Instagram really doesn’t want to see you go. Meta has made the procedure complex and multiplies the warnings to those who would no longer like to keep their account. Here’s what to do if you want to leave this network.
Want to quit Instagram? If so, you must have noticed that the procedure is far from obvious. Social networks want to keep you in their midst and don’t like the idea of people wanting to leave them.
In 2018, following the Cambridge Analytica scandal, it emerged that private data on Facebook could be used for election manipulation. From there, a movement took shape, prompting people to unsubscribe from Facebook. Another reason that may lead to deserting a social network is the realization that this type of service is very time consuming.
Whatever social network you want to leave, the procedure is rarely easy and this is particularly true on Instagram. We’ll make it easy for you with two direct links to the pages to this.
Disable or delete?
You are actually offered two options: deactivate or delete your Instagram account. Only the second action is final. Very often, it is advisable to deactivate your account. You will no longer be able to access it. However, if in six months or a year, the desire returns to post photos or videos, it will then be possible to restore your account.
Procedure from a web browser or from an iPhone
If you are using the Instagram app from an iPhone, for you the procedure is slightly simplified. See the last section of this article. Otherwise, shutting down your account requires using a web browser.
Type the address instagram.com. Enter your name and password if required.
Deactivate his account
To deactivate your account, click on this link: https://www.instagram.com/accounts/remove/request/temporary/
Instagram asks you why you want to deactivate your account. Select one of the options. As you can see, on almost all options, Instagram will try to change your mind by offering solutions. If you choose the option ” It’s temporary, I’ll be back Instagram asks you to indicate after how many days the account can be automatically reactivated.
Then enter your password. Finally, click on Disable temporarily your account / Temporarily Deactivate account.
Delete Instagram account
Download your data
If you’re tempted to delete your account once and for all, first be sure to download any data you may have uploaded.
- Type the address instagram.com. Enter your name and password if required.
- Your profile icon appears on the right. Click on it.
- On the left, a vertical menu appears. Locate the icon with three overlapping lines at the bottom of this menu and click on it. A pop-up menu appears.
- The first mention is titled Settings / Parameters. Click on it.
- In the Privacy and Security / Sécurité et Confidentialité menu, locate the Data Download / Download data section and request a download. It might be good to do the operation twice: once in HTML format and once in JSON format.
Effective deletion of your account
To be able to delete your account, click on this link: https://www.instagram.com/accounts/remove/request/permanent/
Instagram asks you the reason for your departure and then offers you various solutions that could lead you to change your mind. If you are determined to quit Instagram once and for all, provide your password. Then, to complete the account deletion, click on Delete.
If the operation does not seem possible
If for some obscure reason Instagram did not give you access to these opt-out/removal pages, you can first try the following – on the instagram.com site from a web browser.
- On the left, a vertical menu appears. Locate the icon with three overlapping lines and click on it. A pop-up menu appears.
- The first mention is titled Settings / Parameters. Click on it.
- Now the thing becomes subtle. Scroll down this page. You will see on the right of the vertical menu the Meta logo and a mention Account Center / Espace Comptes. Click on it.
- A new page opens: Accounts Center / Accounts Area. On the right are your Meta accounts. And chances are none of your accounts will show up. You will see a mention: Add accounts / add accounts.
- Select Add Instagram account.
- A page opens with your Instagram credentials. Log in.
- Allow access to your Instagram account.
- You can then try one of the procedures indicated above for deactivating or deleting the account.
Deactivate or delete your account from an iPhone
If you are using an iPhone, the procedure is simpler:
- open the Instagram app;
- open your Profile – icon at the bottom right;
- on your Profile page, open the menu symbolized by 3 superimposed lines, at the top and on the right;
- choose Settings – the very first option;
- select Account;
- At the bottom of the Account page, you may see a Delete Account option.
Instagram displays a page inviting you to Deactivate the account rather than deleting it, knowing that this last option is final.
From there, like when you operate from the web, Instagram will ask you why you left and try to hold you back. However, you can confirm your choice.
