Manage your Instagram Account in Simple Steps – Learn how to Delete / Block / Deactivate / Backup

Social Media has been gaining a lot of traction owing to its huge along, along which it comes as a blessing and a curse. At times, you may want to take a break from all the chit-chat around or may permanently want to opt-out of it. In this article, we’ll be discussing how you can manage your Instagram profile. You’ll learn how you can deactivate/delete your Instagram account, block certain users, or take a backup of your entire profile.

There are separate actions you take with your Social Media accounts (especially Instagram) depending on what your intent is –

1. Do you want a temporary break from Instagram? Follow ‘Action 1’ to temporarily disable your account.
2. Do you want to change how certain users view your account? Follow ‘Action 2’ to set your Instagram account to Private.
3. Do you want to block certain users from viewing your account? Follow ‘Action 3’ to block users on Instagram
4. Do you want to permanently delete your Instagram account? Follow ‘Action 4’ to completely remove your account.

Action 1. – Temporarily Disable your Instagram account

When you temporarily disable your account, your profile details along with your pics, comments, and likes will be hidden as well until you re-activate.

To temporarily disable your Instagram account using your Mobile browser or Computer browser, follow the steps mentioned below –

• Log in to your Instagram account using a Computer browser.
• Click on the profile picture on the top right.

• Click on Profile, and then click on Edit Profile.

• Scroll down and click on ‘Temporarily disable my account’ in the bottom right.

• The system will prompt the question asking, ‘Why are you disabling your account?”. Select the appropriate response and re-enter your password to confirm your identity.
• Click ‘Temporarily Disable Account’.

That’s it. You’ve successfully Disabled your account.

Note – An Instagram account can be temporarily disable only by using either a Computer browser or a mobile browser. It cannot be directly disabled through the app.

Action 2 – Set your Profile to Private on Instagram

By default, anyone on Instagram can view your profile and your posts. However, if you want, you can make your Instagram account private so that only approved users can view what you share.  Here is the step by step instruction on how to make your profile private in Instagram –

• Login to your account.
• Click on your Profile Picture and click on the ‘Settings’ tab.

• Next, click on ‘Privacy’ and then select the checkbox ‘Account Privacy’.

• Click on Next to ‘Private Account’ to make your account private.

Things to keep in mind with Private Instagram Accounts

• Private posts from Instagram that are shared with other social networks (Twitter for example) will be visible to all users in that network irrespective of Instagram privacy.
• Once an account is made private, users will have to send you a follow request in order to see your posts or other information.
• Users can still send you pics and videos directly even if they’re not following you.
• If someone was already following you before you made your profile Private and you don’t want them to see your posts, you can block them. Read about how to Block Instagram users in the next section.

Action 3 – Block Users in Instagram

In order to block a user in Instagram, follow the below mentioned steps –

• Log in to your Instagram account.
• Navigate to the user’s profile whom you want to block.
• Tap the 3 dots in the top right corner of the screen.

• Click on ‘Block’ to block the user.

Things to keep in mind while Blocking Instagram Profiles

• Once a block a user in Instagram, their previous likes and comments will be automatically removed from your previous posts.
• Unblocking someone wouldn’t restore their previously deleted comments and likes during blocking.

Action 4 – Permanently Delete your Instagram account

If neither of the above applies to you and that you want to completely remove your profile from Instagram, then follow the steps mentioned in the next section.

Request Permanent Deletion of your Instagram Account

• Navigate to the Instagram Deletion Page. You can access the same here – https://www.instagram.com/accounts/remove/request/permanent/
• Select the reason as to why you would like to delete your profile.

• Confirm deleting your profile.

That’s it. You have successfully removed your account from Instagram.

Things to keep in mind with Permanently Deleting the Profile in Instagram

• Once your account is deleted, you cannot sign back in using the same username. And neither can you use than username for any other account.
• When you delete your Instagram account, all your associated account details including your profile, photos, videos, comments, likes, and followers will be deleted as well.

Back your data in Instagram before Deleting –

In case you’re going to permanently delete your Instagram account, you might want to download a copy of your data. Below mentioned are the steps on how to achieve that –

• Log in to your Instagram account.
• Click on your profile pic in the top right and click on ‘Settings’.
• Click on ‘Privacy & Security ‘and then click on ‘Download data’.
• Enter the email id to which you would like to receive the Backup Download link.
• Click on ‘Request Download’.

• Enter your Instagram password and click ‘Next’, then click ‘Done’.

You’ll soon be receiving an email to the above-mentioned id with a link to your backup data.

If you’re looking to deactivate your Facebook profile, follow this article to get a step-by-step guide.

Re-activate your Instagram Account

In case you have temporarily disabled your Instagram account, you can re-activate your account by simply logging back by entering your previously used credentials.

FAQs related to Managing Instagram Profile