Buzz
If you'd prefer that others don't view or search for your Instagram profile and posts, there's no need to delete your account. You can simply deactivate it temporarily. This will prevent others from impersonating you, and your photos and videos will remain private until you decide to reactivate your account, without needing to back them up. However, you cannot temporarily deactivate your account via the Instagram app.
Steps
Temporarily Lock Your Account
Visit the Instagram website at https://www.instagram.com/. If you're already logged in, you'll be directed to the Instagram homepage.
- If you're not logged in, click Log in at the bottom of the page, enter your username and password, then click Log in.
Click on the profile icon, represented by a person, located at the top right corner of the page.
Click the Edit Profile button located immediately next to your username at the top of the page.
Scroll down and click on the Temporarily disable my account link on the right side at the bottom of the "Edit Profile" page.
State the reason for disabling your account. Click on the box next to the title "Why are you disabling your account?" and select a reason.
Enter your Instagram password in the box next to the line "To continue, please re-enter your password".
Click on the Temporarily Disable Account button at the bottom of the page.
Click on OK when prompted. Your account will be disabled and you will be logged out from all linked devices.
Reactivating Your Account
Log in to Instagram. Use your username and password to log into Instagram, and your account will be reactivated as before. After logging into the Instagram website, you'll need to log in again on each remaining device.
Tips
- You can reactivate your account at any time by simply logging back in.
- If you have just disabled your account, you may need to wait a few hours before logging in again. It might take some time for the deactivation process to fully complete. If you're unable to log in, just wait a while and try again later.
Warning
- While your friends and followers won’t be able to find you since your account is immediately locked, any posts you’ve stored may still appear in Google search results. It may take a few weeks for them to disappear.
