Instagram Recovery: Regain Access To Your Account With Ease

Profile photo of Karen Lin, author

Karen Lin

Instagram 101 | Feb 16, 2024

Want More Real Instagram Followers?

Do you know that in 2022, more than one million cases of social media account takeovers occurred? Also, 85% of victims reported a breach of security of their Instagram account. The majority of these users struggled to retrieve their login credentials through the Instagram recovery process.

As you read this, countless Instagram users face the nightmare of losing access to their Instagram accounts. Have you ever wondered how to recover your Instagram account if it happens to you? Well, you’ve got nothing to worry about, we’re here to the rescue.

We’ll walk you through the recovery process and spill the beans on how to get your account’s access back.

A person is holding a phone with Instagram open in it.

How To Recover Instagram Account

Have you ever found yourself in the frustrating predicament of not being able to access your Instagram account? It’s a situation that can happen to anyone, and it’s when recovery becomes a crucial lifeline.

Recovering your Instagram account involves a series of steps. We’ll break down the details of how to recover your Instagram account and discuss essential strategies to get you back online.

Recovery of Forgotten Password

You really can’t log in to your account without a password, can you? So, if you’ve forgotten your password, you will need to recover it. Thankfully, the process isn’t very complex—all you need is your contact number and email address. If you have access to them, you will have no trouble setting a new password. 

Here are a few steps you will need to follow to recover your Instagram account if you’ve forgotten your password. 

Instagram Recovery Code Through E-mail:

  1. Launch Instagram.
  2. Choose the “Forgot Password?” option from the login screen.
  3. Insert  your username or email address.
  4. To proceed, click Next.
  5. Instagram sends a new password creation link to your email. Follow the links and screen instructions mentioned in it to regain access to your account. 

Instagram Recovery Code Through Contact Number:

  1. Launch Instagram.
  2. Select “Forgot Password?”
  3. Select the “Phone” option.
  4. Enter your contact number.
  5. Proceed by clicking the “Next” tab.
  6. Check your phone for a new password creation link. Select it and proceed as directed. 

A hacker is wearing a mask.

Instagram Password Recovery of Hacked Account

Detecting a hacked Instagram account can manifest in various ways. You might spot unauthorized posts and notice suspicious activity in your Login Activity. Or, in the worst-case scenario, lose access due to a hacked password, username, or account deletion.

The platform offers methods for Instagram password recovery of your hacked account, which we’ll detail below.

Look for the Email From Instagram

If you receive an email from “[email protected]” about a changed email address, you can reverse it. Select the “secure your account here” link at the message’s bottom.

Ask for a Login Link

Instagram provides multiple security measures. To request a login link:

  1. Visit the Instagram login screen.
  2. On Android, select “Get help logging in.” For web or iPhone users, choose “Forgot password?”
  3. Enter your username, email, and phone number.
  4. Click “Next.”
  5. If information is missing, select “Need more help?” under “Next.”
  6. Decide where you want to receive the login link: email or phone.
  7. Tap “Send Login Link.”
  8. Follow the link’s instructions via SMS or email.

Alternatively, you can request an Instagram recovery code from Instagram:

  1. Go to the login screen and choose “Get help logging in.”
  2. Provide your account details.
  3. Tap “Need more help?”
  4. Pick the account you’re trying to access.
  5. Choose where to receive the code and click “Send Security Code.”

 

The Instagram web page is opened on a mobile phone.

Identity Verification

Instagram may request verification via email, phone number, or code from a two-factor authentication app. If your account lacks photos of you, you’ll get an email from Instagram’s Support Team. They’ll ask for your account’s creation email/phone and the device used.

For accounts with your photos, the Support Team may require a selfie video demonstrating head movements.

Account Deletion

If the hacker deleted your account, recovery is impossible. Instagram explicitly states that your content will disappear when you or someone else deletes your account. This content includes your profile, images, videos, comments, likes, and followers. 

However, there is a time limit within which you can restore your Instagram profile. You have 30 days from the date of deletion to notify Instagram about the hacking and request recovery. Instagram said it would keep information for that long. It’s a long shot, though. When a hacker deletes your account, it’s mostly gone forever. 

Instagram will allow you to use the same email to sign up for a new account. But you may not be able to keep your old username.

A woman holding a mobile phone with the Instagram app on the screen.

How To Recover Disabled Instagram Account?

Don’t freak out if Instagram suddenly stops working for you. You can get it back if you take the proper measures. 

Here’s a how-to manual of recovery for disabled Instagram accounts:

  1. Figure out the Reason: Instagram accounts are typically deactivated for breaching the app’s community guidelines or terms of service. To learn more about why you were temporarily blocked, review the message sent to you by Instagram. It comes through an email or as a notification.
  2. Appeal the decision: Instagram users who believe their account was wrongfully deactivated can file a complaint by going to the site’s “Help” section. Complete the form truthfully. Outline the circumstances under which you want recovery and give reasons to support your claim.
  3. Verify Your Identity: Instagram may ask for more information to confirm your identity, so ensure to enter the right information.
  4. Follow The Guidelines: Carefully comply with Instagram’s guidelines if and when they react to your appeal. It may be as simple as taking a selfie with a secret code or holding up a handwritten note.
  5. Wait it Out: Recovery of your disabled account can take some time. Due to the high volume of support requests Instagram receives, getting a response could take several days or weeks. So, just be patient.
  6. Prevent It from Happening Again: You need to ensure that such problems don’t happen again. So, after having your Instagram account restored, you should read Instagram’s community guidelines. Refrain from doing anything that violates Instagram’s policies. In the long run, this will help avoid more impairments.

