Let’s face it: scrolling on Instagram is just too easy, and it’s a great way to pass the time. We all know that “Has it really been two hours?” panic! In some cases, a digital detox is necessary, and having a breather from our social media is overdue.
Deleting your account might sound daunting—how will you pass the time? Luckily, you can just do it temporarily to have a short-lived break and log back in at any time! Do you want to know how to deactivate an Instagram account and enjoy a digital detox? Let’s get into it!
Deactivating Your Instagram Account: The Benefits
The social media world is so accessible from our phones. With a few taps of a screen, the world of Reels, Stories, content creators, and funny memes immerses us. However, taking some time away can have a really positive impact on our mental health. Here are some benefits of deactivating an Instagram account:
1. Improved Mental Health
An article in the National Library of Medicine looks at the connection between mental health and social media. It says that social media “may be related to negative signs and symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress.” If we’re busy on our phones, we don’t really tend to speak to anyone in real life! Because of this, it can become very isolating and lonely, impacting our real-life social networks.
2. Less Self-Doubt
We are all guilty of comparing ourselves to something or someone we see on social media; it’s just too easy! We can’t deny that social media is bad for setting unrealistic standards of beauty or even lifestyle. We wish we could all live like Instagram influencers! Without it, we’re free to enjoy our own lives and focus on what we’re doing.
3. Reconnect With Life
Sometimes, it’s a nice feeling to take our noses out of our phones and reconnect with people for in-person interactions. Without your phone, you can live in the moment.
4. Less Security Concerns
Security concerns are a common reason for deactivating an account! Do you think someone has your password? Whatever it is, you might just want to remove yourself from the app altogether due to concerns about privacy!
You might feel slightly nervous about deactivating your Instagram account, but it might actually benefit you more than you think! But how to disable Instagram accounts? Keep reading to find out.
How To Deactivate Instagram on Phone
Do you want to get rid of your Instagram account? Is it time to reconnect with the real world?
If you have an Android or an IOS, you can deactivate it on the mobile app quite easily. Here’s how to deactivate Instagram on your phone:
- On the app, go to your profile and tap on the three lines in the top right corner.
- At the top, you’ll see “Accounts Center,” so tap on that to open up more options.
- Tap on “Personal details” and then “Account ownership and control.”
- This will open “Deactivation or deletion,” so tap on that and choose the account you want to delete.
- You can either delete your account altogether or deactivate it temporarily.
- Instagram will ask you to select a reason why you’re deactivating your account.
- You’ll need to sign in again to seal the deal.
You can also delete the app altogether to resist the temptation to sign up again!
How To Deactivate Instagram on a PC
If you prefer to use a PC, you can still deactivate your account on that. Here’s how to deactivate an Instagram account on a PC:
- Instagram has a “delete your account” page, which takes you straight to the option of deleting it.
- You just need to give a reason for why you want to get rid of your account before pressing “Delete.”
Another way to do this is:
- Sign into Instagram and go to “More” and then “Settings.”
- Then, click on “Accounts Center.”
- You can then click on “Personal details” and “Account ownership and control” and then “Deactivation or Deletion.”
- Then, confirm the account you want to get rid of and verify that it’s you by entering your password.
- Choose a reason why you want to deactivate or delete your account.
- Click on “Continue” and “Delete account” to confirm.”
How To Deactivate an Instagram Account Permanently
If you want to go completely cold turkey and remove your account, you can! Sometimes, this is better because it removes the option of reactivating it. Tempting, we know! Here’s how to deactivate Instagram account permanently on the app:
- On your profile, open up the settings option.
- You can do this by tapping on the three lines in the top right corner.
- Tap on “Accounts Center” at the top.
- Click on “Personal details” and then “Account ownership and control.”
- Tap on “Deactivation or deletion” and then choose the profile you want to delete permanently.
- Choose the option to “Delete account” and select the reason why.
- You can sign in again, and your account will no longer be active! Bye, Instagram, hello, real world!
Not ready to take the plunge just yet? Next, we’ll show you how to temporarily disable Instagram accounts.
How To Temporarily Deactivate Instagram
Do you want to take some time away with the intention of going back to the app? You have this option! You can delete your account for a small amount of time and just log back in whenever you feel ready. Here’s how to deactivate an Instagram account temporarily:
- Follow the deletion process mentioned above, which takes you to “Account ownership and control.”
- When you’re there, select “Deactivation or Deletion” and choose your account.
- Then, tap on “Deactivate account” to hide your Instagram account. It stays hidden until you log in again or reactivate it on the Accounts Center. So, you can enjoy a nice break away from it until you change your mind!
How To Know if Someone Deactivated Their Instagram
No one gets a notification when another user deactivates their Instagram account. That means you’ll have to do some detective work to figure out if someone’s kissed the app goodbye.
- Check your messages: If you no longer see the user’s name in your DMs with them, that’s a surefire sign that they’ve deactivated or disabled their account. In this case, their name will show up as Instagram User instead.
- Try Incognito Mode: Open a private browser window and search for their profile using their URL (e.g., instagram.com/username). If it doesn’t load, they’ve deactivated or deleted their account. If it does appear, they’ve likely blocked you.
These simple checks can keep you in the know without giving away your suspicions.
Instagram Disabled My Account: Now What?
Sometimes, Instagram beats you to the punch. Instead of being able to deactivate your account on your own terms, they’ve stepped in. First of all, why does this happen?
Instagram temporarily disables Instagram accounts when you’re in violation of their terms of service. This is known as a suspension. If you commit a serious infraction or repeatedly defy their terms of service, they may permanently disable, aka ban, your account.
If Instagram disabled your account, the only thing you can do is wait. Wait for the suspension to end, and make sure you remove any potentially harmful content from your page. If you think your account was disabled in error, you can contact Instagram to appeal your suspension. You can do this via the Help Center, or if you received an email from Instagram, you can follow the appeal instructions given.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take Instagram to deactivate an account?
If you send an Instagram deletion request, you have 30 days to change your mind! You can log back in and reactivate it. After 30 days, Instagram deletes the account completely, and you have no way to get back! However, if you’re missing it too much, you can create another account and start again!
Can you deactivate a linked Instagram account?
Yes, you can deactivate a linked account while still keeping your other accounts active. Just tap on your profile picture in the bottom right, and select the account you want to deactivate. Then, tap on Settings and privacy, and then hit Accounts Center. From there, tap Personal details, then Account ownership and control and tap Deactivation or deletion. Select the account you want to deactivate and hit deactivate account. Next, you’ll need to confirm and reenter your password.
What does a deactivated Instagram look like?
You won’t be able to see a deactivated Instagram account because it’s no longer available on the app. However, if you had a DM thread with the account while it was active, their profile will appear in your DMs as Instagram User.