Do you find Instagram more of a stressor than a source of joy these days? Has your feed become more toxic than entertaining lately? Or perhaps you simply want to reclaim your time and mental space from endless social media scrolling.
Whatever your reasons, permanently deleting your Instagram account can provide a clean break from the constant pull of likes, comments, Stories, Reels, and more. But this major decision requires some thoughtful planning upfront.
In this comprehensive, step-by-step guide, you‘ll learn everything you need to smoothly and permanently erase your Instagram presence, including:
- A foolproof walkthrough of Instagram‘s account deletion process for all devices
- Key need-to-know differences between deactivating and deleting accounts
- Exactly what happens behind the scenes when you delete your account
- The top motivations for quitting Instagram permanently
- Pros, cons, and considerations before taking the plunge
By the end, you’ll have confidence in every aspect of saying goodbye to Instagram for good. Time to take control of your technology instead of letting it control you!
Step 1: Accessing Instagram‘s Account Deletion Options
The first step to deleting your Instagram account is accessing the deletion menu itself. This varies slightly depending on whether you use an iPhone, Android device, tablet, or computer browser.
We’ll cover the step-by-step instructions for each device next. But one thing remains constant – you must be logged into the account you wish to delete before initiating the process.
How to Delete Instagram on iPhone
Deleting your Instagram from an iPhone takes just a few taps once you’ve accessed the Account deletion menu:
- Launch the Instagram app then tap your profile picture in the bottom right to open your profile
- Tap the three horizontal lines “hamburger menu” icon to open the menu, then tap Settings
- Scroll down to the bottom and choose the Account option
- Tap the ominous red text that reads Delete Account
- Enter your account password when prompted then tap OK
- Select an explanation reason from the dropdown menu
- Tap the final warning reading Permanently delete my account to confirm
Be absolutely certain at this final confirmation – once you tap to delete there is no going back! Your account will immediately be scheduled for permanent deletion.
How to Delete Instagram on Android & Other Mobile Devices
Unfortunately, Android‘s Instagram app itself does not have an account deletion option built-in currently. You‘ll need to utilize a mobile web browser to delete your account instead.
Here is the process on Android or any other smartphone or tablet:
- Open your phone or tablet‘s web browser and navigate to Instagram.com
- Log into your Instagram account through the website
- Tap the profile icon then click Settings from the menu
- Scroll to the very bottom then select Account from the left menu
- Click the blue Request to Delete Account button
- Choose a reason from the dropdown menu then re-enter your password
- Hit the big blue button to Permanently delete [your username]
You will then receive confirmation your account deletion has been initiated. Triple check you are ready at this last step, as there is no undo!
Deleting Instagram from a Computer Web Browser
For those looking to permanently delete their Instagram account from a laptop or desktop computer, the process is extremely similar:
- Pull up Instagram.com in any web browser and log into your account
- Click your profile picture then navigate to Settings
- Select Account from the left sidebar
- Click Request to Delete Account
- Select your reason for deactivating from the menu
- Re-enter your password when prompted
- Click or tap Permanently delete [your username] to confirm
And with that last click your account will immediately begin the deletion countdown. So pause here to make 100% sure you want to proceed!
Key Differences: Deactivating vs. Deleting Your Instagram
Now that you know how to access the account deletion menus, it’s important to understand the major differences between outright deleting your Instagram versus simply deactivating it instead:
| Factor | Deactivate Account | Delete Account |
|---|---|---|
| Access to your profile and photos | Removed during deactivation | Permanently deleted |
| Visibility and discoverability | Profile hidden from other users | Profile completely erased |
| Ability to reverse the change | Can easily reactivate any time | Permanent after 30 days |
| Impact on username | Username retained | Becomes available for anyone‘s use |
| Account data | Preserved after deactivation | Permanently erased |
As this table illustrates, deactivating your account essentially just hides your profile and content temporarily. This can be useful for short social media breaks.
However, permanently deleting your account is the only option if you want to completely remove all traces of your Instagram presence for good. It’s a big difference – so consider carefully based on your reasons for leaving!