A person has opened an Instagram profile on their phone.

How To Recover a Deleted or Deactivated Account?

Instagram users have two choices for deactivating their accounts. The first option is a quick fix, but may not promise lasting results. The second option ensures that your account’s recovery is not short-lived. 

  • Account Deactivation: Instagram users can temporarily deactivate their accounts and resume using them simply by logging back into the app. Their likes, comments, and photo feeds will not appear to the public. Continuing use of Instagram is as simple as signing back into your account.
  • Account Deletion: This method allows Instagram users to completely and irretrievably erase their accounts. This makes recovery an extremely unlikely scenario. When you erase your Instagram account, it’s gone for good. However, if you log back in before 30 days, you will be able to recover it. 

How Does Instagram Message Recovery Work?

Have you ever deleted a message on Instagram that you later came to regret? Believe it or not, we’ve all been there. However, Instagram doesn’t explicitly explain how it is possible to retrieve deleted direct messages.

Even after you delete data from your account on Instagram, copies of it may remain on Instagram’s servers for a while. There’s a window of time before deleted Instagram messages are irretrievably lost.

Here’s how the Instagram message recovery process works:

  1. Launch Instagram.
  2. Click the profile image in the lower right corner.
  3. Select the hamburger menu by pressing the three lines in the upper right corner.
  4. From the opened menu, choose “Your Activity.”
  5. Select “Download your information” from the menu.
  6. Just type in your email address and pick whether you want the data in HTML or JSON format. Initiate a download by selecting “Request Download.”
  7. Look for a message from Instagram titled “Your Data” with the subject line “Download Information.”
  8. After logging back into Instagram, click the “Download information” button once more.
  9. Messages are compressed into a ZIP archive. Unzip the compressed file to the location of your preference.
  10. Select Messages > Inbox > Your Name > HTML. Open the messages.json file with a JSON reader, such as Notepad++.

Note: This Instagram recovery method is compatible with both iOS and Android, as well as all major web browsers. Instagram takes up to 30 days to send you an email including all of your information and SMS conversations.

Instagram Recovery Tools for DMs

Instagram users often save direct messages, comments, and captions by copying and saving them. However, if you want to save them, you need a reliable Instagram message retrieval service. We’ve compiled a list of the seven best Instagram recovery tools.

  1. DMpro: Recover Instagram messages securely with the third-party app DMpro. Connect to your email for added convenience, and never lose your DMs again.
  2. iBeesoft iPhone Data Recovery: Easily recover Instagram messages and media on iPhones with iBeesoft iPhone Data Recovery.
  3. U.Fone iOS Toolkit: U.Fone iOS Toolkit is your iOS-only solution for Instagram message recovery. It retrieves messages and photos from your iPhone.
  4. Fonelab Instagram Message Recovery App: Fonelab recovers Instagram messages and various data on Android devices.
  5. Instagram Message Recovery Tool + Site: Recover deleted Instagram messages with this online tool. Log in, verify, and retrieve your lost DMs.
  6. IStaunch: IStaunch helps you recover deleted Instagram messages. Download the app, enter your username, and retrieve your lost conversations.
  7. Insta Recovery: Insta Recovery enables reading IG DMs but no longer recovers messages. It redirects to Instagram’s site for data download and access.

A person is commenting on someone’s Instagram post.

How To Contact Instagram Account Recovery Support?

Unfortunately, Instagram doesn’t provide direct customer support for recovery issues. However, you can utilize the following steps to recover your account through Instagram account recovery support:

  • Use the Instagram Help Center: Visit the Instagram Help Center either through the website or the app. Common recovery issues are addressed in detail across the articles and guides that you will find in this section.
  • Follow Account Recovery Instructions: If you’ve forgotten your password or are locked out of your account, the Help Center provides instructions to regain access. Typically, this involves resetting your password using your email or phone number associated with the account.
  • Report a Problem: In the Instagram app, you can report your account as hacked or compromised. Go to your profile, tap the menu icon, and select “Settings.” Then, choose “Security,” and under “Login Help,” tap on “Report a Problem.” Follow the on-screen prompts.
  • Contact Instagram on Social Media: Sometimes, reaching out on Instagram’s official social media accounts, like @instagram on Twitter, can help. Provide a detailed account of the problem you are facing to customer representatives. 
  • Be Patient: Recovery of your Instagram account can take time. Instagram may require you to verify your identity through various means, and the process can be lengthy. Stay persistent and follow their instructions carefully.

Remember that Instagram’s customer support does not cover everything. So, it’s crucial to follow the provided community guidelines diligently. You also need to keep your account information secure to avoid future issues.

Recover Your Engagement With Path Social

With so many security breaches happening around the globe, Instagram recovery is a valuable skill. If you follow the advice and use the resources in this guide, you should be able to handle any difficulties or setbacks that come your way. Whether you’ve forgotten your password or encountered a security breach, recovery is within your reach. 

At Path Social, we’re here to assist you in every step of your Instagram journey, ensuring you build a strong and lasting community. Now that you have access to your account, it’s time to focus on building engagement and gathering a strong following. Partner with Path Social to use organic growth strategies and jumpstart your Instagram journey today!