If you deactivated your Instagram account yourself, you reactivate it by logging back in on the app or a browser with your username and password. Your posts, followers and comments come back as they were. If you asked Instagram to delete it, logging in within 30 days cancels the deletion (Instagram Help Center).
There's no separate "reactivate" button anywhere. Logging in is the switch. The only thing that changes the steps is how the account went quiet in the first place, so start by working out which of the three situations below is yours.
Which situation are you in?
| What happened | What it means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| You deactivated it yourself | The account is hidden, not deleted. Nothing has been removed | Log back in with your username and password. Everything returns |
| You asked to delete it, under 30 days ago | Instagram is holding the account before deleting it for good | Log in before the 30 days are up and choose to keep the account |
| You asked to delete it, over 30 days ago | The account and its content are gone permanently | There's nothing to restore. You'd need to start a new account |
| Instagram disabled it | Instagram thinks the account broke its rules | Log in and follow the on-screen option to disagree or request a review |
The first two are fixed by logging in. The last one isn't a reactivation at all, it's an appeal, and it has its own screen. I'll cover each one below.
Steps to log back in after deactivating
These work for a temporary deactivation and for cancelling a deletion that's still inside the 30-day window.
- Open the Instagram app, or go to Instagram in your phone or computer browser.
- Tap or click Log in (if you see a list of saved accounts, pick yours or choose to use another profile).
- Type your username, email address or phone number, then your password.
- If Instagram sends a login code by text or email, enter the most recent one.
- If you'd asked to delete the account, you'll see a message about the pending deletion. Choose the option to keep the account.
- Check your profile. Your posts, followers and comments should look the way they did before.
If you've forgotten the password, reset it first from the login screen and then log in with the new one. I've gone through that in how to reset your Instagram password.
Screens move around between app versions. If a button name looks different on yours, search Instagram's settings or help menu for the key word, such as "login" or "deletion".
Logging in when you've lost the password, email or phone
A forgotten password is the most common reason people think their account won't reactivate. The account is fine; the login is the problem. Sort the login first and the account comes back with it.
- Forgot the password: tap the forgotten password option on the login screen, enter your username, email or phone number, and use the code or link Instagram sends to set a new one.
- Code not arriving: check spam and any promotions folder, wait a few minutes, and don't request a stack of new codes in a row. Use the newest one that arrives.
- No access to the old email or phone: use the help option on the login screen and follow the steps to confirm it's your account.
Nobody from Instagram will ever message you asking for your password or a login code. If someone does, it's a scam, even if the message looks official. Keep those to yourself.
When login fails straight after you deactivated
The catch most people miss: Instagram's Help Center says deactivation can take up to 24 hours to finish. If you deactivated an hour ago and changed your mind, the login might not work yet, or it might seem stuck. Wait a full day, then try again.
There's a second limit too. You can only deactivate your account once a week (Instagram Help Center). That doesn't stop you logging back in, but it does mean you can't switch the account off and on several times while you decide. Make the call once.
If you've waited a day and it still won't let you in, run through these in order:
- Check you're typing the username of the account you deactivated, not a second account saved on the same phone.
- Try the other way in: if the app fails, use a browser, and the other way round.
- Update the Instagram app, then close it fully and open it again.
- Use the password reset option if you're not sure the password is right.
- If you see a message that the account is disabled rather than deactivated, follow that screen instead (see the next section).
For what stays hidden while the account is off, and what other people see in the meantime, read what happens when you deactivate Instagram.
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If Instagram disabled your account
This is different from deactivating, and logging in won't reverse it on its own. When you try, you'll see a message saying the account has been disabled or suspended, usually with an option to disagree with the decision or request a review.
- Log in and read the message on screen in full.
- Tap the option to disagree or request a review.
- Follow the steps Instagram gives you. Some ask you to confirm your identity.
- Wait for Instagram's reply, which comes through the app or to the email on the account.
Please don't pay anyone who promises to "unban" or recover your account. Those services can't do anything you can't do from that screen, and some of them are after your login details. Only Instagram can review its own decision. If you want to understand what usually triggers a ban, I've written about why Instagram accounts get deactivated.
Before you deactivate again
If you're reactivating because a break went on longer than planned, a few settings might do the job without switching the whole account off next time:
- Turn off notifications for Instagram in your phone settings.
- Hide your activity status so people don't see when you're online.
- Switch to a private account so only approved followers see your posts.
- Log out of the app and delete it from your phone for a while. The account stays live, but you're not tempted.
If it were my account, I'd log in once, check everything's there, and then choose one of those lighter options rather than deactivating again. It keeps your username safe and avoids the wait.
For the rest of the series, see the Instagram Help: 81 Guides to Followers, Hashtags, Money, Accounts and Fixes.
Frequently asked questions
How long can an Instagram account stay deactivated?
A temporary deactivation stays in place until you log back in. Logging in is what ends it, whenever you choose to do it.
Will I lose my followers if I reactivate?
No. When you log back in after deactivating, your followers, posts and comments come back as they were.
Why can't I log in right after deactivating?
Instagram's Help Center says deactivation can take up to 24 hours to finish. Wait a day and try logging in again.
Can I reactivate an account after 30 days of asking to delete it?
No. Once the 30 days have passed, the account is deleted permanently and can't be restored, so you'd need to create a new one.
