You delete an Instagram account from the Accounts Center in the app or on the web by going to “Account ownership and control,” choosing “Deactivation or deletion,” and then selecting “Delete account” and confirming.

How do you delete an Instagram account?

Fast guide (permanent deletion)

Here’s the current, typical path inside the Instagram app (iOS and Android):

  1. Open Instagram and log in to the account you want to remove.
  1. Tap your profile icon (bottom right) to go to your profile.
  1. Tap the three lines (menu) in the top right.
  2. Tap Settings and privacy.
  1. Tap Accounts Center (usually at the top or under “See more in Accounts Center”).
  1. Go to Personal details.
  1. Tap Account ownership and control.
  1. Tap Deactivation or deletion.
  1. Choose the Instagram profile you want to delete (if you have more than one).
  1. Select Delete account , then tap Continue.
  1. Pick a reason for leaving, tap Continue , then enter your password.
  1. Scroll down and tap Delete account (or similar final button) to confirm.

Instagram typically keeps the account in a pending-delete state for about 30 days; if you log back in during that window, you can cancel the deletion and restore the account.

Temporarily deactivating instead

If you’re not 100% sure, you can deactivate (hide) your account rather than deleting it:

  • Follow the same steps up to Deactivation or deletion.
  • Choose the account, then select Deactivate account instead of delete.
  • Enter your password, choose a reason if asked, and confirm.

Deactivation hides your profile, posts, and comments until you log back in and reactivate.

Doing it from a browser

On a computer or mobile browser:

  1. Go to Instagram.com and log in.
  2. Click More (three lines) in the bottom-left, then Settings.
  1. Open Accounts Center from the settings area.
  1. Go to Personal details → Account ownership and control → Deactivation or deletion.
  1. Choose your account, select Delete account or Deactivate account , then follow the prompts to confirm.

Things to do before deleting

  • Download your data (photos, videos, messages) via Settings → Accounts Center → Your information and permissions → Download your information.
  • Unlink any connected apps or logins if you reuse the same email/phone elsewhere.
  • Remember: after the grace period, deletion is meant to be permanent and you may not be able to recover the username.

TL;DR: Open Instagram → Profile → Menu → Settings and privacy → Accounts Center → Personal details → Account ownership and control → Deactivation or deletion → pick account → Delete account → confirm with password and final button.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.