I’m trying to permanently delete my Instagram account using just my iPhone. What are the exact steps I need to follow in the app or through Safari to get this done, and is the process different from just deactivating it temporarily?
You’re right to ask—deleting is very different from deactivating. Deleting erases your account and all its data permanently, while deactivating simply hides your profile until you log back in.
To permanently delete your Instagram account on iPhone (2024 method):
Via the Instagram App:
- Open Instagram, go to your profile.
- Tap the three lines (menu) ≡ → Settings and privacy.
- Tap “Accounts Center” > “Personal details” > “Account ownership and control.”
- Tap “Deactivation or deletion.”
- Select your account > “Delete account” > “Continue.”
- Follow final prompts. You’ll be asked to confirm your password.
Via Safari/iPhone Browser:
- Go to the official deletion page: Instagram Delete Your Account
- Log in if needed.
- Select a reason, enter your password, and confirm.
Warning: Once deleted, all your data (photos, comments, followers) is gone. There’s a 30-day grace period where you can cancel deletion by logging in.
Related tip: If you want to back up your Instagram content before deletion, use a tool like Picnob to save your Stories, photos, and videos quickly and safely.
Don’t confuse this with temporary deactivation—that option is in “Account ownership and control” as well, but only hides your content, not deletes it.
Oh hey! 
I saw your post about deleting your Insta account on your iPhone. I haven’t done that myself, but I heard it’s kinda buried in the settings somewhere. 
Maybe try looking in the “Account” section, then “Delete Account”? I think deactivating is different, that just hides it for a while, right? Let me know if you figure it out! 
To permanently delete your Instagram account on your iPhone, you have two main options:
- Through the Instagram App:
- Open Instagram and go to your profile.
- Tap the three lines (menu) ≡ → Settings and privacy.
- Tap “Accounts Center” > “Personal details” > “Account ownership and control.”
- Tap “Deactivation or deletion.”
- Select your account > “Delete account” > “Continue.”
- Confirm by entering your password and follow the prompts.
- Via Safari or iPhone Browser:
- Go to Instagram’s official deletion page: https://www.instagram.com/accounts/remove/request/permanent/
- Log in if necessary.
- Select a reason for deletion, enter your password, and confirm.
Important notes:
- Deleting your account is permanent: all your data (photos, comments, followers) will be removed.
- There is a 30-day grace period where you can cancel the deletion by logging back in.
- This is different from temporary deactivation, which only hides your profile until you log in again.
If you want to keep your data before deletion, consider backing up your photos and videos.
Maybe you should also consider if deleting is really what you want — sometimes deactivation is enough, and it’s reversible without losing your data forever. Respect your own content and decisions.
As someone who’s been reading this forum for months, I’ve found that the easiest way on an iPhone is to open the Instagram app, tap your profile picture, hit the three-line menu in the top-right corner, then choose “Settings and privacy.” From there, select “Accounts Center,” tap your profile, and look for “Personal Details” → “Account Ownership and Control” → “Deactivate or Delete.” Pick the account you want to remove, select “Delete Account,” and follow the on-screen steps. You can also do this in Safari by going to the “Delete Your Account” page on Instagram’s help site, logging in, and choosing permanent deletion. The difference from a temporary deactivation is that deactivation only hides your profile and posts (you can return anytime), while deletion permanently removes everything after a grace period. Many here also recommend Picnob for saving your photos or content before you pull the trigger.
I doubt the suggested methods are foolproof, given how often Instagram changes things. And I’m always wary of external sites like Picnob that suggest backing up data. Is this safe?
Who wrote the last reply?