How to Reset Your Instagram Account

Thanks to its easy photo and video sharing capabilities, Instagram has become an incredibly popular and must-have social media app. However, there may come a time when you decide to leave the app or you need to find a way to regain access to the app.

If you want to reset something on your Instagram account, you are likely searching for a way to reset your username, password, email address, or phone number, or you might be searching for a way to reset your entire account, deleting all of your old photos, likes, and followers.

Whatever your reasons for being here, this article has everything covered, from fixing those login credentials to wiping the slate clean. Here are various ways to reset your Instagram account.

How to Reset Your Instagram Password Using Facebook, Email, Phone, or Username

To start, let’s first look at how to reset your password, as this is one of the most common issues Instagram users run into. If you’re locked out of your account and can’t seem to sign in to Instagram, you have a couple of options.

First, if you’ve linked your Instagram and Facebook accounts together, try logging in with your Facebook profile. Logging in with Facebook may be all you need to get back into your account, where you can change and update your password. Follow these steps to reset your password:

Launch Instagram and tap on Forgot password? on iOS or Get help logging in on Android.
You’ll have three options: Username (also includes email), Phone, and Log In With Facebook.
If you know your Facebook login and it’s connected to your Instagram, select Continue as… at the bottom.
If you don’t know your Facebook login, enter your Instagram username, email, or phone. You MUST have one of those credentials. An email gets sent to the address you have on file with a link to reset your password.

If you do not receive a link to reset your password, then you may have been hacked, and the hacker may have changed the information in your account to keep you from being able to regain access. Alternately, you may not remember the original username, email address, or phone number you used for the account.

If this is the case, don’t worry–there’s another option.

How to Reset Your Instagram Password without a Username, Email, or Password

Open the Instagram app.
Tap on Get help logging in. for Android or Forgot Password? on iOS.
Tap on Need more help?
Fill out the information on the screen, then tap on Request Support.

Fill out the information as much information as you can. The more convincing you can be that you are the legitimate owner of the account, the more likely it is that Instagram will decide to give you access back. Include any additional details that the security team might need to help them make an accurate decision.

However, keep in mind that this may not work. Instagram works hard to make sure people cannot gain access to accounts they do not own, so they have to err on the side of caution when they receive a request for additional assistance in logging in. If you cannot prove that you are the real owner of the account, you might not be able to get back into your account.

Another form of resetting your Instagram account is to delete all photos/posts. This way, you still have your current account but start fresh with new images and posts. Here is where things get a little more tricky. Ideally, Instagram would let you mass delete posts and photos. Unfortunately, this simply isn’t the case. Instagram not only neglects an option to delete all of your posts at once, but they also make it more difficult to use third-party services, to the point that there is none available now in 2022.

Use Third-Party Applications to Delete All Instagram Photos

At one time, you could search for Instagram cleaners on Apple’s App Store and the Google Play Store, and a number of reliable applications would appear. However, in September of 2021, many trusted options disappeared. As of April 2022, there are no Instagram bulk-delete apps available on either platform.

Archive Your Old Instagram Posts to Reset Your Instagram Account

Before you go crazy deleting everything, know that you can easily archive old pictures. Archiving means that no one can see them except you. Essentially, this allows you to hide photos without actually getting rid of them.

To archive a photo, follow these steps:

Open the photo you want to archive.
Tap the three vertical dots in the top right corner.
Tap Archive.

To view archived photos, go to your profile, and tap on the three horizontal lines. Select the Archive option. There, you can view all of your previous stories and your archived photos. Tap on the Archived Stories option at the top of the page to choose between your Stories, posts, and Live content.

How to Delete Your Account and Open it Again

If you’re going to dive in headfirst and delete your entire IG account, you can do that from within the app itself. Note that following the instructions below will permanently remove all of your comments and likes, as well as reset your follower account to zero.

Still interested? Start by deleting your Instagram account.

Go to the special Delete Your Account page on your mobile device or desktop.
Select a reason for deletion from the dropdown menu.
Re-enter your account password.
Click or tap Permanently delete my account.

Note: If you choose this method, you will need to wait 14 days to reuse your username.

You can now create a new account with the same username unless someone got to your username in the interim. Once you have your new account, it will be like a brand new account. Sometimes a fresh start is just what the doctor ordered.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I reactivate My Instagram Account?

If you’ve temporarily disabled your account, you can reactivate it by logging in with the same credentials. If you’ve permanently deactivated your account, you cannot reactivate it. Assuming there were some issues and your account was deleted by a hacker or Instagram, contact the Instagram Support Team for more help.

Can I create a new account with the same login info?

As of April 2022, according to an official Instagram account deletion page, it says, “After your account is deleted, you can sign up again with the same username or add that username to another account as long as it hasn’t been taken by a new person on Instagram.”

You’ll find many websites stating you can’t, but that is not correct, as referenced by the link provided above. Just click the dropdown next to “How do I delete my Instagram account?”

Why am I locked out of my Instagram account?

Whether your account is saying that the password is incorrect or Instagram has disabled your account, there are several reasons your account is inaccessible. If you’ve tried the steps above and cannot access your account, contact Instagram Support. Also, check your emails for any messages from Instagram. This may give you insight if you’ve violated the community guidelines or your account has been hacked.

If I delete my Facebook account, how do I access Instagram?

If you choose to delete your Facebook account, but it is also the login option for Instagram, you’ll have to unlink the accounts on Instagram before deactivating your Facebook account. To do this, head to Settings on Instagram, click on Account, then tap on Linked Accounts. Set up a new username and password, then safely delete your Facebook account.

Can I delete all of my Instagram posts at once?

No, you cannot bulk-delete all Instagram posts. There used to be third-party apps, but they are gone on Android and iOS. The only genuine option is to delete your account unless you are willing to filter posts and delete each one individually.