- Two different jobs: resetting and changing your Instagram password
- How to reset your Instagram password from the login screen
- How to change your Instagram password when you're logged in
- Choosing a strong new Instagram password
- If your Instagram password reset isn't working
- When you've lost access to your Instagram email or phone number
- Spotting a fake Instagram password reset message
- Instagram password reset checklist for business accounts
- Checking nothing else is wrong after the Instagram password reset
- Frequently asked questions
To reset your Instagram password, go to the login screen, tap or click Forgot password?, enter your username, email or phone number, then choose Send login link. Instagram's help says the link arrives by email or phone. If you're still logged in, you can change it instead from Menu, then Password and security.
A locked-out Instagram account is more than an annoyance when it's your shop window or the place your clients find you. The good news is that Instagram's own help gives a clear route back in. I've gone through its Help Center pages on recovering and changing a password so you can pick the right path for your situation.
Two different jobs: resetting and changing your Instagram password
Instagram's help treats these as separate, and choosing the right one saves a lot of time.
- Reset: you're logged out and can't remember the password. You start from the login screen.
- Change: you're logged in and know your current password, and you just want a new one. You start from Settings.
If you're not sure which applies, try opening the app. If it opens straight to your feed, you're logged in and the change route is quicker.
How to reset your Instagram password from the login screen
Here's the route Instagram's help gives when you can't remember your password. You can use your email address, phone number or username to do it.
- On the login screen, click Forgot password?
- Enter your username, email or phone, then click Send login link.
- Click Ok and follow the on-screen instructions.
- A link will be sent to your email or phone. Open it to reset your password.
Wait for the message to arrive before you start again. Asking for several in a row only fills your inbox and makes it harder to tell which one is the latest.
How to change your Instagram password when you're logged in
If you can get in and know the current password, Instagram's help says to change it from your Settings. For the Instagram app on Android and iPhone, the steps are:
- Tap Profile, or your profile picture, in the bottom right.
- Tap Menu in the top right.
- Tap Password and security.
- Tap Change password, then tap the account you'd like to change the password for.
- Enter your current password, then your new one.
- Re-type the new password and tap Change password.
The same help page lists separate steps for iPad, the Instagram Lite app, a mobile browser and a computer. Menu names can differ a little by app version, so follow the section that matches the device in your hand.
Choosing a strong new Instagram password
Instagram's help says a strong password uses a combination of at least 6 numbers, letters and punctuation marks, such as ! and %. I'd go longer than that. A short phrase with a few odd characters added is easy for you to remember and hard to guess.
- Don't reuse a password from your email or another social account.
- Don't include your name, pet or birthday.
- Store it in a password manager so you aren't tempted to simplify it.
If your Instagram password reset isn't working
Instagram's login troubleshooting page groups the common problems, and it has a separate help article for each. They cover:
- Not getting the reset email you requested.
- Links in the reset email that don't work.
- Your email address not being found during a reset.
- Receiving a reset email for the wrong Instagram profile.
Before you open those, run through the basics. Check the spelling of the email or username you typed, look in your spam and junk folders, and try the other option, such as phone instead of email. Then wait a few minutes in case of delay.
When you've lost access to your Instagram email or phone number
Instagram's help has its own section for this, titled around losing access to the email or phone number linked to the account, and another for when the email on the account was changed. If you didn't change it yourself, treat that as a warning sign.
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Instagram also says that if you can't reset your password in the normal way, you can visit instagram.com/hacked in a desktop or mobile browser to secure your account. My guide on recovering a hacked or lost Instagram account goes further into that situation.
Spotting a fake Instagram password reset message
A reset email you didn't ask for is worth treating with suspicion. Don't click links in it. Instead, open the Instagram app directly, or type the address into your browser, and check your account from there. Scammers copy the look of official emails to collect logins, which is the same trick I describe in my guide to spotting Instagram follower scams.
If someone is threatening or harassing you through an account, report it to Instagram and, if you're in danger, contact the police.
Instagram password reset checklist for business accounts
| Situation | What Instagram's help points you to |
|---|---|
| Logged out, forgot password | Forgot password?, then Send login link |
| Logged in, want a new one | Menu, Password and security, Change password |
| Reset won't work | The login troubleshooting page, then instagram.com/hacked |
| Lost email or phone | The lost access section of the Help Center |
| Asked to confirm identity | The ID or video selfie articles in the Help Center |
If several people manage your account, agree who holds the login and keep it in one shared password manager. That way a reset doesn't leave the whole team locked out.
Checking nothing else is wrong after the Instagram password reset
- Log in with the new password and confirm the account is yours.
- Check that the email and phone number on the account are ones you still control.
- Look at your recent activity for anything you don't recognise.
- Update the saved password on every device you use.
- Do a quick check of your profile details and linked accounts.
Frequently asked questions
How do I reset my Instagram password if I'm logged out?
On the login screen click Forgot password?, enter your username, email or phone, click Send login link, then follow the on-screen instructions. The link is sent to your email or phone.
How do I change my Instagram password in the app?
Tap Profile, then Menu, then Password and security, then Change password. Choose the account, enter your current password and the new one, re-type it and tap Change password.
What if the Instagram reset email never arrives?
Instagram's help has articles for this. Check the address you typed, check spam, and try phone instead of email. If it still fails, use the login troubleshooting page.
What if I can't reset my password at all?
Instagram's help says to visit instagram.com/hacked in a desktop or mobile browser to secure your account.
How strong should an Instagram password be?
Instagram's help says to use a combination of at least 6 numbers, letters and punctuation marks. A longer mix is safer.
