How to Deactivate Instagram Account (Temporary & Permanent) – 2026 Guide

If you're searching for how to deactivate Instagram, temporarily disable Instagram, how to turn off Instagram account, or how to delete your Instagram account permanently, this 2026 guide has you covered. We explain every step in detail so you can deactivate or delete with confidence. You'll find:

• Deactivate vs delete – Clear difference between temporarily deactivating (reversible) and permanently deleting (not reversible after the grace period). When to use each and what happens to your data.
• How to deactivate Instagram (app) – Full step-by-step on iPhone and Android: Profile → Menu → Settings and privacy → Accounts Center → Account ownership and control → Deactivate account. What to do if you don't see Accounts Center.
• How to deactivate Instagram on the web – Same process on instagram.com from a computer or browser. Useful if the app is not available or you prefer a larger screen.
• How to permanently delete – When and how to delete your account, what the grace period (e.g. 30 days) means, and what gets removed (profile, posts, DMs, followers list).
• Before you deactivate – What to do first: back up data, turn on two-factor authentication, and check linked accounts (Facebook, Meta).
• What happens when you deactivate – Profile, posts, Stories, Reels, DMs, comments, tags, saved content; how long you can stay deactivated; whether anyone is notified.
• How to reactivate – Log in and confirm; no separate form. What if you forgot your password or your account was hacked.
• Alternatives to deactivating – Mute or unfollow, hide likes, hide followers, restrict vs block, or Close Friends if you want less visibility without leaving. If your account was disabled by Instagram (policy or hack), see Instagram account disabled recover and Instagram account hacked recover.

Deactivating your Instagram account means you temporarily disable it. Your profile, posts, Stories, Reels, and follower list are hidden from everyone—they won't appear in search, and no one can view your content or send you new DMs. Nothing is removed from Instagram's servers: your photos, messages, and account data stay on Instagram. You can reactivate anytime by logging in and confirming that you want to turn the account back on. No data is lost, and there is no fixed time limit for how long you can stay deactivated.

Deleting your Instagram account is permanent (after the grace period). You request deletion through the same Settings path; Instagram typically gives a short window (e.g. 30 days) during which you can log in and cancel the deletion. After that period, your account and associated data—profile, posts, DMs, followers, following list—are removed from Instagram's systems and cannot be recovered. You cannot log in with that username again; if you return to Instagram later, you would need to create a new account.

When to deactivate: You want a break from the app (e.g. mental health, busy period, digital detox) but might return. You're unsure about leaving for good. You want to hide your profile temporarily without losing anything. Deactivate is the safe, reversible option.

When to delete: You are sure you will not use the account again. You want your data removed from Instagram permanently. You're consolidating or leaving the platform for good. Remember: after the grace period, delete is not reversible.

Summary: Deactivate = temporary, reversible, data kept. Delete = permanent (after grace period), not reversible, data removed. For hiding individual posts instead of the whole account, see Instagram Archive vs Delete. For account security before you leave, consider Instagram two-factor authentication.

Before you temporarily deactivate or permanently delete your Instagram account, do the following so you don't lose access or data:

• Back up your data (optional but recommended): Use Instagram's “Download your information” (Settings → Your activity → Download your information) to get a copy of your photos, comments, and other data. Useful if you might delete later or want to keep memories.
• Turn on two-factor authentication: If you plan to reactivate later, make sure only you can log in. See our Instagram two-factor authentication guide. This helps prevent someone else from reactivating or taking over your account.
• Check linked accounts: If your Instagram is linked to Facebook or other Meta accounts in Accounts Center, deactivating or deleting Instagram does not automatically deactivate or delete those. You choose which account to deactivate or delete. If you use “Login with Facebook” for Instagram, remember your Instagram password in case you need it to log in again.
• Note your username and email: When you reactivate, you'll log in with the same username and password. If you forget your password, you'll need access to the email (or phone) linked to the account. If your account was hacked, see Instagram account hacked – how to recover before deactivating.

