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For some users, a digital vacation becomes a necessity. Constant notifications, endless feeds, and intrusive ads can tire even the most active social media user. Fortunately, Instagram allows you to temporarily deactivate your account without deleting it entirely.
This is handy if you want to pause without losing data. In this guide, we’ll explain how to do it on your phone and computer, how to save your data in advance, and answer the most common questions, as well as how exactly to protect your data with a VPN for social networks, namely Instagram.
What does it mean to deactivate an Instagram account?
Deactivating Instagram refers to temporarily disabling your account. Unlike deleting it, you can restore your profile at any time by simply logging in.
In the meantime, while your account is deactivated:
- Your profile, photos, likes, and comments are hidden from other users.
- You cannot be found through a search.
- You don’t receive notifications and can’t use Instagram features.
It’s a great option if you’re tired of social media, want to focus on your personal life, school, or work, but plan to come back later.
Learn how to deactivate an Instagram account on a mobile device
You should know that you cannot temporarily deactivate an account through the Instagram mobile app. You need to use a mobile browser to do so. Here are the step-by-step instructions:
| Step 1 | Open the browser on your smartphone and navigate to instagram.com. |
| Step 2 | Log in to your account. |
| Step 3 | Tap the profile icon, which you can find in the bottom right corner. |
| Step 4 | Tap the three lines in the corner and select “Settings.” |
| Step 5 | Go to the “Account Center” section. |
| Step 6 | Select “Personal Information.” Then, select “Account Ownership and Management.” |
| Step 7 | Select the account you want to deactivate. |
| Step 8 | Click “Deactivate or delete.” Then select “Temporarily deactivate account.” |
| Step 9 | Provide a reason. Then, confirm by entering your password. |
After taking these steps, your account will be temporarily hidden from the system.
Here’s how to deactivate an Instagram account from a computer
The procedure is almost the same as on your phone.
| Step 1 | Go to Instagram.com and log in to your account. |
| Step 2 | Click the profile icon in the top right corner and select “Settings.” |
| Step 3 | Go to “Account Center.” |
| Step 4 | Go to “Personal Information” > “Account Ownership and Management.” |
| Step 5 | Select the account you want to disable temporarily. |
| Step 6 | Click “Deactivate or Delete,” then select “Temporarily Deactivate Account.” |
| Step 7 | Confirm the action by stating the reason and entering your password. |
Until you log in again, other users won’t be able to see your profile.
Follow these steps to save your data before deactivation
Before temporarily deactivating your account, it’s a good idea to save an archive of all your activity, including photos, videos, comments, and correspondence. Instagram allows you to do this in HTML format (convenient for viewing) or JSON (suitable for those who want to analyze data).
Here’s how to do it:
- Go to instagram.com. Log in to your account.
- Click on the profile icon. Then click on “Settings.”
- Open the “Privacy and Security” section.
- Find the “Data Downloading” item.
- Specify the email address where you want to receive the archive.
- Choose the format (HTML or JSON) and click “Next”.
- Please enter your password to proceed.
- The email containing a link to the archive will be sent to you within one to two days.
- Download the file and save it if you want to save your memories or return to them later.
Please note:
You cannot deactivate your account without logging in. You need to be logged in. If you have forgotten your data, use the password recovery function. Deactivation requires you to confirm your password. If you forget it, use the “Forgot your password?” option to reset it via email or phone number.
Your account can be deactivated for any amount of time – from one day to several years. Account recovery is automatic when you log in again. But your followers won’t know your account has been deactivated. Your profile disappears from searches and followers’ lists. To those around you, this looks like account deletion.
If you have multiple accounts, make sure you are logged in to the one you want to deactivate. Then, follow the deactivation instructions. Each account is deactivated separately.
Keep in mind that your data and time are the most valuable resources in the digital world. To protect them, we recommend using a VPN for Instagram from VPNLY. Such technology encrypts your connection, hides your IP address, and protects you from snooping. It’s a simple step to more privacy and control over your online life.
