How To Delete Instagram – A Comprehensive Guide

Profile photo of Karen Lin, author

Karen Lin

Instagram 101 | May 22, 2024

Want More Real Instagram Followers?

With the new year, maybe you’ve been considering taking a digital break or a complete revamp of your digital habits. The good news is there is a way to permanently delete your Instagram account. Many people choose to live offline or eliminate their presence on social media for their mental health.

In this blog, learn how to delete Instagram permanently. Are you looking for a digital detox to refocus your brand strategy? Maybe you’re looking to reclaim precious time to invest in other marketing channels. Or are you simply tired of the comparison game that leaves you feeling burnt out? Deleting your Instagram account may help you.

Let’s break free from the perfect square and create a more fulfilling brand or influencer journey off of Instagram.

A person holding a black Android phone with an Instagram logo on its screen.

How To Delete Instagram Account

It is advisable to save your account data before deleting it. After that, you will have two options for deleting your account: permanent or temporary. Once you decide on permanent dissociation from Instagram, here’s how to delete your Instagram account.

  1.  Log Into Your Account

Sign in to the Instagram account using your personal details. You can complete the process on your mobile browser or the mobile app. The same steps apply to web applications.

  1. Access Account Settings

Click on the profile picture at the bottom of your screen. Click on the hamburger menu in the top left of your screen to access your profile’s settings. Then, click on “Settings” and then select “Account.”

  1. Choose “Delete Your Account”

Scroll down to locate the “Delete Your Account” option in your account’s settings. Afterward, a drop-down menu will appear asking, “Why do you want to delete your account?” Choose an option or click “Other.”

Once you make your choice, Instagram will provide other recommendations. For example, if you select ‘Too busy/too distracting,’ you’ll get instructions on temporarily removing the app from your phone.

  1. Verify Your Decision

To ensure the security of user accounts, Instagram requires users to verify their deletion requests. At the screen, type in your password to confirm your action.

If you want to delete your Instagram account, do so by accessing the “Edit Profile” button below your profile picture. Click “Personal information settings” and go to “Account ownership and control.” Next, select “Deactivation or Deletion” and click “Deletion.” Enter your password to confirm the action.

When you finish this step, you can no longer access your Instagram account. If your decision changes, you can activate it again within 30 days. Instagram will permanently remove your account after this period.

How To Delete Instagram Post

Users on Instagram can share their photos and videos as memories. However, there might be times when one would like to delete a particular post from their profile. Keeping control of the content you publish on Instagram is easy with the simple procedure of deleting posts.

If you want to remove one Instagram post, here’s how to delete an Instagram post:

  1. Log in to your Instagram account through a mobile web browser or desktop.
  2. To access your profile, simply click on your profile photo.
  3. Go through your profile until you find the post you want to remove.
  4. Tap the three dots in the upper right corner for a menu.
  5. Choose “Delete” from the menu. Instagram will ask you to confirm the action. Once confirmed, Instagram will permanently remove the post from your profile.

How To Mass Delete Instagram Posts

Before deleting all Instagram posts, back up your content, then you can delete them in bulk.

Here is how to mass delete Instagram posts easily:

  1. Go to your Instagram profile and look for the three-line hamburger menu on the top right.
  2. Choose “Your activity” from the list of options. You can get a summary of all your app-related interactions and postings here.
  3. Access your Instagram feed posts by clicking the “Posts” image.
  4. Pick all the Instagram posts you want to remove at once. Use the filter to see your oldest posts first. If you want to remove all postings from a certain period, you can choose a range of dates.
  5. After you select, the system will allow you to delete or archive the content. Click on the Delete button and confirm your choice in the pop-up window.
  6. Once you complete the mass deletion, it permanently removes the selected Instagram posts from your profile.

A woman is taking a picture of graffiti on the wall with her iPhone to post on Instagram. 

How To Delete Instagram Messages

Users often discover the need to control their online presence in the dynamic world of social media. People can keep control of their interactions and privacy on Instagram since deleting messages is easy. Here is how to delete Instagram messages:

  1. Open your Instagram account
  2. Tap on the paper airplane symbol in the upper right corner of your screen to access Direct Messages.
  3. Find the message you want to delete. Tap and hold on to the specific message or messages. 
  4. For iPhone users, swipe left on the conversation you wish to delete. On Android devices, tap and hold the conversation you want to remove.
  5. To confirm the deletion, a confirmation window will show. Confirm to complete the process.

How To Recover Deleted Messages on Instagram?

