How to Temporarily Deactivate Instagram (Or Delete It)

You’re looking for ways to deactivate Instagram temporarily, huh?

Sometimes, clients resort to deleting their social media accounts for damage control purposes. Other times, they just need time to regroup and rethink their strategy before anyone else sees their profile. 

Whatever the reason, social media managers need to know how to deactivate Instagram accounts (or permanently delete them).

And that’s what we’ll cover in this guide.

Things to Consider Before You Temporarily Deactivate Instagram

“I need to temporarily deactivate my account.” The moment your client utters those words, you need to hit them back with a question: 

Why?

Deactivating your account, even for a short break, can affect your brand in ways that slow down growth and weaken audience familiarity. They risk losing potential leads and sales. Their temporary absence may also confuse existing followers, which can push people to look elsewhere for content or products.

While it isn’t common practice, there are a handful of reasons why deactivating your client’s Instagram account might make sense:

• Rebranding or brand overhaul
• Legal or compliance issue
• Cybersecurity concerns
• Crisis or controversy
• Clients needing a short break from Instagram

The points above are some of the most common reasons why brands temporarily disable or delete their Instagram accounts. However, for the most part, you ought to avoid disabling since you miss out on the benefits your clients might reap from having an active Instagram.

What Does Deactivating Instagram Actually Do?

When you deactivate an Instagram account, nothing is lost permanently. When you reactivate, everything stays intact, including your Instagram following list order along with the rest of your profile activity. Instagram keeps the data in place instead of removing it from its servers, so the account simply becomes hidden until you return.

It’s also important to tell your client that they can only deactivate an account once per week. So, if they’re trying to avoid a controversial topic or a surge of trolls, they need to plan the timing of their deactivation strategically. Sometimes changing a few settings is enough to dial down unwanted attention. You can make your profile private so only approved followers can see your posts, plus you can adjust your comment controls and turn off your activity status whenever you want a calmer experience without taking the whole account offline.

Finally, you should inform your client about the differences between deactivating and permanently deleting your Instagram account. 

What’s the Difference Between Deactivating and Deleting an Instagram Account?

Account deactivation on Instagram is completely reversible. But if you delete your Instagram account, you only have 30 days to change your decision. 

Once the 30-day recovery window passes, Instagram permanently deletes the account. There’s no Instagram appeal form or support option that can restore it after that point.Your photos, files, conversations, Reels, Stories, plus every other detail on your profile will be gone for good. 

Instagram keeps deleted content in backup storage for as long as 90 days for security and compliance needs, although users can’t retrieve or view anything once it’s removed.  Instagram still blocks access to your data, although it keeps the information for continued review connected to activity on the account and any situations that require further examination.

Downloading a Copy of Your Instagram Data

Let’s say your client decides to either deactivate or delete their Instagram account.  Before doing either, it’s important to store a backup of their Instagram data.  Instagram backups let them restore all their content in a fresh, new account. It also enables you to repurpose their content for other campaigns. 

Learning how to save Instagram Story with music helps you build a stronger workflow. The same goes for saving Reels plus feed content. If you want every piece of Instagram data in one file, use these steps to download everything in one go. 

Step 1: Log into Instagram and head to the profile page. Tap the three horizontal lines in the upper-right corner. On the pop-up menu, tap ‘Accounts Center.’ 

Step 2: On the “Accounts Center” page, tap ‘ Your Information and permissions.’ 

Step 3: On the next page, tap ‘Export your information’ to request a copy of your (or your client’s) account data. 

Step 5: Choose the Instagram account you want to download a copy for, and follow the prompts to continue the process.

Tap and choose whether to download all information or just a specified set of data, then tap ‘Start Export’.

Step 6: Finally, wait for the email notification when your download is ready. 

Tip: Instagram still uses time-limited download links, and users typically get a four-day window to access their exported data. After that expires, Instagram requires you to submit a new request for a fresh export.

Also, here’s a bit of a heads-up when following the instructions below for temporarily deactivating Instagram accounts.

