What to save before deleting an Instagram account

Complete the account export first

Request the export, wait for the ready notice, download it, and open the package. Do not start deletion while the export is merely pending. Check that the selected date range and information types cover what you expected.

The export may not replace your original camera or editor files. Preserve those separately when quality, editable layers, or commercial licences matter.

Record what depends on the account

List linked business pages, advertising access, login connections, contact links, embedded posts, and people who use the account for customer support. Update websites and profiles that point to the Instagram username.

Save invoices, campaign approvals, and permission records outside Instagram messages. A screenshot can help with context, but a searchable document with dates and names is easier to use later.

• Account export downloaded and opened
• Original photos, videos, captions, and covers copied
• Recovery and business dependencies recorded
• Website links and contact pages updated
• Collaborators told where future communication will happen

Read the final deletion screen carefully

Meta's help material describes a period during which a deletion request may be cancelled, but the number of days can vary by region. Use the date shown in your own account rather than assuming a universal deadline.

After submitting, keep your external backup in place. Do not plan around being able to retrieve a missing item from Instagram later.