How to Delete Your Old Instagram Account
As of my last update in 2023, Instagram allows users to delete their old accounts in a few simple steps. If you’re a former Instagram user, you’re likely curious about how to return to your account or delete it altogether. In this article, we’ll provide you with the step-by-step process for deleting your old Instagram account.
Step 1: Confirm Your Account is Unfollowed
Before you start deleting your account, it’s essential to ensure that your old account is not being used or mentioned by anyone. One way to confirm this is to check your account’s Following list. Look for profiles that have unfollowed you or profiles that you have mutual with. If you find any of these profiles, you can click on their name to unfollow them. You can also use the Instagram app to unfollow accounts that you’ve unfollowed manually.
Step 2: Find Your Account Information
To delete your old account, you’ll need to find your account information. You can do this by:
- Logging into your Google account, if you created Instagram and Gmail accounts together
- Opening the Instagram app and tapping on your profile picture or username
- Looking for your account information in your account settings or on your Instagram profile page
Step 3: Log Out of Other Instagram Accounts
To ensure that your old account is deleted without any conflicts with other Instagram accounts, you should log out of other accounts that have access to your old account. This includes:
- Facebook accounts
- Email accounts
- Other social media platforms
Step 4: Delete Your Account
Once you’ve confirmed that your old account is unfollowed and logged out of other accounts, you can delete your old account. To do this:
- Log into your Google account, if you created Instagram and Gmail accounts together
- Click on the "Settings" icon in the top right corner of the Instagram app
- Select Your Account from the dropdown menu
- Scroll down to the Delete account section
- Click on "Delete account" to confirm
Alternatively, you can delete your old account directly by:
- Tapping on your profile picture or username in the Instagram app
- Clicking on "Edit profile"
- Scroll down to the Delete account section
- Click on "Delete account" to confirm
Step 5: Wait for Deletion Confirmation
After you’ve deleted your old account, wait for Instagram to confirm the deletion process. This usually takes a few minutes. Keep an eye on your account settings or your profile page for a confirmation message or email.
Step 6: Verify Your Account Deletion
To ensure that your old account has been deleted successfully, you should verify that it’s no longer active. You can do this by:
- Checking your account settings or profile page
- Looking for notifications from Instagram
- Checking your account’s Account activity tab
Important Notes:
- If you’ve deleted your old account, you won’t be able to recover it.
- If you’ve deleted your old account and then used Instagram to create a new account, the new account will inherit your old account’s data, including your profile, followers, and content.
- Instagram may use your old account information when it starts generating content for you or when you log into other social media platforms with your old account credentials.
Additional Tips:
- Don’t try to delete your old account if you’re not ready. Deleting an account is a serious process, and you should wait until you’re confident that you want to delete it.
- Be cautious when deleting your old account. If you’re concerned about the safety of your data, you may want to create a new account using a new email address or phone number.
- Consider reporting your old account. If you’re not ready to delete your old account, you can report it to Instagram for removal. This may take some time, and Instagram will review your account before deleting it.
By following these steps, you should be able to delete your old Instagram account and start fresh.