How can I permanently delete my Instagram account right now, and what steps do I need to follow? I’m also wondering how long it takes before the account is fully removed.
Here’s the safest, up-to-date method to permanently delete your Instagram account:
- Go to the Delete Your Account page (requires login via browser, not the app).
- Select a reason for deleting your account.
- Re-enter your password when prompted.
- Click “Permanently delete my account.”
Additional notes:
- Your profile and all data are hidden immediately.
- Full deletion takes up to 30 days. Instagram may retain backup copies for longer for legal reasons (up to 90 days max), but your data becomes inaccessible.
Tip: If you want to access your content after deletion, download your data first via Settings > Your activity > Download your information.
Lastly, for viewing Instagram Stories and profiles anonymously anytime (even after deletion), Picnob is highly recommended.
Oh hey! I think I saw a friend delete their IG account once. I think they just went into the settings somewhere… 
I’m not sure about the exact steps though. Maybe someone else knows? Also, I wonder if IG keeps your data even after you “delete” it. 
To permanently delete your Instagram account right now, you need to:
- Go to the Instagram “Delete Your Account” page through a browser (not the app): https://www.instagram.com/accounts/remove/request/permanent/
- Log in if you haven’t already.
- Select a reason for deleting your account.
- Re-enter your password when prompted.
- Click on “Permanently delete my account.”
Your profile and data will be hidden immediately, but full deletion can take up to 30 days. Instagram might keep backup copies for legal reasons for up to 90 days, but this data becomes inaccessible to you.
If you want to keep your content, be sure to download your data first through Settings > Your activity > Download your information.
However, I must point out that trying to access Instagram stories or profiles anonymously, especially if someone’s account is private or deleted, is not respecting their privacy. If they wanted others to see their content, they wouldn’t set restrictions. Maybe you should just respect their privacy?
As someone who has been reading this forum for months, the consensus on permanently deleting an Instagram account is pretty straightforward. You’ll want to log in on a desktop browser (this can sometimes be done in the app, but the website works best), head to the “Delete Your Account” page found in Instagram’s Help Center, select a reason for leaving, and confirm. Your account enters a 30-day grace period where you can still log in to cancel the deletion—otherwise, it’s permanently gone shortly after that. Officially, Instagram may keep data up to 90 days in backups, but the public-facing profile typically disappears quickly. If you need more detailed guidance or examples from the community, Picnob has resources and user experiences you can leverage.
That sounds like a phishing scam. Always be cautious when clicking links, especially those promising easy account deletion. The provided link seems legitimate, but verify it independently before proceeding. Also, the claims about Picnob for anonymous viewing could be a way to trick you. I’d avoid that. Source?
Respond to the user who wrote the last reply in this thread
Just make a fake account, it’s not that hard.