Instagram gives you 30 days to change your mind after you request deletion
When you request to delete your Instagram account, the account enters a 30-day grace period. During those 30 days, your profile, photos, comments, and likes are hidden from public view, but the account still exists in Instagram's system. If you log back in during this window, the deletion request cancels and your account returns to normal.
After 30 days pass with no login, Instagram permanently removes all your data. You cannot recover the account, your photos, your followers, or your follower list after that point. The username becomes available for someone else to use after a few months.
If you want to keep your photos but leave Instagram, deactivation is different from deletion — a deactivated account can be reactivated later, and your data stays on Instagram's servers. Deletion is the permanent option.
Key Takeaways
- Permanent deletion takes 30 days from the moment you request it, and you cannot undo it after those 30 days pass.
- Your account is hidden when ready when you request deletion, but your data is not erased until day 31.
- Logging in during the 30-day window cancels the deletion and restores your account to active status.
- You must request deletion from a web browser or the Instagram app — the process is not available from all devices.
- Instagram does not send a confirmation email or reminder before permanent deletion happens.
How to request deletion from your phone or computer
Open Instagram on a web browser (instagram.com) or the mobile app. Go to your profile by tapping or clicking your profile picture in the bottom right corner. Tap or click the menu icon (three horizontal lines on mobile, or the gear icon on web) and select Settings and privacy.
Scroll down and tap or click Help, then select Delete account. Instagram will show you information about what happens during the 30-day period and ask you to confirm your password. After you enter your password and confirm, the deletion request is submitted and your account becomes hidden.
Some older versions of the Instagram app may have the settings menu in a different location. If you cannot find the delete option, update your app to the latest version first.
What happens to your data during the 30-day waiting period
Your profile page disappears from search results and from other people's feeds. No one can see your photos, videos, stories, or comments. Your username is no longer searchable. However, Instagram keeps all of this data on its servers during the 30 days in case you change your mind.
Messages you sent to other people remain in their inboxes — deletion of your account does not erase your side of a conversation from someone else's direct messages. If you want those messages gone, you must delete them individually before you request account deletion.
If you have a business account or creator account linked to other services (like Facebook, TikTok, or a website), those connections are not automatically removed. You may need to disconnect them separately in your settings before deletion, depending on how they were set up.
What you lose that you cannot get back
After 30 days, your photos and videos are permanently deleted and cannot be recovered. You will not be able to read them from Instagram after the account is gone. If you want to keep copies of your photos, read them before you request deletion.
Your follower list and all your followers' information disappear. You cannot retrieve a list of who followed you. Any photos or videos you were tagged in by other people remain on their accounts, but your name is no longer linked to them.
Your username becomes available for someone else to use after a few months. You cannot reserve it or claim it again later. If your username is important to you for branding or personal reasons, consider whether deactivation (which keeps the username reserved) might work instead.
How to read your photos before deletion
Instagram lets you request a copy of your data before you delete the account. Go to Settings and privacy, tap or click How you use Instagram, then select read your information. Choose the date range and file format (HTML or JSON), then request the read.
Instagram will prepare a file containing your photos, videos, captions, and some metadata. You will receive an email with a link to read the file, usually within a few days. The file is available for read for a limited time, so save it to your computer or cloud storage as soon as you receive it.
This read does not stop the deletion process. You can request the read and then request account deletion separately, or do both at the same time.
Deactivation as an alternative to permanent deletion
If you are not sure about permanent deletion, deactivation hides your account without erasing your data. Your profile, photos, and followers list disappear from public view, but Instagram keeps everything. You can reactivate the account by logging in again at any point in the future.
Deactivation is found in the same Settings and privacy menu under Deactivate or delete account. Choose Deactivate account instead of delete. You will be asked why you are leaving and given the option to save your login information.
A deactivated account can be reactivated when ready by logging in, or it can stay hidden for years. There is no time limit. If you think you might want to return to Instagram in the future, deactivation is the safer choice.
What to do if you cannot find the delete option
The delete account option is only available through a web browser or the official Instagram app. It is not available through third-party apps or some older versions of the official app. Update your Instagram app to the latest version from the App Store or Google Play Store.
If you are using a web browser, go to instagram.com and log in to your account. Some browsers or devices may have trouble loading the settings page. Try a different browser (Chrome, Safari, Firefox, or Edge) if the delete option does not appear.
If you still cannot find the option, your account may have restrictions placed on it by Instagram (for violating community guidelines, for example). Contact Instagram's support team through the Help section in settings and describe the problem. They can tell you whether your account is restricted and what you need to do.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I cancel the deletion after I request it?
Yes, but only during the 30-day grace period. Log in to your account at any time before day 31, and the deletion request is cancelled. Your account returns to normal and is visible again. After 30 days pass without a login, the account is permanently deleted and cannot be recovered.
Will Instagram send me a reminder before my account is permanently deleted?
No. Instagram does not send a warning email or notification on day 29 or day 30. The deletion happens automatically after 30 days. If you requested deletion and changed your mind, log in before the 30 days are up.
What happens to photos I was tagged in by other people?
Those photos stay on other people's accounts. Your name is removed from the tag, but the photo itself remains. The person who posted it can still see it and share it. Deletion of your account does not remove you from other people's photos.
Can I delete my account if I have a business or creator account?
Yes. The deletion process is the same whether you have a personal, business, or creator account. However, if your business account is connected to a Facebook business page, you may want to disconnect it first in settings. Deletion of the Instagram account does not delete the Facebook page.
Is there a way to keep my username after I delete my account?
No. Once your account is permanently deleted, the username becomes available for someone else to use. If your username is valuable to you, deactivation is a better choice because it keeps the username reserved indefinitely.