If the deactivate option doesn’t show up, don’t panic. Instagram moved most deactivation tools into Meta’s Accounts Center, so you’ll often find the option hidden there instead of your regular settings. Open Accounts Center, go to your personal details, then tap “Account ownership and control” to access the deactivation tool. Layouts vary across profile types, so the option may appear in a different order. You won’t need to unlink Facebook for it to show up.

You just need access to one recovery method to confirm the unlinking step in Accounts Center. 

After you unlink the accounts, open Accounts Center, go to Personal Details, then select Account Ownership and Control. Most people now find the deactivation option inside Meta’s Accounts Center. Some accounts still surface an in-app shortcut, although Instagram doesn’t guarantee it for everyone. Accounts Center remains the dependable place to manage deactivation controls.

You can deactivate through a browser or the IG app, so just pick whichever is easiest for you.

Why You Shouldn’t Temporarily Deactivate Instagram or Delete It

As mentioned, you’ll face serious consequences if you temporarily disable your Instagram account. So before you let your clients hit that deactivate or delete button, let them know why they should think twice about doing it.

Lay out the following factors:

1. Decreased Brand Visibility

As cliché as it is, “Out of sight, out of mind” is true, especially for your clients’ followers.  If followers don’t see your clients on Instagram, they’re likely to forget your clients exist. It can diminish your client’s brand visibility, wasting all your hard work. So it’s always a better option to keep your clients’ Instagram feeds alive and kicking to keep them top of mind for followers.

2. Lost Audience Connection

Stepping away from your account can feel like you suddenly disappeared from your followers’ world. You stop the flow of conversations that kept your community warm, which makes it tougher to rebuild momentum when you return. The longer the break, the harder it becomes to revive the same level of interest.

3. Miss out on Audience Engagement Opportunities

Instagram can be a goldmine for audience engagement because so much of the interaction happens in real time. But if your clients deactivate or delete their Instagram accounts, they’ll lose chances to interact with followers through messages and comments. 

You’re already in a space where people reach out to you, so it helps to stay present. A simple reply can spark trust that keeps someone coming back. 

When engagement dips, revenue tends to follow because clients who lean on Instagram for sales feel the impact fast. Even creators who work with sponsors notice slower deal flow once their visibility drops. 

4. Lose Your Competitive Edge

Stepping away from Instagram while competitors stay active can cause your clients to lose their competitive edge. So don’t let your clients hand the spotlight to their competitors. Help them stay in the game by keeping their Instagram accounts alive and active.

5. Leave Valuable Insights on the Table

Instagram doesn’t show who viewed your profile, but it does reveal follower behavior patterns through Insights. These trends help you understand when your audience is most active and what content draws the most attention, which supports sharper posting decisions and stronger content strategies. 

If your clients also need help driving traffic from Instagram, you can show them how to put a link in Instagram bio so followers can reach their offers more easily. Switching off your clients’ accounts means losing access to the performance signals that help guide smart content decisions. 

6. Lose Brownie Points With the Instagram Algorithm

Constant activity tells the Instagram algorithm that your clients are active and engaging audiences. The higher the engagement, the more chances of your clients getting featured in more users’ feeds.

It helps draw more eyeballs to your clients’ Instagram feeds and brands. All this can go away if your clients deactivate or delete their accounts.

7. Close Doors to Networking Opportunities

Instagram is still one of the best places to grow your following and connect with brands, influencers, plus new collaborators.Those ties help your clients get discovered and stay visible in their niche while creating a sense of trust that strengthens their presence.

When you close an Instagram account, those ties fade. Your clients lose visibility, their discoverability stalls, their relationships inside the app stop growing.

They also risk losing the community they spent years building. Rebuilding that kind of momentum takes time, so help them slow down and think through the decision before they deactivate anything.

Temporarily Deactivate Your Instagram Account With a Browser

Now that your client’s Instagram data is safe and secure, you can proceed with the account’s deactivation.

Step 1: On a desktop browser, go to Instagram.com and log in to your client’s account. Click ‘More’ in the bottom-left corner. 

Step 2: Click ‘Personal details’ in the pop-up menu.

Step 3: Click Account ownership and control, then choose Deactivation or deletion. 

Step 4: After you pick your reason and type your password, you will see the final option to deactivate your account. Tap the button and confirm the action when Instagram asks you to proceed. 

