How to Log Out of Instagram

When was the last time you logged out of your Instagram account? Is it necessary to do so? Hundreds of millions of users go on the platform every day to stay connected with family and friends, keep abreast of what their favorite personalities and brands are up to, and generally know what’s in the world. A lot of us spend hours on Instagram managing and growing our business account/s. 

When we exit the Instagram universe and go back to the real world, should we log out of our Instagram account? Does staying logged in put our account’s privacy at risk? When is it most important to log out of Instagram to keep our data secure? 

Keep reading to get the answers to all these questions, and more. 

Is it necessary to log out of your Instagram account?

Because Instagram was originally created as a mobile app, it’s mostly accessed by its users through their smartphones. But with the platform now also accessible via computers, a lot of users are logging into their accounts not only on their personal devices but also on shared ones. 

Most of us simply close our browsers without thinking about it. On a shared computer, however, you should always remember to log out of all your accounts first, or the next person to use the computer will have unrestricted access to your private data. 

Logging out of your Instagram account on your mobile device and/or other personal devices should also be done regularly. Logging in on a daily basis may seem like a nuisance, but keeping your data secure is very important — especially these days when data breaches and unauthorized log-ins have become more frequent. Your account security is also the reason why Instagram and other social media platforms recommend changing your password regularly. 

If you’re one of those rare unicorns with an Instagram account that doesn’t browse for hours on end, several times a day or even daily, it’s more vital that you log out when you’re done living in the virtual world. If you’re not checking your account frequently, you won’t know right away if it’s been accessed by someone else. 

Logging out and logging in regularly will also help keep your password fresh in your mind. Forgetting one’s password is a common affliction, but this won’t be a problem if you’re always using it. 

How to log out of Instagram on a computer

Here are the steps:

1. Go to your Instagram account.
2. At the top right corner, you’ll find the profile avatar; click on it to go to your profile page. 
3. Click on the gear icon in front of your username. 
4. Find the “Log out” option and click on it.

If you’re on a shared device, you should secure your account further by removing your log-in information. After logging out, tap on the three dots in front of your username and click on “Remove.”

If there was unauthorized access to your account, repeat the steps above including the removal of your log-in information, and then change your Instagram password. You’ll be asked if you want to “Log out of all devices,” click on this to kick out anyone who isn’t authorized to have access to your account. If you’ve been using Instagram on multiple devices, you’ll have to log in on each of them using your new password. 

Remember that if you already have a history of unauthorized access to your account — whether the attempt was successful or a failure — you should make it a habit to log out of your Instagram account at the end of each day, at the least, and on every device and to regularly change your password.  

How to log out of Instagram on your mobile device

1. Tap on your profile picture at the bottom right to go to your profile.
2. Tap on the three lines at the top right, then tap on the gear symbol.
3. Scroll to the bottom of the page and tap on “Log out [username].”
4. Tap on “Not now” or “Remember” if you want Instagram to remember your log in info.
5. Tap Log out.

Final Thoughts

Logging out after every session or at the end of each day and then having to enter your login credentials again every time you want to get back in may seem like tedious and unnecessary work. But recovering a hacked account is definitely more painful. Once you get into the habit, it won’t feel like a nuisance anymore. You must take every step to keep your online data secure and private; there’s no substitute for due diligence when it comes to your personal privacy.