Do All Instagram Posts Disappear When You Delete Your Account?

With over 1 billion monthly active users, Instagram is one of the most popular social media platforms for sharing photos and videos. As an Instagram user, you may build up a profile with hundreds or even thousands of posts. But what happens to all that content if you decide to delete your Instagram account?

Let’s dive into the details around do all Instagram posts disappear when you delete your account.

What Happens When You Delete an Instagram Account

When you delete your Instagram account, either through the app or website, all of your account information and content is permanently removed from Instagram’s servers. This includes:

• All original posts, photos, videos, Reels, IGTVs, and Stories you’ve shared
• Comments and captions on your posts
• Likes and follows
• Direct messages
• Saved posts and collections
• Profile info and settings

Essentially, it will be as if your Instagram account never existed in the first place. Your username also becomes available for anyone to claim after the account deletion completes.

How Soon Are Your Posts Deleted?

Instagram does not instantly purge your account when you request a deletion. There is a 30-day grace period after you delete your account.

During this time, your profile and posts will not show up on Instagram, but all your data still remains on their servers in a deactivated state. This allows you to optionally log back in and reactivate your account within 30 days.

It is only after the 30-day window has elapsed that Instagram permanently deletes all your posts, photos, comments, and account details from their system. So you have about one month before your Instagram presence is gone for good.

What About Post Reposts and Backups?

When you delete your Instagram account, only your original posts stored on Instagram’s servers are removed. However, if any of your photos or videos were reposted or backed up by other users, those copies will still exist online.

For example, if another Instagrammer did a repost of your photo before you deleted your account, that reposted image will remain on their profile.

The same goes for any screenshots, archives, or duplicates of your Instagram posts that were saved outside of your original account. So traces of your content could still be lingering on the internet.

Can You Recover a Deleted Instagram Account?

Unfortunately, once your Instagram account is permanently deleted after 30 days, there is no built-in way to recover or restore it. Instagram’s help articles clearly state that accounts cannot be retrieved after being deleted.

This underscores the importance of being absolutely sure before choosing to delete your Instagram account, as there is no going back. So if you have second thoughts, you must reactivate within 30 days.

Steps to Download Your Instagram Data

Before deleting your Instagram account, you can preserve your photos and videos by downloading a copy of your account data:

• Go to your Instagram settings and select the option to Download Data.
• Enter your password when prompted to request your data archive.
• Instagram will email you a link to download your data when it’s ready.
• Save the downloadable ZIP files to your computer or cloud storage.

Alternatives to Deleting Your Account

Instead of a permanent deletion, you can also consider temporarily deactivating your account or switching to a private profile. This allows you to take a break while retaining ownership of your username and content.

You can also delete your Instagram app without deleting your account. Removing the app only disconnects it from your phone, with no effect on your online profile and posts.

FAQs About Deleting Instagram Accounts

Can someone else claim my Instagram username after I delete my account?

Yes, your username does become available for anyone else to register once your account is permanently deleted.

What happens to my Instagram photos and videos if I delete my account?

All your original Instagram posts are permanently removed from Instagram’s servers after account deletion. However, any reposts or backups may still exist.

Is it possible to temporarily disable my Instagram account?

Yes, you can temporarily deactivate your account, which hides your profile until you log back in to reactivate it.

Can I remove my Instagram account from search engine results?

It takes time for search engines to remove deleted accounts from results. Cached copies of your posts may still appear temporarily.

Conclusion

Deleting your Instagram account permanently erases your presence, including all posts and info stored on Instagram’s servers. However, copies of your content could still be out there on other profiles or sites. If you may want access in the future, be sure to download your data before deletion.

Overall, proceed with caution before deleting your Instagram account permanently, as it is an irreversible action with no option to retrieve your account.