Follow these steps to temporarily deactivate your Instagram account from the Instagram app (iPhone or Android). The process usually takes under two minutes.

1. Open the Instagram app and go to your profile (tap your profile picture or the person icon in the bottom bar).
2. Tap the Menu (hamburger) icon in the top right, then Settings and privacy.
3. Tap Accounts Center. If you don't see it, look under “Account” or “Meta” – Instagram may have moved the option. Then tap Personal information, then Account ownership and control.
4. Tap Deactivate or delete account. On the next screen, choose Deactivate account (not “Delete account”).
5. Select the Instagram account you want to deactivate (if you have more than one linked to the same Accounts Center). Tap Continue.
6. Read the short explanation (your profile and posts will be hidden until you log in again). Tap Deactivate account. Enter your password if asked and confirm. Your account is now temporarily deactivated.

If you don't see “Accounts Center” or “Deactivate account”: Make sure you're on the latest version of the Instagram app. The path can vary slightly by region and account type (personal vs Creator or Business). Try instagram.com in a browser and follow the web steps below—the options are the same there. If your account was disabled by Instagram (you see a message about policy violation), you cannot deactivate it yourself; see Instagram account disabled – how to recover for the appeal process.

Your profile and posts will not be visible to anyone until you log in again and reactivate. For more Instagram controls, see Instagram Close Friends, how to hide likes on Instagram, and Instagram Creator vs Business account.

You can deactivate Instagram from a computer or any browser. The steps are the same as on the app; only the layout is different. This is useful if you don't have the app handy, prefer a larger screen, or the app isn't showing the deactivate option.

1. Go to instagram.com in your browser and log in with your username and password.
2. Click your profile picture (top right), then Settings. Alternatively, go to your profile page and click the menu (hamburger) or gear icon to open Settings.
3. In Settings, find and open Accounts Center. You may see it under “Meta” or “Account” depending on the layout. Then open Personal information → Account ownership and control.
4. Click Deactivate or delete account, then choose Deactivate account. Select your Instagram account (if you have more than one) and click Continue.
5. Read the on-screen text and click Deactivate account. Enter your password if prompted and confirm. Your account is now temporarily deactivated.

Reactivation is the same as on the app: log in again (app or instagram.com) and choose to reactivate when Instagram asks. There is no separate “reactivate” link—logging in triggers the option. For growing your account when you're back, use our best time to post on Instagram and Instagram Reel dimensions.

To permanently delete your Instagram account, use the same path as for deactivation: Settings and privacy → Accounts Center → Personal information → Account ownership and control → Deactivate or delete account. This time choose Delete account (not Deactivate).

Instagram will ask you to confirm. You may be asked to select a reason (optional) and to enter your password. Instagram typically applies a grace period (often 30 days): during this time, your account is scheduled for deletion but not yet removed. If you log in before the period ends and choose to cancel deletion, your account will remain and nothing is lost. After the grace period expires, the account and its data—profile, posts, Stories, Reels, DMs, followers, following list—are removed from Instagram's systems and cannot be recovered. You cannot log in with that username again; the username may eventually become available for a new account.

Important: If your account was disabled by Instagram (e.g. for a policy violation), you cannot delete it the same way from Settings. You'll need to follow Instagram's appeal or account deletion flow for disabled accounts. See Instagram account disabled – how to recover for the appeal process and options.

When you deactivate your Instagram account, the following applies. Nothing is permanently removed—everything is hidden until you reactivate.

