How to Remove an Instagram Account: It’s Easy on Any Device

Want to remove an Instagram account you no longer use?

Or streamline what appears on your app so there’s less distraction?

Then you’ll need to know how to remove an Instagram account.

Let’s look at the different ways depending on the type of device where you’ve linked accounts: iPhone, Android, or computer.

You’ll also learn how removing an account is different from deleting it, so you’re sure you’ve got the right one.

Ready to get started?

Is Removing an Instagram Account the Same as Deleting It?

Removing an Instagram account from your app is not the same as deleting it. Removing is strictly for multiple Instagram accounts you’ve linked.

When you remove an account, you can still access it, but it’s no longer linked to your others. You’ll have to log in separately instead of switching back and forth.

Unless you used One Login, you can add a removed IG account back to your linked accounts, if you want to later. However, when you delete an Instagram account, it’s gone forever.

Removing also means others can still see your account, even if you never login again. But deleting removes it from IG completely.

The good news is that the processes are very different, so it’s hard to accidentally delete when you only meant to remove.

Click to see the full process of how to delete an Instagram account, which is permanent, and also learn how to disable an account temporarily.

The article below is only about removing a linked account.

How to Remove an Instagram Account from the iPhone App

If you have an iPhone, this is how you remove a linked Instagram account from the app.

This works for accounts that have separate logins. If your linked accounts share one login, Instagram offers different instructions, which I’ll detail further on.

1 | Open the Instagram app.

2 | Make sure you’re logged into the account that you want to remove. If not, switch to it.

3 | Tap the profile icon on the bottom right corner.

4 | Tap the hamburger menu with the three horizontal lines in the top right corner.

5 | Tap on the Settings option and scroll down.

6 | Find the Log Out option at the bottom and tap it.

7 | Make the sure the account to remove has a blue tick beside it, then tap Log Out. It appears that you can select additional accounts to remove, but you can’t “un-select” the one you’re on.

Instagram will confirm that it will remember your login info, or you can tell it not to.

Click Log Out again, and this account will no longer appear as an option on your app

The app will then default back to the previous account used in the app.

How to Remove an Instagram Account from the Android App

The process with an Android phone is very similar to an iPhone. The screens may look a bit different, but that’s it, really.

In a nutshell:

Open the Instagram app and tap the profile picture, making sure it’s the right account to remove.

Click the hamburger icon and select the Settings option from the drop-down menu.

Scroll down to the Log Out option and tap it, then follow the steps to confirm you want to log out.

How to Remove an Instagram Account Linked with One Login

Once upon a time Instagram offered a feature to set up multiple accounts under “One Login.”

You can no longer add IG accounts to one login, but you can remove them. Note that if you remove one, you won’t be able to add it back.

Per IG Help, these are the steps to remove an account you’ve linked to a single login from the Instagram app, on either Android or iPhone:

1 | Tap your profile picture in the bottom right to go to your profile.

2 | Tap the hamburger icon in the top right, then tap Settings.

3 | Tap Login info.

4 | Tap the 3 dots next to the account you want to remove.

5 | Tap Remove. source

How to Remove an Instagram Account on a Computer

This is new in 2021! Not only can you link multiple IG accounts on computer – you can also unlink them (aka remove).

The process is a little less streamlined, as it may log you out of all your linked accounts. But here’s how it works.

NOTE: Accounts that were linked on your mobile device won’t be linked on your computer unless you also linked them there! Remove accounts linked in the app on the app, and vice versa.

1 | Head to Instagram.com.

2 | Make sure you’re logged into the account you want to remove.

3 | Tap the profile icon on the top right corner, and choose Log Out from the dropdown menu. Warning! This takes place pretty much instantly, so be sure you do want to log out.

4 | You’re taken to the screen below. Click Manage Accounts.

5 | Now select the account you want to remove, and then click Done Editing.

6 | You’ll be asked to confirm that you want to remove this account. If you do, click Remove.

7 | The account has been removed. You can now log into another account, remove another account, or just close the window if you’re done.

8 | Note that if you had 2-factor verification on an account that you didn’t remove and now want to log into, you’ll have to verify again.

Removed Instagram Account is Still Showing

You might find that the account still appears on your list of available ones. If you close out of the account and go back a little later, it should vanish.

But if it doesn’t, it’s probably because the login info is saved.

1 | Go into the Security section of the settings menu and tap Saved Login Info.

2 | Then toggle off the option under Saved Login Info.

Come out of the app and it should vanish when you log back in.

Still having problems? Over the years, my wonderful readers have offered 3 different solutions. I can’t say if they still work, but they might be worth a try if you’re stuck.

Be sure you know all your login info before attempting!

Option 1:

1. Go log out of both accounts.
2. Then go back to the home page where you log in. It’ll show the extra account still.
3. The name will appear on the left and on the right it will say log in for both.
4. Hold down on the page, and next to the login tab an X will appear. Hit the X.
5. It will prompt you that you will need all the info to log in again and ask if you’re certain.
6. Hit accept.

Here’s another solution a reader found when that didn’t work!

1. The X wasn’t active next to the account I wanted to remove.
2. I removed Instagram app from my iPhone by holding down the icon and tapping the little x in the corner.
3. Then I re-downloaded the application from the App Store.
4. I logged into my main account with my username and password.
5. I went into settings and then to Add Account and added my second account again.

The third account is finally gone! PS. You have to be careful that you remember all of your usernames and passwords for this fix.

Plus, a third solution provided February 2019:

Here are the steps for removing an account from showing in your list that you’ve already deleted.

1. Make sure you know the passwords for all your accounts.
2. Log out of all your accounts.
3. On the home page of the IG app, tap, Manage accounts.
4. An X will appear next to the account name, tap that to remove the account you no longer want to appear.
5. To remove another account, repeat step 4.
6. Now you’ll be able to create / add new accounts.

If this isn’t working for you, use the Report a Problem feature in your account settings.

Unfortunately I can’t provide additional assistance, because I haven’t experienced this problem myself. Would love to get your insights if you’ve been able to solve it!

Removing an IG Account Easily

It’s a straightforward process to remove an Instagram account from either iPhone or Android apps, and even from the website!

If you find yourself fighting the urge to switch to your “fun” IG, this lets you separate your accounts and be laser-focused on what you’re working on.

Follow these simple steps to have the right accounts showing on your app or browser.

Ready to get even more focused?

Learn how to grow your Instagram followers 11 ways!