Instagram Login Problem? Fixes for Every Common Case

A login problem on Instagram can mean half a dozen different things. You might have forgotten the password, the reset email never arrives, you've lost the phone number, or you've got a nasty feeling that someone else got in first. For a small business, that's a missed day of posts and unanswered messages.

Instagram's Help Centre has a login hub that sorts these into cases. I've followed its structure and used the steps from each article, so you can find your case and skip the rest.

Checking the Instagram login details you're using

The simplest cause is the most common. Instagram's help page says you have to use the username and password for the account you're logging into. You can log in by entering one of three things.

• An email address listed on the account.
• A phone number confirmed on the account. Instagram says not to add any zeros before the country code, or any symbols.
• Your username, if you created one.

Then enter your password and log in. If you manage more than one profile, it's worth confirming which email or number you used to set up each one. You might find my guide to checking whether you already have an Instagram account useful if you're not sure whether an address is tied to something.

Instagram login with a Facebook account

Instagram also says you can log in using your Facebook login info, but only if your Facebook and Instagram accounts are added to the same Accounts Center and allowed to log in to each other. If you have two-factor authentication turned on, you won't be able to use your Instagram login info to log into Facebook on an unrecognised device.

You may also see saved accounts on the login screen. Instagram says they appear because the account was recently logged into on that device, because accounts are added to the same Accounts Center, or because you're on an Android phone and signed into a Google account linked to them. You can remove a saved account from the login screen through Settings, your name, then Remove profile.

Fixing a forgotten Instagram password or username

If you can't remember your password, Instagram says you can reset it using your email address, phone number or username.

1. On the login screen, tap Forgot password.
2. Enter your username, email or phone, then tap Send login link.
3. Tap Ok and follow the on-screen instructions.
4. Open the link that arrives by email or text to reset your password.

If you've forgotten your username, you can still log in with the email or phone number on the account, and your username shows at the top of your profile once you're in. If you think your username was changed because the account was hacked, Instagram suggests looking for an email from Instagram about the change, and asking a friend to check what your profile is called now.

When the Instagram password reset email isn't working

Instagram lists a few things to try when the reset doesn't work.

• Ask for a new reset email, because the previous one may have expired.
• In the email, choose the option to reset your Instagram password, and don't choose to log in from the email.
• If you're resetting because you suspect someone else has access, use the hacked account steps further down.

The hub also has separate help for emails that don't arrive, for links that don't work and for resets sent to the wrong profile. If nothing shows up, check your spam folder and double check that you typed the right address.

If you've lost access to your Instagram email or phone number

This is where it gets harder, and Instagram is straight about it. If you can't get into the email account you registered with, and you didn't link your Instagram and Facebook accounts, Instagram says it's unable to give you access to the account. It also says it can't help you get back into your email account.

What it does suggest is to ask your email provider to help you regain access, since many providers have a way to recover an account. If you can still log into Instagram, change the email or phone number on your profile to one you can reach. After you change your email, Instagram sends a request to confirm or deny the change to both the original and the new address.

Instagram login problem after someone else gets into your account

If you think someone else has got into your account, Instagram's hacked accounts page says you can visit instagram.com/hacked on a desktop or mobile browser to secure it. The steps it lists are below.

1. If you got an email from Instagram saying your email address was changed, select secure my account in that message to try to undo the change.
2. On the login screen, tap Forgot password and ask for a login link by email or text.
3. If that doesn't work, request a security code or support from Instagram on a mobile device, with a secure email address that only you can reach.
4. You might be asked for a video selfie. Instagram says the video is never visible on Instagram and is deleted within 30 days.

If you can still log in, Instagram suggests changing your password, turning on two-factor authentication, confirming your email and phone number, removing linked accounts in Accounts Center that you don't recognise, and revoking access for suspicious third-party apps.

If you also report something to Instagram while you sort this out, it helps to know how long a report review usually takes so you don't expect an instant answer.

One safety point from me. Don't share login codes, and be wary of anyone offering to get your account back for you. The recovery routes above are the official ones.

Instagram login problems with disabled accounts and ID checks

The hub also lists help for when you're asked to confirm your identity and when an account has been disabled. I haven't covered those in detail here, because they depend on the message Instagram shows you. Start with the on-screen instructions, and if you're asked to upload an ID or a video selfie, do it inside the official app or page only.

Instagram login problem checklist

• Check you're using the right email, confirmed phone number or username.
• Use Forgot password and request a login link.
• If the email fails, ask for a new one and pick the reset option.
• Lost your email? Contact your email provider, then update your Instagram details.
• Think it's hacked? Use instagram.com/hacked and secure the account.

I keep every related walkthrough in the Instagram Help: 81 Guides to Followers, Hashtags, Money, Accounts and Fixes.

Frequently asked questions

Why can't I log into my Instagram account?

The usual reasons are the wrong login details, a forgotten password, lost access to your email or phone, or a suspected account takeover. Instagram's login help hub has a route for each.

How do I reset my Instagram password?

On the login screen tap Forgot password, enter your username, email or phone, tap Send login link and follow the instructions in the email or text.

What if the Instagram reset email doesn't work?

Request a new one, because the first may have expired, and choose the reset option in the email rather than logging in from it.

Can Instagram get me back in if I lost my email?

Instagram says that if you can't access the email you registered with and didn't link Facebook, it's unable to give you access. It also can't help with your email account, so contact your email provider.

What should I do if my Instagram account was hacked?

Use instagram.com/hacked, follow the login link and security steps, and if you can still log in, change your password and turn on two-factor authentication.

Can I log in without my username?

Yes. You can log in with the email or phone number linked to the account, and your username appears at the top of your profile afterwards.