How to Delete an Instagram Account in 2023 and Beyond
Instagram is one of the most popular social media platforms in the world, with over a billion active users per month. However, sometimes you may want to delete your Instagram Account for various reasons, such as privacy, mental health, productivity, or simply moving on to other platforms.
If you are looking for a way to delete your Instagram Account permanently or temporarily, this guide will show you how to do it step by step. We will also cover some important things you should know before deleting your account, such as what happens to your data, how to download your data, how to undo the deletion, and how to find alternatives to Instagram.
But before we dive into the details, let’s first understand what are the differences between deleting and deactivating your Instagram account.
Deleting vs. Deactivating Your Instagram Account
Deleting your Instagram account means that you will permanently remove your account, profile, photos, videos, comments, likes, and followers from Instagram. You will not be able to reactivate your account or retrieve any content or information that was in it. The account username will be soon made available for anyone to claim.
Deactivating your Instagram account means that you will temporarily disable your account, profile, photos, videos, comments, likes, and followers from Instagram. You will be able to reactivate your account anytime by logging back in. Your account username will be reserved for you and no one else can use it.
The main difference between deleting and deactivating your Instagram account is the duration and reversibility of the action. Deleting your account is permanent and irreversible while deactivating your account is temporary and reversible.
Depending on your situation and preference, you may choose either option to get rid of your Instagram account. However, before you make the final decision, you should consider some factors that may affect your choice.
Things to Consider Before Deleting Your Instagram Account
Deleting your Instagram account is a big decision that should not be taken lightly. There are some things you should consider before you proceed with the deletion process, such as:
Your data: Once you delete your Instagram account, all your data, including your profile, photos, videos, comments, likes, and followers, will be permanently deleted. You will not be able to access or recover them in any way. If you have any important or sentimental data that you want to keep, you should download your data before deleting your account. We will show you how to do that later in this guide.
Your username: Once you delete your Instagram account, your username will be soon made available for anyone to claim. You will not be able to use it again if you decide to create a new account in the future. If you have a unique or branded username that you want to preserve, you should deactivate your account instead of deleting it. That way, you can still reserve your username and reactivate your account anytime you want.
Your connections: Once you delete your Instagram account, you will lose all your connections with other users on the platform, such as your followers, following, friends, family, and influencers. You will not be able to see their posts, stories, reels, or messages, nor will they be able to see yours. If you have any valuable or meaningful connections that you want to maintain, you should either inform them of your decision and exchange other contact information, or deactivate your account instead of deleting it. That way, you can still stay in touch with them and resume your interactions when you reactivate your account.
Your alternatives: Once you delete your Instagram account, you will not be able to use the platform or its features anymore. You will not be able to share your photos, videos, stories, reels, or messages with your audience, nor will you be able to discover new content, trends, or people on the platform. If you still want to use a social media platform that offers similar or better features than Instagram, you should look for alternatives before deleting your account. We will show you some of the best alternatives to Instagram later in this guide.
How to Download Your Instagram Data Before Deleting Your Account
As we mentioned earlier, deleting your Instagram account will permanently delete all your data from the platform. If you have any data that you want to keep, such as your photos, videos, stories, or messages, you should download your data before deleting your account.
Downloading your data from Instagram is relatively simple. You can do it either from the Instagram app on your phone or the Instagram website on your computer. Here are the steps for both methods:
From the Instagram App on Your Phone
Open the Instagram app on your phone and tap the profile icon at the bottom right corner.
Tap the three-line menu icon at the top right corner and tap Settings.
Tap Security and then tap Download Data.
Enter your email address and tap Request Download. You will receive an email with a link to download your data within 48 hours.
Open the email from Instagram and tap the Download Data link. You will be redirected to the Instagram website and asked to log in to your account.
Enter your password and tap login. You will see a list of files that contain your data. Tap each file to download it to your phone.
From the Instagram Website on Your Computer
Go to the Instagram website on your computer and log in to your account.
Click the profile icon at the top right corner and click Settings.
Click Privacy and Security and then click Request Download under Data Download.
Enter your email address and click Next. You will receive an email with a link to download your data within 48 hours.
Open the email from Instagram and click the Download Data link. You will be redirected to the Instagram website and asked to log in to your account.
Enter your password and click Log In. You will see a list of files that contain your data. Click each file to download it to your computer.
The files that you download will contain your data in JSON format, which is a common format for storing and exchanging data. You can open these files with any text editor or JSON viewer. The files will include information such as:
- Your profile information, such as your name, username, bio, and profile picture.