• Profile and discoverability: Your profile does not appear in search. If someone types your username or looks for you, they won't find your account. Your profile picture, bio, and link (e.g. link in bio) are not visible. For alternatives to a full deactivation, see how to hide followers or link in bio tools if you're rethinking your presence.
• Posts, Stories, and Reels: All your feed posts, Stories (including highlights), and Reels are hidden. No one can view, like, or comment on them. When you reactivate, they all reappear as before. For post-level control (hide one post without deactivating), see Instagram Archive vs Delete.
• Followers and following: Your followers and following lists are hidden. No one can follow you or see who you follow while you're deactivated. When you reactivate, your follower count and lists are unchanged.
• Direct messages (DMs): Your DMs remain on Instagram's servers. Others cannot send you new messages while you're deactivated, and they may see that your account is unavailable. When you reactivate, your existing chats are still there. Only permanent deletion of the account (after the grace period) removes your message history.
• Comments and tags: Comments you left on others' posts remain visible (they're tied to your username, which is hidden). Tags of you in others' posts may show as “Instagram user” or similar until you reactivate. Saved posts and collections stay in your account and return when you reactivate.
• Notifications: Instagram does not send a notification to your followers or contacts that you deactivated. People may notice your profile is missing if they search for you or try to open your profile from a link.
• How long can you stay deactivated? Instagram does not publish a fixed time limit. You can stay deactivated until you log in again and choose to reactivate. If you want the account and data removed permanently, use Delete account instead.

If you're trying to fix a shadowban or low reach, deactivating is not a standard or recommended solution; see Instagram shadowban how to fix for better options. For Instagram following limit and unfollow tracker, those apply to active accounts.

To reactivate your deactivated Instagram account, log in to Instagram (app or instagram.com) with your username and password. There is no separate “reactivate” button or link—logging in is the trigger. Instagram may show a message such as “Your account has been deactivated” and ask if you want to reactivate. Tap or click to confirm; your profile, posts, Stories, Reels, DMs, and followers will be visible again. No data is lost; everything returns as it was before deactivation.

If you can't log in: Make sure you're using the correct username (not email, unless that's how your account is set up) and password. If you forgot your password, use “Forgot password?” on the login screen and follow the reset steps (you'll need access to the email or phone linked to the account). If you suspect your account was hacked (password changed, email changed), see Instagram account hacked – how to recover and then secure your account with two-factor authentication. If your account was disabled by Instagram (policy violation), logging in may show a different message; see Instagram account disabled – how to recover for the appeal process.

If you don't want to deactivate or delete your whole account but want less visibility, less pressure, or more control, these options let you stay on Instagram with a lighter footprint:

• Mute vs Unfollow – Mute accounts so you don't see their posts in your feed without unfollowing them (they won't be notified). Unfollow people you no longer want to follow. This reduces noise and comparison without leaving the app. An unfollow tracker can help you see who unfollowed you and manage your following list.
• Hide likes on Instagram – Hide like counts on posts you see in your feed, or hide likes on your own posts. Reduces focus on numbers and can make the experience less stressful.
• Hide followers / following – Make your follower and following lists private (where the option is available). Your profile stays public or private as you choose, but others can't see who you follow or who follows you.
• Restrict vs Block – Restrict someone so their comments are only visible to them and you can approve or delete without them knowing; block to prevent them from seeing your profile and contacting you. Useful if specific people are the reason you're considering deactivating.
• Close Friends – Share Stories only with a smaller “Close Friends” list instead of all followers. Lets you stay active with a select group while reducing broad visibility.
• Post less or archive old posts: You can post less often or use Archive to hide old posts from your profile without deleting them. Your account stays active but your feed looks cleaner or lighter.

For content specs when you post again, see Instagram Reel dimensions, Story dimensions, and Instagram caption generator. For growing reach when you're ready, see best time to post on Instagram.

Use this table for deactivate vs delete Instagram at a glance:

For post-level actions, see Instagram Archive vs Delete. For more tools: Reels caption generator, how to repost on Instagram, link in bio tools, Linktree alternative.

More: How to hide likes on Instagram, how to hide followers, Close Friends, Creator vs Business account, Reel dimensions, caption generator, best time to post, how to repost, Collab Post, link in bio tools, services.