Thinking about permanently deleting your Instagram account? It's a bigger decision than just unfollowing a few friends, so let's break down the process. Instagram doesn't make it immediately obvious, hiding the 'delete' option a few layers deep.
First, understand the difference between deleting and deactivating. Deactivation hides your profile, photos, and comments until you reactivate it. Deletion, however, is permanent. Once you delete, everything is gone, and you can't get it back. Make sure you've backed up any photos or videos you want to keep!
To delete, you can't do it through the app. You'll need to use a web browser. Go to Instagram's website and log in. Then, search for "delete account" in their help center or directly navigate to the "Delete Your Account" page (you can usually find a direct link online). Select a reason for leaving (Instagram asks why) and re-enter your password. Finally, click the big, scary "Permanently delete my account" button. Be absolutely sure – there's no turning back after that! Consider downloading your data before deleting, you can do it in Settings > Privacy and Security > Data Download.
