Sometimes you might want to log out of Instagram, whether for personal, professional or security reasons. So how do you go about deleting your account on this platform? What are the consequences of such a decision? And how do you get your data back if you change your mind? In the rest of this article, we'll take you through the steps you need to take to irreversibly delete your Instagram account.
Deleting an account on Instagram: what do you need to know?
It's essential to take certain considerations into account before deleting your Instagram account, the most important of which are as follows:
Definitive deletion
If you decide to delete your Instagram account, all of your information, including your profile, photos, videos, comments, likes, and latest instagram followerswill be permanently deleted. There will be no way to recover this data once the account has been deleted.
Temporary pause
If you simply want to take a break from Instagram without permanently deleting your account, you can instead choose to temporarily deactivate your account. This will allow you to hide your profile and content without deleting them. You'll be able to reactivate your account by simply logging back in.
Security
For security reasons, Instagram cannot delete an account for you. In order to delete your account, you must have access to it.
Data download
Before deleting your account, we recommend that you log in to your account and download a copy of your information, such as your photos and posts. Instagram offers a data download tool that allows you to save these items to your device.
How do I delete an Instagram account?
Here are the steps to follow to delete an account on Instagram:
Permanently deleting an Instagram account from a computer
To permanently delete your Instagram account from your computer, here's what to do:
- Go to the "Delete your account" page on the Instagram website. If you're not already logged into your Instagram account on the web, you'll be prompted to log in;
- On the "Delete your account" page, choose an option from the drop-down menu entitled "Why do you want to delete [account name]" and re-enter your password;
- Please note that the option to permanently deactivate your account will only appear after you have selected a reason from the menu and entered your password;
- Once you have chosen a reason and entered your password, click on "Remove [username]" to confirm the deletion of your account;
- Once this action has been taken, your Instagram account will be permanently deleted, and all associated data will be irreversibly lost.
It is essential to note that this action does not allow you to go back in time, and that there will be no way of recovering your account or associated data after deletion. Please take the time to think carefully before proceeding with this step.
Deleting another Instagram account
If you want to delete another Instagram account (not the one you're currently logged in with), here are the steps to follow:
- Click on the username at the top right of the Instagram page to access your profile ;
- Click on the three small dots next to "Edit profile";
- From the drop-down menu, select "Logout" to log out of the current account;
- Once you have logged out, you can log back in with the account you wish to delete;
- Follow the above instructions to access the "Delete your account" page and proceed to definitive account deletion.
By following these steps, you'll be able to delete another Instagram account for which you have the necessary access and rights. Make sure you're logged in to the right account before proceeding with the deletion, as this action is irreversible.
By the way, we also have an article on how to hack an Insta accountwhich may be of interest to you.
Can I re-register on Instagram after deleting my account?
Be aware that after deleting your account, you have the option of re-registering using the same username or adding that username to another account, provided it hasn't already been taken by a new user on Instagram.
Furthermore, if your account has been deleted due to a breach of the Community Rules, you may not be able to re-register with the same username. Within 30 days of your request to delete your account, your account and all your information will be permanently deleted, and you will no longer be able to retrieve them. During this period, the content of your account remains subject to Instagram's Terms of Use and Privacy Policy, and will not be accessible to other users of the platform.
The deletion process can last up to 90 days. Copies of your content may be retained after this period in the backup system, used to recover your data in the event of loss, disaster or software error. Instagram also reserves the right to retain your information for legal reasons, in the event of a breach of the Terms and Conditions or for risk prevention measures, in accordance with its Privacy Policy.
If you're sure you want to permanently delete your Instagram account, you need to have backed up important information beforehand, because once the account is deleted, there will be no way to get it back. Take the time to think about this decision, as it will have a permanent impact on your presence and activity on the platform.
