log in and cancel deletion. After that, your account and all data are permanently removed.

Official help link:
https://help.instagram.com/370452623149242

# 5. How to Deactivate Instagram from Mobile (Android & iPhone)

You can’t deactivate directly inside the app, but you can use your phone’s browser.

# On Android & iPhone

  1. Open Chrome, Safari, or another browser.
  2. Go to https://www.instagram.com and log in.
  3. Tap your profile picture → Profile.
  4. Tap Edit Profile.
  5. Scroll down and tap Temporarily deactivate my account.
  6. Choose a reason, enter your password, and tap Temporarily Deactivate Account.

# 6. Deactivating Instagram Without Logging In (What’s Possible?)

You must be able to log in to deactivate or delete your account yourself.

If you:

Without login access, you can report a hacked or impersonated account, but Instagram does not guarantee deactivation on request without verification.

# 7. What Happens After You Deactivate Instagram?

When you temporarily deactivate:

  • Your profile and posts are hidden.
  • People cannot search or view your profile.
  • Your username is preserved.
  • Your followers and following lists are kept.
  • You can return at any time by logging in again.

Nothing is permanently deleted, it’s just invisible while deactivated.

# 8. What Happens After You Permanently Delete Instagram?

Once the deletion is finalized:

  • Your account, photos, reels, stories, comments, likes, followers, and messages are permanently removed.
  • You cannot restore the account.
  • You may not be able to register with the same username or email again (Instagram does not guarantee reuse).
  • Some content (e.g., messages you sent to others) may remain in other users’ inboxes.

# 9. FAQs About Deactivating Instagram

# How often can I deactivate my Instagram account?

Instagram usually allows you to deactivate only once per week. If you try more frequently, you may see an error.

# Can people still message me while my account is deactivated?

No. Your profile disappears from Instagram. Existing message threads may still show your old messages, but people can’t send new messages to your deactivated account.

# Will my Instagram account reactivate automatically?

No. A temporarily disabled account only reactivates when you log in again.

# Can I deactivate Instagram but keep using Facebook?

Yes. Instagram and Facebook are separate, even if linked. Deactivating Instagram does not deactivate your Facebook account.

# Can I deactivate Instagram from the app?

Not currently. You must use a browser (on mobile or desktop) to deactivate or delete.

# 10. Summary: Quick Links to Deactivate or Delete Instagram

Use temporary deactivation if you just need a break, and permanent deletion only if you’re sure you’ll never want the account or its content again.