Platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, and Snapchat can be overwhelming for exploring the lives of celebrities, continuous advertising, random Instagram stories, etc. You can choose to use the delete or disable options to stay away from Instagram. But which one is more suitable for you? Let us understand all the differences between the two.
Instagram allows you to suspend the service with two options. You can delete your account or use the disable my account function.
Before using any of them, you should understand the differences and possible results of these two options.
Instagram Delete vs Deactivate : WHERE ARE THESE OPTIONS
Instagram does not add delete and deactivate options in mobile apps on iPhone and Android. You can only use it through a web browser on your desktop or mobile device.
In our opinion, Instagram should provide these two options in the official Instagram application.
The Disable my account (deactivate) option is accessible from the Instagram web interface. Instagram has a separate webpage to delete the account, making it harder for consumers to find the option.
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU DELETE OR DEACTIVATE YOUR INSTAGRAM ACCOUNT
If you temporarily disable your Instagram account, your comments, likes, profile, number of followers and other details will be hidden. You can reactivate at any time after logging in to Instagram through the app or the web.
Some users just want to disable their Instagram account to protect their account identity from being used by others. In this case, you don’t have to take such extreme steps. You can set your account as private at any time by going to “Settings”> “Privacy”> “Private Account”.
If you delete your Instagram account, you will permanently lose your account, profile, username, videos, photos, comments, likes and followers.
After deleting your account, your username is publicly available again. In other words, other people can use your username and create an account on Instagram. So be careful when using this step.
After Instagram completely deletes your account, you can log in again with the same username or add the username with another account, as long as the username is not used by a new Instagram user.
If you choose the opt-out option, your Instagram username will remain with you. No one can create an account in the application with the same username.
STEPS TO TAKE BEFORE DELETING OR DISABLING YOUR INSTAGRAM ACCOUNT
You don’t need to take any action before deactivating your Instagram account. You just need to follow the steps on the Instagram help page and deactivate your Instagram account.
If you are using the wipe function, then you should download a backup of your Instagram data.
After a while, Instagram will also delete all your details from the server. All the pictures and videos that you uploaded to Instagram over the years will disappear.
Related: How to Share Photos and Videos on Google Drive
Read our guide on how to download Instagram data and learn how to delete your account afterwards.
Instagram Delete vs Deactivate : HOW TO GAIN BACK ACCESS
If you disable your Instagram account, there is an easy way to regain access. Re-login to Instagram via the mobile app or the web, and you will be able to use the familiar Instagram feed again.
If you are not familiar with a password manager, you will most likely forget your Instagram credentials. However, you can follow them tips for logging in and retrieve your account.
Using the Instagram delete option, the company will keep all your information for 30 days. In other words, no one can log in to Instagram with your username in the first 30 days. You can use Instagram again within 30 days.
It can take up to 90 days for deletion to complete after it starts. A copy of your content can be kept in backup storage 90 days after Instagram is used for recovery in the event of a disaster, software failure, or other data loss event.
After 30 days, you can use the same username and create a new account on Instagram. The number of your followers and other data are gone. So you start again.
TAKE A BREAK FROM INSTAGRAM ADDICTION
Instagram addiction is real. If it interferes with your workflow or social life, you can temporarily disable or permanently delete your Instagram account. However, before doing this, it is important to understand the differences between the two. Otherwise, you might end up using the wrong function for the wrong purpose.
