Hanging out on social media is one of our society’s favorite pastimes. In fact, users worldwide spend more than two hours on their preferred platforms every day.

It’s easy to understand why – social media like Instagram allow us to connect with our far-flung loved ones, see the latest from brands we love, and keep up with the news. Plus, there’s all that adorable pet content and mouth-watering food snaps.

But as fun and compelling as Instagram can be, sometimes, you need a break. Taking one can be a tough decision: you may worry it’s too drastic a move or stress about losing account data.

Fortunately, there are different ways to say goodbye to Instagram, including temporary routes. Read on to learn how to remove your Instagram account or delete it for good.

Removing versus deleting an Instagram account

To remove or delete? That’s the question. These two terms are generally synonyms, but they mean different things when it comes to your Instagram account.

Removing an Instagram account refers to taking a remembered profile off your device. When you install Instagram on your phone and log in, the platform will then automatically open your profile (or profiles, if you have several accounts) when you head over to the app in the future.

You might consider removing your Instagram account from a shared device where you logged in once, like a family tablet, or to declutter your app. If you want to remove Instagram from your phone to take a break from the platform, that’s a little different. In this case, you can simply uninstall IG from your phone and reinstall it when you’re ready to return.

Removing your account or the Instagram app from a device doesn’t delete your profile. Keeping the terms straight is important because deleting an account is far more permanent. When you delete your Instagram profile, you lose all your likes, comments, posts, and followers – and it’s irreversible.

If that sounds a bit extreme, we have good news: there’s a middle ground. When you don’t want to delete your account and all your data but want a more lasting solution than removing the app from your phone, you can deactivate your account. This action hides your profile, comments, and likes in the short term. When you activate your account again, all this information is restored.

When should you delete your Instagram account?

With options for taking a temporary step back from Instagram, deleting an account may seem over the top. So, when should users scrap their presence on the ’gram? Here are a few scenarios:

• You need to rebrand: You may consider phasing out your current Instagram account to switch up your personal or professional image. For example, if your business has changed its name, you should create a new profile under the correct moniker and delete the old account so your clients aren’t confused. On the other hand, you might not need to eliminate your current account when you undergo a personal image change. Instead, clear old photos and focus on new content.
• You want to protect a young user: If you’re a guardian concerned about a child’s Instagram use, you can discuss your concerns with this young user. If necessary, you can move to delete their account and remove all of its data.
• You have too many accounts: Some create accounts for their food pics, dog snaps, baby photos, small business posts, and fitness journey updates. Running all these accounts well takes a lot of time, so you may want to consolidate by getting rid of some. There are other ways to segment information on Instagram, such as creating Story highlights for different content pillars.

How to remove an Instagram account

Whether you logged into IG on your friend’s phone or have multiple accounts and want to remove one from your Instagram app, you’re a few taps away from getting the job done. Here’s how to remove an Instagram account without deleting it:

Android

1. Open the Instagram app on your Android device and navigate to the account you wish to remove.
2. Tap your profile icon in the bottom right corner of the screen.
3. Tap the hamburger menu (three horizontal lines) in the top right corner of the screen.
4. From the pop-up menu, tap on “Settings.”
5. Hit “Log out.” Instagram will offer to remember your login information, so tap “Not now” or uncheck the box for this feature to remove the account.

iOS

1. Open the Instagram app on your Apple iPhone and navigate to the account you wish to remove.
2. Tap your profile icon in the bottom right of the screen.
3. Tap the hamburger menu (three horizontal lines) in the top right corner of the screen.
4. From the pop-up menu, tap on “Settings.”
5. Select “Security.”
6. Tap on “Select saved login information.”
7. Toggle the slider to the off position.
8. Confirm your choice by tapping “Remove.”
9. Navigate back two screens, scroll down, and tap “Log out.” Instagram will offer to remember your login information, so tap “Not now” to complete the removal of your account.

Removing a remembered account from a device isn’t the same as deleting the app. If you wish to remove IG from your phone, head to your device’s app store and follow the on-screen prompts for uninstalling the software.

How to deactivate an Instagram account

’Grammers who want to take a breather from Instagram can temporarily disable their account. Doing so provides all the same of deleting their profile without permanently losing any posts, interactions, or data. Here’s how to deactivate an IG account:

Mobile

This process is only available for iPhones. Android users have to deactivate using a web browser.

1. Open Instagram on your iPhone and navigate to the profile you wish to deactivate.
2. Tap the hamburger menu (three horizontal lines) in the top right corner of the screen.
3. Select “Account.”
4. Tap “Account ownership and control.”
5. Tap “Deactivation.”
6. Select the account you wish to deactivate.
7. Tap “Deactivate account,” then “Continue.”

Desktop

1. Log into instagram.com in your browser.
2. Click your profile icon, then hit “Profile.”
3. Click “Edit profile.”
4. Click “Temporarily deactivate my account” at the bottom right of the scroll.
5. Select an option for why you’re deactivating your account from the drop-down menu.
6. Re-enter your password.
7. Click “Temporarily deactivate account” and “Yes” to confirm.

How to delete an Instagram account

When it’s time to take the leap and erase an Instagram account forever, be sure you’re comfortable losing any associated data.

Here’s how to remove an Instagram account permanently from the Metaverse by deleting all traces of it:

Mobile (iOS)

1. Open the Instagram app on your mobile device.
2. Tap your profile icon in the bottom right of the screen.
3. Tap the hamburger menu (three horizontal lines) in the top right corner of the screen.
4. From the pop-up menu, select “Settings.”
5. Tap “Account.”
6. Tap “Delete account” and confirm your choice.

Mobile (Android)

1. Open the Instagram app on your mobile device.
2. Tap your profile icon in the bottom right of the screen.
3. Tap the hamburger menu (three horizontal lines) in the top right corner of the screen.
4. Select “Settings and privacy.”
5. Tap “See more in Accounts Center,” then “Personal details.”
6. Tap “Account ownership and control,” then “Deactivation or deletion.”
7. Select the account you wish to delete permanently.
8. Tap “Delete account,” then “Continue.”

If these options don’t appear in the Android version of the app on your device, you can delete your account on a web browser using the instructions below.

Desktop

1. Open instagram.com and log in to your account.
2. Open the account deletion page.
3. Identify why you want to delete the account.
4. Hit “Delete.”

Become great at the ’gram with Linktree

Feeling empowered by your new IG knowledge? Don’t stop there. Learn more about how this app’s settings and features work with Linktree.

Our blog is a robust – and free – resource for businesses, influencers, and casual users. Read up on how to change your email address, mute another user, unblock someone, turn off your active status, and more.

And don’t forget about your Instagram bio. It may be limited to 150 characters, but it’s the perfect spot to direct followers to the rest of your web presence. Adding a Linktree to your bio allows you to link out to other platforms like Twitter, TikTok, and a personal website, all in one place.