How to delete your Instagram account and data

Step 1: Download your photos and information (optional)

To keep a copy of your photos, posts, and messages, request it first in Accounts Center > Your information and permissions > Download your information. Meta prepares the file and notifies you when it's ready.

Step 2: Delete your account

1. In the Instagram app, go to your profile and tap the menu (three lines) in the top corner.
2. Tap Accounts Center, then Personal details > Account ownership and control > Deactivation or deletion.
3. Choose the Instagram account you want to delete, select Delete account, and follow the prompts.

If you have several Instagram accounts, repeat this for each one. Deleting one doesn't delete the others.

What happens next

• 30 days to cancel. Logging back in during this time cancels the deletion.
• Up to 90 days for Meta to finish deleting your photos, videos, comments, and other content.
• Threads is linked to Instagram. If you use Threads with this account, check what will happen to it on the deletion screen before you confirm.
• Your username may become available for someone else to claim.

Your legal right to deletion

If you live in a state with a consumer privacy law, such as California, Colorado, Connecticut, Maryland, Minnesota, or Oregon, Meta generally has to honor your deletion request and respond within the deadline your state sets. See what your state's law requires.

Instagram is probably not the only one

Most people have dozens of companies holding their information, from old shopping accounts to apps they've forgotten. DataTrail scans your inbox (read-only) to find them all, flags the ones with data breaches, and writes the deletion requests for you.

Become a tester

Sources: Instagram Help: How to permanently delete your account and Security.org on Meta Accounts Center. DataTrail isn't affiliated with Instagram. Menus and policies change; if a step looks different, check Instagram's help center. This guide is general information, not legal advice.