Instagram is one of the most popular social media platforms in the world, and losing access to your account can be a real headache for you. This would mean losing years of photos and videos, as well as all your followers. But fortunately, in most cases it is not too difficult to try to recover your Instagram account.
To help you in this process, we have prepared this practical guide on how to recover your Instagram account, whether it has been deactivated, hacked or deleted. Depending on your situation, it could take a few days to a few weeks to recover your account. So, let’s get started.
How to recover an Instagram account that has been disabled
When you receive the dreaded message that your account has been deactivated, after digesting the shock, the first thing the application will ask you to do is provide more information. By selecting this option, you will be guided step by step through the process in which you will have to execute all the instructions offered by the platform, but keep in mind that to recover your account, you will have to go through an appeal process. The only way this will work is if your account has been disabled by mistake, because if you admit your mistake and regret breaking the rules, it may not be enough.
Another place where you can send appeals is on the official Instagram contact page. Here, you will simply have to complete the required fields and click Submit for your case to be reviewed. It is possible that, at some point in the process, the platform will ask you to send a selfie as verification, and you can repeat the appeal process as many times as you want until you get a solution. Assuming you haven’t intentionally violated any important rules, it shouldn’t take you more than a few days to get a response. Don’t be afraid to be persistent and you will eventually get your account back in no time.
How to reactivate an Instagram account
A few years ago Instagram added the option to temporarily deactivate your account when you need to take a break away from the busy world of social media. This action can only be performed through a mobile browser or a computer, since it is not possible to do it from the app. But all your content will be removed and it will appear that the account has been completely removed.
However, it is very easy to recover a deactivated Instagram account. Simply log back into any device and your account will be automatically reactivated. Depending on how long you’ve been absent, you may have to accept the new terms and conditions established since you left.
How to recover a hacked Instagram account
Instagram accounts are a frequent target of hackers. Generally, hackers swarm the network seeking access to private accounts, trying to sell your username or trying to steal your personal data for their illegal actions. If you suspect that your Instagram account has been hacked, you should take action as soon as possible, the longer unscrupulous hands have access to your account, the more damage they can do to your privacy and reputation online.
In this case, the first thing you should do is check if you have an email from Instagram indicating that the email linked to your account has been changed. This is the easiest way for hackers to take control of your account, but if you manage to find the email, you can immediately reverse the action. If you can’t find the email, there is one more option to fix it before it’s too late by requesting that a login link be sent to your phone number:
- On the login screen, tap Get help signing in (on Android) u Forgot your password? (on iOS).
- You can then enter your phone number to have a temporary login link sent to you.
- Follow the instructions from there to regain access.
If this restores access to your account, you must immediately change your password and revoke access granted to any third-party applications. You may also find that you are now following some new accounts, but don’t worry about that until your account is secured. If all of the above fail, you can still report the hacked account to regain access.
How to report a hacked Instagram account
It may not be so easy to regain access to your account once it has been hacked, however there is still the possibility to report it. These are the steps you must follow
- If you use Android, on the login screen, click on the option Get help to login.
- If you are an iOS user, from the same screen click on Forgot your password? (on iOS).
- Enter your username, email address, or phone number and tap Next.
- Then, click on the option Do you need more help? and follow the on-screen instructions until the process is complete.
As part of this process, you will need to submit a photo of yourself with a security code to verify your identity. To minimize the chance of being hacked again, make sure to activate two-factor authentication as soon as possible.
Can a deleted Instagram account be recovered?
We regret to tell you that if you or someone with your login information has deleted your Instagram account, you will not be able to get it back. Because of this, you must be very careful when sharing your information with anyone else.
But, although you cannot recover a deleted Instagram account, what you can do is create a new one using the same email address or phone number. For obvious reasons, you will not be able to use the same username, nor will you be able to retrieve your followers or published images.
This is all about our guide to get your Instagram account back. And remember that with a little persistence, any account that hasn’t been permanently deleted can be recovered.