Recovering lost Instagram messages could be necessary at times. There isn’t an “undo” button on the platform, but other ways to retrieve deleted messages exist. Here’s how to recover deleted messages on Instagram:

  • Get in Touch With Instagram Support

If you cannot locate important messages in the archive, contact Instagram support for assistance. Here’s the process for requesting Instagram Data to recover deleted messages:

  1. Access Instagram and click on the Profile avatar. Choose “Your activity” to view your Instagram activity.
  2. Next, tap on “Download your information” to initiate the download of your Instagram data.
  3. Click on “Request Download” and provide your password when prompted.
  4. Upon receiving the email, open it and select “Download Information.” Navigate to the Messages folder, where you will find an archive of your recovered chats.

  • Third-Party Recovery Solutions

You can get back deleted Instagram messages with the help of third-party solutions like Dr Fone, Ufone, iMyFone, etc. To ensure your account’s security, use caution while using these tools and check their legitimacy.

A person is commenting on an Instagram post using their Android phone.

How To Delete a Comment on Instagram

Deleting a comment on Instagram is a simple process. It allows users to manage and curate the content associated with their posts. Here is how to delete a comment on Instagram:

Navigate to the specific post containing the comment you want to delete. Scroll down to the comments section. Select the comment you want to remove. Each comment has a set of options next to it.

  1. Tap the three dots or the trash can icon next to the comment. This will prompt a menu of options.
  2. Select “Delete” or any similar option in the menu to confirm your action.

Note that you perform the deletion of a comment unilaterally, and once you remove it, you cannot recover the comment. The original commenter cannot delete comments on other users’ posts unless they have the necessary permissions.

This way, users, especially those with Meta verified accounts, can maintain a clean and positive comment section on their posts. This fosters a more enjoyable and engaging social media experience.

Delete Several Comments at Once

Removing Instagram comments often involves selecting multiple comments from the same user or under a particular post. You can delete comments meeting these criteria and implement filtering based on specific words.

To execute this, follow these steps:

  1. Tap the three dots located on the post, Reel, or IGTV.
  2. Activate the “Turn Off Commenting” button.

If you wish to enable comments again, use the same process. Turning on comments will restore old comments.

Unfortunately, there isn’t a universal button to turn off comments on all your Instagram publications simultaneously. If necessary, you can turn off comments individually. However, you can efficiently remove comments from a specific user or contain particular words in a single action.

A woman using her laptop to unfollow people on Instagram.

How To Mass Unfollow on Instagram

For Instagram influencers aiming to foster an engaged community of followers, understanding how to mass unfollow Instagram is crucial. The number of accounts you follow can significantly impact your online reputation, influencing your ability to attract and retain followers. Moreover, eliminating unwanted clutter from your account allows you to start anew, focusing on more meaningful and productive interactions.

To get rid of accounts one has subscribed to in the past, individuals can only achieve this by mass unfollowing. This includes idle, non-contributing, and inactive accounts. Moreover, you can remove problematic social media bot accounts acquired from marketing strategies such as buying free Instagram comments.

While mass unfollowing might initially seem daunting, the process is surprisingly simple, and the benefits are well worth the effort.

Using Mobile Device

If you want to stick with using your mobile device, it is pretty straightforward. Below are a few easy steps to follow:

  1. Navigate to your profile page.
  2. Click on the “Following” tab.
  3. Choose the “Least Interacted With” option.
  4. Tap “Remove” for each account you wish to unfollow.

Using Third-Party Application

The process becomes even more streamlined if you opt for a mass unfollow application. Follow these steps:

  1. After logging in to the app, view a list of all users you are following, each with a checkbox.
  2. Tap the checkbox next to the profiles you want to unfollow, selecting as many as desired.
  3. Tap the “Tick” icon at the top of the screen to unfollow all selected accounts at once.
  4. The main screen will refresh, displaying the remaining users.
  5. Continue by selecting any additional accounts you wish to remove.

Influencers can use certain methods to manage their followers and maintain their brand authenticity on Instagram. By doing so, they can effectively engage their audience on their Instagram pages. One such method is mass unfollowing, which can be done manually or with the help of an application. This approach is particularly useful for influencers who want to create a more curated and impactful online presence.

Boost Your Social Following With Path Social

Understanding how to delete your Instagram account can help manage your digital presence and focus on your well-being. However, it’s important to weigh the pros and cons thoughtfully. Take a moment to consider if putting your Instagram activity on hold is genuinely beneficial for you. 

Path Social provides cutting-edge AI targeting and a dedicated in-house team of experts to facilitate organic growth. You can attract real and genuinely interested followers, enhancing the overall quality of your Instagram community. Partner with Path Social for sustainable growth and genuine engagement on your Instagram account. Start growing and gaining Instagram followers today.