How to Unlink Threads From Instagram (What You Can Do)

There's no unlink button. Threads runs on your Instagram account, so what you can do is hide the Threads badge from your Instagram profile, take a break from Threads, or delete Threads altogether. None of those touch your Instagram posts or followers.

Which one you need depends on what's bothering you. If it's the little Threads link under your name, hiding the badge takes a few seconds. If you're done with Threads, you'll want deactivation or deletion, and deletion comes with a waiting period you should know about first.

Your three options at a glance

Option	What it does	Effect on Instagram	Can you undo it?
Hide the Threads badge	Removes the Threads link from your Instagram profile	None, apart from the badge	Yes, switch it back on
Deactivate Threads	Hides your Threads profile and posts	None	Yes, but only once a week
Delete Threads	Permanently removes your Threads profile, posts, likes and followers	None	Only within 30 days

Remove the Threads badge from your Instagram profile

1. Open the Instagram app.
2. Tap Profile or your profile picture in the bottom right.
3. Tap Edit profile at the top.
4. Turn off Show Threads banner.

That's all. Your Threads account carries on as normal, it just isn't advertised on your Instagram profile any more. You can switch it back on from the same screen.

Two things the badge switch does that people don't expect

First, it works both ways. Instagram says that if you turn the setting on or off from Instagram, the Instagram badge on your Threads profile appears or disappears too. So hiding Threads on Instagram also hides Instagram on Threads.

Second, a private Instagram account doesn't hide the badge. Instagram says that even if your account is private, anyone who visits your Instagram profile can see your Threads badge and tap through to Threads. If you've gone private to keep a low profile, turning the badge off is the step that closes that door.

Take a break: deactivate Threads

Deactivating hides your Threads profile and posts until you come back. Instagram says it won't delete your Threads data or affect your Instagram profile.

1. Open the Threads app and tap Profile.
2. Tap the Settings or Menu icon in the top right.
3. Go to Meta Account, then Manage profile, or to your profile settings if you don't have Meta Account yet.
4. Choose Deactivation or deletion, then Deactivate profile.
5. Pick a reason and confirm.

One limit to note: you can only deactivate your profile once a week, so don't toggle it on and off on a whim.

Done with Threads: delete it

Deleting Threads won't delete your Instagram or Facebook profile. Instagram can't do it for you, so you'll need to be logged into Threads to request it.

1. Open the Threads app and tap Profile.
2. Tap Menu in the top right.
3. Tap Meta Account, then Manage account.
4. Tap Manage next to your Threads profile.
5. Tap Deactivation or deletion, then Delete profile.
6. Choose a reason and tap Continue.

Before you delete, keep a copy

Instagram suggests downloading a copy of your information before you delete Threads, and I'd take that advice. Once the profile is gone, your posts, likes and followers go with it and you can't get them back. A few other points from Instagram's help are worth knowing:

• During the 30 days before deletion is final, your profile isn't visible to other people on Threads, so it looks gone even though you can still cancel.
• If you turned on sharing to the fediverse, Threads asks other servers to delete your profile and posts, but Instagram says it can't promise they will.
• If you only want to remove a few posts, you can delete individual posts instead of the whole profile.

The 90-day catch

Here's what most guides leave out. Your Threads profile is permanently deleted 30 days after you ask, and you can cancel during that time by logging back in. After it's gone, Instagram says you'll have to wait 90 days before you can sign up to Threads again with the same Instagram profile.

So if there's any chance you'll want Threads for your business later, I'd deactivate or just hide the badge rather than delete. It's much easier to come back from a pause than from a three-month lockout.

Which should you choose?

• You just don't want Threads on your Instagram profile: hide the badge.
• You want a break from Threads: deactivate.
• You're sure you won't use Threads again: delete, knowing about the 90-day wait.
• You want to leave Instagram as well: that's a separate step, covered in my guide to deactivating your Instagram account.

If you're rethinking which platforms deserve your time, my Instagram and social media growth guides might help you decide where to put your energy.

My verdict

For most people, turning off Show Threads banner is all they needed. It's instant, it's reversible and it doesn't touch either account. I'd only delete Threads if you're certain, because the 90-day wait to rejoin with the same Instagram profile is the kind of thing you only find out about when it's too late.

Frequently asked questions

Can you unlink Threads from Instagram completely?

Not as a separate step. Threads is set up with your Instagram profile, so your options are hiding the badge, deactivating Threads or deleting it.

Will deleting Threads delete my Instagram account?

No. Instagram says deleting your Threads profile won't also delete your Instagram or Facebook profile.

How do I remove Threads from my Instagram profile?

In the Instagram app, go to your profile, tap Edit profile and turn off Show Threads banner.

Can people see my Threads badge if my Instagram is private?

Yes. Instagram says anyone who visits your Instagram profile can see the Threads badge, even if your account is private.

Can I rejoin Threads after deleting it?

Yes, but Instagram says you'll have to wait 90 days before you can sign up again with the same Instagram profile.