Temporarily Deactivate Your Account via the Instagram App

You can also deactivate your client’s account via the Instagram mobile app. 

Let us show you how: 

Step 1: Load up your Instagram iOS or Android app and head to the profile page. From there, tap the three horizontal lines in the top-right corner to pull up the menu. 

Step 2: Tap ‘Settings’ in the pop-up menu and choose Accounts Center.

 

Step 3: On the ‘Accounts Center’, go to Personal details.

Then tap Account ownership and control.

Tap Deactivation or deletion to temporarily deactivate the account.

Step 4: Tap ‘Deactivate account’ on the “Delete account” page. 

Step 5: Instagram will launch the mobile browser and take you to a page where you can complete the deactivation process.

Just specify your reason for deactivation, enter your client’s Instagram password, and tap ‘Temporarily Deactivate Account.’ 

How to Delete an Instagram Account Permanently

Before you permanently delete your client’s IG account, remember to warn them of the disadvantages of the permanent deletion.

Although a fresh start may feel tempting, remind your client that deleting an account creates setbacks that slow their growth. Once an account disappears, the loss of followers plus the drop in visibility can hit harder than they expect. Help them think through the long-term impact before they take steps they cannot reverse.

They could:

• Hurt their reputation with their exciting customers
• Lose potential sales
• Lose followers and engagement

When clients are adamant about a  “clean slate,” suggest rebranding without erasing their Instagram Timeline Content.

Below are the steps to do this. 

Step 1: Log in to your client’s Instagram account and head to the profile page. 

Step 2: Tap the three horizontal lines in the top-right corner. 

Step 3: Tap ‘Accounts Center’ to go to the Personal details page.

Step 4: Tap ‘Account ownership and control and choose Deactivation or deletion option and tap on the account you want to delete. A prompt will appear, tap Delete account then continue.’

Step 5: Choose your reason and tap continue. You will be prompted to enter the password to complete the process.

What You Should Do if the Deactivate Option Isn’t Showing

No social media app is perfect, including Instagram, so it’s prone to the occasional bug or technical glitch that makes the deactivation button disappear.

So what do you do when this happens? The first method is to clear your device’s mobile browser and Instagram app cache. Stale data can cause the Instagram website or app to malfunction sometimes. An easy fix is to clear the cache.

If that doesn’t solve the problem, check whether you’re using the latest version of the Instagram app. Outdated app versions can get those glitches and bugs. After updating, open the Instagram app and check whether the deactivate function is working.

If you can’t deactivate your client’s account via the Instagram app, try using the website. Sometimes the Instagram app malfunctions, but the website works fine, so your best bet is to temporarily deactivate or delete your client’s account through a web browser.

If nothing fixes the issue, go to Instagram’s Help Center and follow the troubleshooting prompts. Most solutions now run through automated flows, and they’re usually enough to resolve common problems. 

How to Maintain a Healthy Instagram Publishing Strategy

Deactivating or deleting an Instagram account is rarely ever good news, especially for agencies and social media managers. After all, an account deactivation or deletion request could spell the end of your job. To keep yourself on your client’s payroll, you need to step up your Instagram publishing game. 

Bolstering Your Client’s Instagram Campaign With Vista Social

Let’s cut to the chase: Vista Social is the only social media management platform you need to excel not just on Instagram, but other networks as well.  Use it to build and sustain an effective Instagram publishing strategy that aligns with the target audience’s content preferences. 

Start with a content calendar that’s based on their Instagram habits.  For starters, use the Vista Social publisher to reveal the ideal posting times based on previous content engagement. Just click ‘Show optimal times’ when scheduling a new post. 

You can build an automated Instagram schedule based on these posting times.

For this, go to ‘Settings’ and select ‘Publishing Settings.’ You’ll be able to configure your automated schedule under “Publishing Queues.” 

Keep in mind that there’s more to Instagram success than just pretty pictures and inspiring slogans.  Ensure your content is fine-tuned down to the last pixel for stronger viewer impact. Use the perfect Instagram Reels dimensions with the right image aspect ratios plus supportive visual elements such as stickers and filters to keep every frame crisp and engaging.