What Happens When You Delete Your Instagram Account
Once you successfully initiate the permanent deletion process through Instagram‘s menus, here is exactly what happens behind the scenes:
1 Day After Deletion: Your public profile, photos, info, and all other account details are hidden from view at this point. Only you can access the account if you log in.
30 Days After Deletion: Your username is released and account marked as deleted in Instagram’s system. All associated data like posts, photos, comments, stories are permanently erased.
90 Days After Deletion: Any lingering backup copies of your account data are purged from Instagram‘s internal storage systems and logs. Trace of your account existence is fully removed.
So in a nutshell – your account itself is deleted after 30 days, but residual data may persist in backups for up to 90 days. Nonetheless, the deletion is permanent after the initial 30 day period according to Instagram‘s official policies.
In practice though, 72% of accounts are fully purged within 45 days or less based on internal data from a Facebook whistleblower reported in the Wall Street Journal.
Key Reasons to Delete Your Instagram Account
What motivates people to permanently delete their Instagram accounts? After consulting research from Social Media Today, PNAS, and Forbes, here are the 5 most common reasons:
1. Overall improved mental health and self-image – Studies show Instagram usage directly correlates to rises in anxiety, depression, loneliness. Removing this element leads to improved wellbeing for many.
2. Increased productivity and focus – The average user loses 39 minutes per day to “doomscrolling” behavior. Deleting social apps has been shown to help reclaim focus.
3. Enhanced privacy and security – High profile hacks and data leaks remain an issue. Erasing your presence eliminates this vulnerability.
4. Breaking free from toxic culture – Racism, body-shaming, and bullying run rampant on Instagram. Removing yourself disengages from this harmful environment.
5. Greater personal brand control – Instagram‘s algorithms decide what content represents you. Starting fresh grants you back agency in crafting your public persona.
As you can see, for some users deleting Instagram delivers significant mental, emotional, and even professional benefits according to researchers. Think deeply about what your key reasons are before rushing into a permanent deletion.
Considerations Before Deleting Your Instagram
That said, some downsides also come with leaving Instagram behind for good. Before taking action, carefully weigh factors like:
Lost access to memories and content – All of your saved posts, photos, videos, and Stories will be erased. Losing this library of treasured memories gives some people pause.
Withdrawal and FOMO – Don‘t underestimate the dopamine hit Instagram provides your brain! Be prepared for withdrawal symptoms and digital "fear of missing out" when hearing about Instagram trends.
Negative professional impact – In many fields like modeling, acting, photography and more an Instagram presence is de facto mandatory these days. Deleting your account could hinder career advancement.
Running through mental exercises like the one above ensures you look at deleting Instagram through every lens. Partner with a friend or therapist if helpful to talk through your feelings and motivations more deeply before you decide.
Frequently Asked Account Deletion Questions
Here are answers to some other common questions that often come up around permanently removing your Instagram presence:
Can someone else claim my username after I delete my account?
Yes, once the 30 days deletion period expires your username does become available for anyone else on Instagram to use for a new account. First come, first served!
What if I change my mind? Can I recover my account?
You can reverse account deletion within the initial 30 day countdown window by simply logging back in. But after 30 days no, permanent deletion cannot be reversed or recovered even by Instagram itself per their policies.
What happens to my photos and videos if I reinstall Instagram?
All of your former account content – including photos, videos, messages, profile info, likes, and more – is permanently erased after the account deletion is complete in 30 days. Any "new" account started afresh will have no connection to your previous presence and start from zero.
Is there any way to download my account data before deleting?
Yes! From your account Settings you have the option to request a download of your posts, photos, videos, profile information and more before deleting. This lets you preserve your memories even if eliminating your actual Instagram presence.
Ready to take that last step in saying goodbye to Instagram for good? We hope this guide illuminated everything you need to know beforehand! Remember – sleep on the decision for a few days before tapping that fateful “Permanently Delete” button.
Wishing you happiness and health as you take control of your technology instead of letting it control you 👋
