Social media can be exhausting. With the average Instagram user spending at least 33 minutes a day scrolling, it can be good to take a break. The good news is that you don’t have to delete your Instagram completely! You can deactivate your account temporarily in your settings so you aren’t tempted to use it, and other users can’t see your account either.
It’s important to be careful when deactivating your Instagram account if you plan to reactivate it in the future. In this article we’re going to give you some tips on how to take a social media break from the ‘gram!
What’s the Difference Between Deactivation and Deletion of Instagram?
To start, deactivating your Instagram account doesn’t mean you’re deleting it. This is why it’s crucial to be very careful when you plan to deactivate your account. Deleting your account means everything you’ve posted will disappear, and you won’t be able to get it back. Deactivating your account means that while it won’t be visible to you or anyone else, you won’t lose any of your content.
How Long Can I Deactivate Instagram For?
Another question of concern is how long you can deactivate your account for. Let’s say you want to try 30 days without social media. It goes well, so you want to do more. Don’t worry, there’s no limit to how long you can keep your account deactivated.
If you can’t deactivate your Instagram, it’s likely because you deactivated it once already during the week. Instagram won’t let you deactivate, reactivate and deactivate within the same 7 days.
How to Deactivate Instagram
Now, let’s get on to the important part. According to the Instagram Help Center, here are the steps to temporarily deactivating your Instagram.
Deactivate Instagram From Desktop
- First, log into Instagram through a web browser.
- Next, you’ll need to go to the settings page and click on edit profile.
- From there, scroll down and on the bottom right you should see a “deactivate account” button.
- Click that, and your account should be temporarily deactivated.
Deactivate Instagram From the App
Typically, Instagram users are on the mobile app, so here’s how to deactivate Instagram on iPhone and Android.
- From your profile page, click on edit profile.
- At the bottom, you should see a temporarily deactivate my account button.
- There will be a drop-down menu asking why are you deactivating your account?
- Once you choose a reason, you will be given the option to deactivate it.
- Click on Temporarily Deactivate Account and confirm.
Deactivate Instagram From the Accounts Center
Another route to deactivate Instagram is through the Accounts Center, which is a helpful tool if you have multiple accounts across Instagram and Facebook.
- In the Accounts Center, click the more option in the bottom left corner, and go to settings.
- Click on Accounts Center, and follow it to Personal Details.
- Proceed to Account Ownership and Control
- Click on Deactivation
- Choose which account you want to deactivate
- Then, click Deactivate Account
Why Can’t I Deactivate My Instagram Account?
Sometimes, the “Deactivate my Instagram” option may not be available for a variety of reasons, such as:
- Pending ads
- Use of a business account
- Security settings
- Account verification
- Linked third-party accounts
- A recent password change
If you’ve troubleshooted your issues and still can’t deactivate Instagram, consider contacting customer support.
Closing Thoughts
Simply put, Instagram is a great social media tool for personal and business use, but it can be exhausting at times. It’s perfectly fine to want to take a break from social media and give yourself some breathing room. Once you’re ready to get back to it, head to your settings to reactivate your account!