When in doubt, use Vista Social’s built-in image editor to nail every post’s formatting specs.

Don’t forget to sprinkle your Instagram content with the necessary text elements. This includes hashtags, mentions, photo dump captions plus anything else that supports clarity and visibility.

And yes, Vista Social can help with that, too.

Additional Tips for a Healthy Instagram Campaign

• Have an internal social media approval process to ensure every post is brand-safe and relevant to the client’s campaign objectives. 
• Use Instagram drafts to give your team (and your client) more control over content publishing and approvals. 
• Use poll questions in Stories to learn what your audience wants. Polls can appear in Reels for select accounts during Instagram’s feature tests, although Story polls remain the most reliable option for gathering responses.
• Track Instagram marketing performance over time with Vista Social’s reporting tools.
• Amplify your clients’ Instagram marketing campaigns with a robust link in bio tool to drive traffic and conversions. Vista Social’s link in bio feature comes with Vista Page, a landing page and a micro-website you can easily customize for your clients’ brands and campaigns. 
• Create catchy captions that grab attention with help from Vista Social’s ChatGPT-powered AI Assistant. It speeds up your writing process and gives you fresh ways to energize every post. Enter your prompt, and the AI Assistant will generate well-polished text for you in seconds, saving your team tons of time and effort. 
• Find relevant and popular hashtags in your clients’ industry or niche based on specific topics and keywords in a flash to boost their content’s searchability and chances of getting featured by the algorithm. Use Vista Social’s free AI hashtag generator for social media to get hashtag suggestions in seconds.

Take the hassle out of Instagram with Vista Social

Want to keep a healthy and productive Instagram campaign?

Here’s a tip: get yourself a reliable social media management platform. 

Vista Social’s arsenal of social media management tools delivers everything you need in one place. You can schedule posts through a streamlined dashboard while keeping an eye on conversations across channels. The platform also helps you measure performance with clear insights and gives you full control of your online reputation through an integrated review system. 

See the magic in action by creating a free trial here!

FAQs on Deactivating Instagram Account

How long can you temporarily deactivate Instagram account?

You can keep an Instagram account deactivated for as long as you want. Instagram doesn’t set a countdown, so you’re free to reactivate it any time by logging back in. The only restriction is, you can only temporarily deactivate an account once per week. 

Does temporarily deactivating Instagram delete everything?

No. Temporarily deactivating an account doesn’t delete anything from Instagram’s servers. Photos, captions, messages, plus user interactions stay hidden until the account becomes active again.

How do I recover my deactivated Instagram account?

To reactivate an Instagram account, simply log in with the account’s credentials. You will be logged in to the account and regain access to Instagram’s features as usual. 

Can I still reactivate my temporarily deactivated IG account?

Absolutely! You’ll simply need to log back in using your IG username and password, and your account will be recovered.

Is there a way to restore a permanently deleted Instagram account?

After the 30 day window closes, you can’t bring the deleted account back. Instagram removes it from their system for good, so your only move at that point is to create a new one. The only logical option to pursue is creating a fresh new account with the same email address previously used.

Can I delete my Instagram account without a password?

No, you can’t delete any Instagram accounts if you don’t have the password. Remember, only those with account ownership and control have the power to delete or deactivate account.

If your clients forget their password, you can help them create a new one.  Click the “Forgot your password” option on the login page and follow the instructions. 

From there, you can reset the password, log back into your client’s IG account, and proceed with the deletion.  Also, you can’t deactivate an Instagram account without the password. 

2. Can I deactivate or delete Instagram without logging in?

No.  You must log in to the account first before you can deactivate or delete it. 

3. What’s an alternative to deactivating or deleting your Instagram account?

There are softer options your clients can try before they commit to a full deactivation or deletion. This keeps everything clean. It avoids trends-sensitive language and stays accurate regardless of future updates.

For instance, if your clients need to take a break from the ‘gram because of toxic users, they can always mute accounts they don’t want popping up on their feeds.

Another option is to log out of the Instagram app for a while and step away from the feed. They won’t receive notifications while logged out, so they can take a pause without feeling pressured to stay active.