- Why Instagram wants to confirm it's you
- The code part: what Instagram sends you
- The photo part: Instagram's video selfie
- How to complete the check safely
- What to avoid
- If the check fails or nothing happens
- How to make the next check easier
- My honest advice before you send anything
- Frequently asked questions
When Instagram asks for a photo or selfie with a code, it's checking you own the account, usually after a suspicious login or a recovery request. Its Help Centre describes two checks: a security code sent to your email or phone, and a video selfie turning your head. Only complete them inside the Instagram app or website.
Being asked to prove you're you is unsettling, especially when you can't get into your own account. The check itself is routine. What matters is doing it in the right place, because scammers copy exactly this kind of request.
Why Instagram wants to confirm it's you
Instagram asks for identity checks when something about a login or a recovery request doesn't add up. The common triggers are:
- A login from a phone or browser Instagram doesn't recognise.
- A request to recover an account you can't get into, or one you think has been taken over.
- Activity that looks automated, so Instagram wants to know a real person is behind the account.
- Confirming or changing your age, or helping prevent scams and phishing, which Instagram lists as reasons it may ask for ID.
The code part: what Instagram sends you
The code is almost always one Instagram sends to you, not one you make up. There are three kinds:
| Code | When you get it | Where it comes from |
|---|---|---|
| Login link or security code | When you tap Forgot password? or ask for help getting back in | Your email or phone number |
| Two-factor login code | When you log in from a device Instagram doesn't recognise | An authentication app, text message or WhatsApp |
| Backup code | When a two-factor code can't be delivered | A list you saved from your settings earlier |
Type these codes into Instagram itself and nowhere else. Nobody at Instagram will ever need you to read one out, forward it or send it in a message.
The photo part: Instagram's video selfie
Here's the detail most people don't expect. Instagram's Help Centre says it uses a video selfie, not a still photo, because photos and IDs can be digitally modified. You record a short clip turning your head in different directions so Instagram can tell a real person is there and that it's the person in the account's photos.
Instagram also says the video is never visible on Instagram and is deleted within 30 days. It only asks for the selfie on accounts that have photos of you. On an account without photos of you, Meta instead asks for the email address or phone number you signed up with and the type of device you used when you joined.
If what you're seeing asks you to photograph yourself holding a handwritten code, be careful where it came from. Instagram's current help pages describe the video selfie and codes sent to you, not a still photo with a code. If the request appears inside the official app while you're logging in, follow the on-screen steps. If it arrives by DM, email link or a stranger's message, treat it as a scam.
How to complete the check safely
- Start from the Instagram app or instagram.com, never from a link someone sent you.
- On the login screen, tap Forgot password? and request a login link to your email or phone.
- If the link doesn't get you in, request a security code or support from the app, and give a secure email address only you can access.
- If you're asked for a video selfie, record it in good light, with your face clear, turning your head as the screen asks.
- Wait for Instagram's email to the secure address you gave. If you pass, it may include a link to reset your password.
If your account has been taken over and you can't log in at all, Instagram points people to instagram.com/hacked, typed straight into your browser, to start securing it.
What to avoid
- DMs claiming to be Instagram. Instagram says it will never send you a DM about your account. Scam messages often say your account will be banned or that you've broken copyright rules.
- Anyone asking for your code. A login or security code is the key to your account. Sharing it hands the account over.
- Links to 'verify' pages. Real contact from Instagram shows up under Emails from Instagram in your settings, so check there.
- Sending a selfie or ID to a person. The check happens inside Instagram's own flow, never through a chat.
If the check fails or nothing happens
Don't panic. Instagram says that if it couldn't confirm your identity from your video, you can submit a new one and it'll review it again, and that you may be able to resubmit in the app. While a selfie is under review you won't have access to the account, so a quiet wait is normal.
If Instagram asks for ID instead, it says you'll usually get at least two attempts. Skipping the check isn't a good option: Instagram warns that if you choose not to confirm your identity, you may not be able to log back in. For other routes back in, how to get back into a deactivated or lost account covers the wider recovery options.
Want AI doing the heavy lifting in your marketing?
I build the systems that handle the boring 80 percent, so you get your week back. Done properly, with the human kept in.
How to make the next check easier
Once you're back in, a few minutes now saves a lot of stress later:
- Turn on two-factor authentication. Instagram recommends an authentication app over text messages.
- Save your backup codes somewhere safe that isn't your phone's photo roll.
- Check the email address and phone number on the account are current, so codes reach you.
- Remove linked accounts and third-party apps you don't recognise.
If the check was triggered by a content issue rather than a login, what to do when Instagram removes your story explains Account Status and reviews.
My honest advice before you send anything
Ask one question before you hand over a selfie or a code: did I start this inside the Instagram app? If yes, go ahead and follow the steps calmly. If it came to you, as a DM, a text or an urgent email, stop. Real checks don't chase you.
And don't keep restarting the process out of worry. Submit once, carefully, then wait for the email. Repeated attempts from different devices can look like the very suspicious activity that triggered the check in the first place.
Frequently asked questions
Why is Instagram asking for a photo with a code?
It's checking you own the account, usually after an unrecognised login or a recovery request. Instagram's help pages describe codes sent to your email or phone and a video selfie.
Is it safe to send Instagram a video selfie?
Inside the official app, yes. Instagram says the video isn't shown on Instagram and is deleted within 30 days. Never send one through a DM.
Will Instagram ever DM me for a code?
No. Instagram says it never sends DMs about your account. Anyone asking for your code is trying to take the account.
What if my video selfie is rejected?
You can submit a new one. Instagram says it'll review it again, and you may be able to resubmit in the app.
What happens if I don't confirm my identity?
Instagram says you may not be able to log back in to the account.
