Instagram is one of the biggest social media platforms in the world. It has millions of daily users and has become a very important tool for many people in order to communicate as well as share their lives and artistic creations with others. However, sometimes you might want to delete your account for personal or professional reasons. Whatever your reason is, deleting your Instagram account is quite easy. In this blog post, we will show you different methods on how to delete an account off of your Instagram platform and provide some additional tips that can come in handy.
Video Tutorial:
The Challenge of Deleting an Instagram Account
Deleting your Instagram account is not as difficult as it used to be. There are different approaches that you can use to do this successfully. However, Instagram has become smarter with time, and they have changed their process for deleting user accounts to make it more difficult for users to leave the platform. Therefore, it can take a few more steps now to completely delete your Instagram account than it used to in the past. However, we assure you that it is not impossible.
Things You Should Prepare for
Before you begin the process of deleting your Instagram account, there are a few things that you should prepare for:
– Firstly, you should back up your Instagram data if you have any information that you would like to retain. You can do this by logging into your Instagram account and saving the photos, videos, or other content using the “Download Data” tool.
– Secondly, think about why you want to delete the account and what the consequences of deleting it will be, as account deletion is irreversible.
– Lastly, ensure that you have access to the email address associated with your Instagram account as you will need it to complete the account deletion process.
Method 1: Via Instagram’s Website
The first method of deleting your Instagram account is by using the Instagram website.
1. Log in to your Instagram account on the website.
2. Click on your profile picture at the top right of the screen and select “Settings” from the dropdown menu.
3. At the bottom of the page, click on “Temporarily Disable Your Account”.
4. On the next page, provide the reason you would like to delete your account from the dropdown options and enter your password.
5. Click on the button that says “Permanently delete my account.”
Pros:
– You will be able to access the complete features of Instagram’s website.
– The process can be carried out on the same device that you frequently use Instagram on.
Cons:
– There are a number of clicks that need to be carried out to delete the account through the website.
– Using this method doesn’t give users the same flexibility to save their information as other methods do.
Method 2: Via the Instagram App on your Phone
The second method of deleting your Instagram account is through the Instagram app, which is available for Android and iOS.
1. Log in to your Instagram account in the app.
2. Go to your profile and click on the three-line menu option at the top right.
3. Tap on “Settings” at the bottom of the page.
4. Click on “Help” and then choose “Help Center”.
5. Type in “Delete an Account” in the search box and click on the corresponding article that comes up.
6. Then click on the hyperlink that says “delete your account”.
7. Provide the reason you would like to delete the account from the dropdown options and enter your password.
8. Then click on the button that says “Permanently delete my account.”
Pros:
– You can use this method on-the-go due to the mobile nature of the app.
– The steps are straightforward, and the help center is easily accessible.
Cons:
– There are multiple clicks that need to be carried out.
– Using this method on the app doesn’t give the same flexibility to save information as other methods do.
Method 3: Using Instagram’s Help Center
The third and final method that we will discuss is using Instagram’s help center.
1. Go to Instagram’s help center here: https://help.instagram.com/.
2. Search for the article titled “Delete Your Account”.
3. Follow the prompts in the article and click on the hyperlink that says “Delete your account page”.
4. Provide the reason you would like to delete the account and click on the button that says “Permanently delete my account”.
Pros:
– This method has the most flexibility if the user wants to save their information or connect with customer support.
– The process of deleting your account is easy to find and follow.
Cons:
– It is more time-consuming compared to the other methods.
– If you are not able to receive the confirmation email, you cannot delete your account.
Why Can’t I Delete My Instagram Account?
1. Instagram may flag your request to delete your account if you are actively using other Facebook-owned social media platforms like Facebook and WhatsApp. If this is the case, you need to stop using these platforms actively and close your accounts before trying to delete your Instagram account.
2. If you have recently changed the email address or phone number associated with your Instagram account, you need to wait at least a few days to delete your account.
3. If your account has a business or creator account type, you cannot delete it using some of the methods above. In this case, you need to downgrade the account to a personal account first.
Fix:
1. Stop using other Facebook-owned social media platforms like Facebook and WhatsApp for a while and close these accounts first before deleting Instagram.
2. Wait for a few days before deleting your account.
3. Downgrade your account to a personal account before proceeding with the deletion process.
Additional Tips
1. If you are deleting your account to avoid cyberbullying or harassment, you can choose to disable your account temporarily instead of deleting it permanently.
2. If you’re not sure if you want to delete your account permanently, you can temporarily disable it instead. This is a great option if you’re not sure and want to take a break from the platform for some time.
3. Keep in mind that it is impossible for you to retrieve anything once you’ve deleted your account, so ensure that you backup data and save any important information you might need in the future.
5 FAQs about Deleting An Instagram Account
Q: Can I delete my Instagram account through the Instagram app?
A: Yes, you can delete your Instagram account through the Instagram app. You need to click on the three-line menu button, choose “Settings,” go to “Help,” and tap on “Help Center.” Search for “Delete an Account” and click on the corresponding article, follow the steps as mentioned above.
Q: What happens after I delete my Instagram account?
A: All of your posts, comments, likes, and followers will be permanently removed from Instagram immediately, and it is impossible to restore them.
Q: Can I access my account after I have deleted it?
A: No, account deletion is permanent, and you will never be able to access your account or retrieve any of its data again.
Q: How long does it take to delete an Instagram account?
A: Once you complete the process and provide all the necessary information needed to delete your Instagram account, it may take some time to delete it, typically up to 90 days.
Q: Can I recover my account if I delete it by mistake?
A: No, account deletion is irrevocable, and it is impossible to retrieve or recover account data.
In Conclusion
Deleting an Instagram account is a simple process, but it requires a bit of planning to do it right. The methods that we have outlined here are reliable ways to delete your Instagram account without too much hassle. Despite the challenges that may arise, you can be sure that your account will be deleted in the right way if you follow our methods and tips. Remember to make backups of all crucial data and information before starting the deletion process.