- Your photos, videos, stories, and reels that you have posted or archived on Instagram.
- Your comments and likes that you have made or received on Instagram.
- Your messages and media that you have sent or received on Instagram Direct.
- Your contacts and connections that you have followed or unfollowed on Instagram.
- Your settings and preferences that you have chosen on Instagram.
- Your searches and explore activities that you have performed on Instagram.
Your shopping activity and saved products that you have viewed or purchased on Instagram.
How to Delete Your Instagram Account Permanently
If you have decided to delete your Instagram account permanently, you will need to visit the Delete Your Account page on the Instagram website. You cannot delete your account from the Instagram app on your phone. Here are the steps to delete your Instagram account permanently:
Go to the Delete Your Account page on the Instagram website on your phone or computer. You may need to log in to your account if you are not already logged in.
Select a reason for deleting your account from the drop-down menu. You will need to select a reason before proceeding. If you do not see a reason that matches your situation, you can select Something else.
Re-enter your password in the field below the drop-down menu. You will need to enter your password to confirm your identity and intention.
Click or tap the Delete [username] button. You will see a confirmation message that your account has been deleted and you will be logged out of Instagram.
Once you delete your Instagram account, you will have 14 days to change your mind and undo the deletion. To do that, you will need to log back into your account within 14 days and follow the instructions to cancel the deletion. After 14 days, your account and all its data will be permanently deleted and you will not be able to recover them.
How to Deactivate Your Instagram Account Temporarily
If you are not ready to delete your Instagram account permanently, you can deactivate your account temporarily. This will disable your account, profile, photos, videos, comments, likes, and followers from Instagram, but you will be able to reactivate your account anytime by logging back in. Your account username will be reserved for you and no one else can use it.
To deactivate your Instagram account temporarily, you will need to visit the Edit Profile page on the Instagram website. You cannot deactivate your account from the Instagram app on your phone. Here are the steps to deactivate your Instagram account temporarily:
Go to the Edit Profile page on the Instagram website on your phone or computer. You may need to log in to your account if you are not already logged in.
Click or tap the Temporarily disable my account link at the bottom right corner of the page. You will be taken to the Temporarily Disable Your Account page.
Select a reason for disabling your account from the drop-down menu. You will need to select a reason before proceeding. If you do not see a reason that matches your situation, you can select Something else.
Re-enter your password in the field below the drop-down menu. You will need to enter your password to confirm your identity and intention.
Click or tap the Temporarily Disable Account button. You will see a confirmation message that your account has been disabled and you will be logged out of Instagram.
Once you deactivate your Instagram account, you can reactivate your account anytime by logging back in. Your account, profile, photos, videos, comments, likes, and followers will be restored as they were before you deactivated your account.
Alternatives to Instagram in 2023 and Beyond
If you are looking for alternatives to Instagram that offer similar or better features, such as photo and video sharing, editing, filters, stories, reels, messaging, and social networking, you may want to check out some of these platforms:
Twitter: Twitter is a great platform for photographers who want to engage with a large community and participate in photography-related discussions. The platform now supports higher-resolution images of up to 5MB for photos on mobile, and up to 15MB on the web. It also lets users tweet pictures in 4K1
BeReal: BeReal is an anti-Instagram app that only allows users to upload still photographs. The app only allows users to post one photo per day and only at a randomized specific time. BeReal wants users to focus on sharing authentic posts so there are no editing tools or filters on the app1
Flickr: Flickr is a popular photo-sharing platform that offers a wide range of features, including photo and video sharing, editing, filters, stories, and social networking. The platform also offers a free terabyte of storage space for users2
Tumblr: Tumblr is a microblogging platform that allows users to share photos, videos, and other multimedia content. The platform also offers a wide range of customization options, including themes, fonts, and colors2
500px: 500px is a photo-sharing platform that is designed for professional photographers. The platform offers a wide range of features, including photo and video sharing, editing, filters, stories, and social networking1
Conclusion:
Deleting your Instagram account is a big decision that should not be taken lightly. There are many things to consider before you delete or deactivate your account, such as your data, username, connections, and alternatives. In this guide, we have shown you how to download your data, how to delete your account permanently, how to deactivate your account temporarily, and how to find the best alternatives to Instagram in 2023 and beyond. We hope this guide has helped you make an informed choice and find the best platform for your needs. Thank you for reading and happy socializing!
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