Learn How to Change Your Instagram Password

Why You Might Want to Change Your Instagram Password

Your Instagram password is the key to your account. If someone gets it, they can post content as you, send messages to your followers, change your profile information, or even lock you out by changing the password themselves. That's why changing your password periodically is a smart practice, even if you haven't noticed any suspicious activity.

Learn How to Remove Voicemail Notifications From Your Phone →

There are several situations where changing your password makes sense. Maybe you used the same password on multiple platforms and one of those sites had a data breach. Perhaps you shared your password with someone in the past—a friend, family member, or someone who helped manage your account—and now you want to make sure only you can access it. You might also want to change it after using Instagram on a public computer, like one at a library or internet cafe. Or you could simply want to update it as part of regular account maintenance.

Some people use password managers like LastPass or Bitwarden to store unique, strong passwords for each site they use. If you've recently started using a password manager, changing your Instagram password to something longer and more complex is a good time to store it securely. A strong password typically contains at least 12 characters and mixes uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols.

Instagram won't tell you when it's "time" to change your password—that decision is yours. However, if you ever receive an email from Instagram saying someone tried to access your account, or if you notice posts you didn't make or messages you didn't send, changing your password becomes more urgent. In those cases, you may also want to check which apps and devices have permission to access your account.

Takeaway: Changing your password is preventative maintenance for your account. The process takes just a few minutes and gives you direct control over who can access your Instagram profile.

Step-by-Step: Changing Your Password on the Instagram App

Most people access Instagram through the mobile app on their phone. Changing your password here is straightforward. Start by opening the Instagram app and making sure you're logged into the account whose password you want to change. Tap the profile icon at the bottom right of the screen—it looks like a person's silhouette. This takes you to your profile page.

Learn About Facebook Profile Views →

From your profile page, look for the three horizontal lines in the top right corner. This is sometimes called a "menu" or "hamburger menu." Tap it to open a list of options. You'll see several choices, including "Settings and privacy," "Your activity," "Saved," and others. Tap on "Settings and privacy," which is usually near the top of the list.

A new screen will appear with more options organized into categories. Look for the section labeled "Account" or "Account management"—this is where password controls live. Within the Account section, you should see an option called "Password" or "Change password." Tap that option.

Instagram will now ask you to enter your current password. This is a security measure to make sure the person changing the password is actually the account owner. Type in your current password and tap "Next" or a similar button. Then you'll see fields for your new password. You'll typically need to enter the new password twice—once in each field—to make sure you typed it correctly.

Create a password that's different from your old one and different from passwords you use on other sites. After you enter it twice, tap the button to confirm the change. Instagram should show you a message saying your password has been changed. You're done. Your old password no longer works, and only the new password will let you into your account.

Takeaway: The app method is the most common way to change your password because most people use Instagram on their phones. The whole process usually takes less than two minutes.

Changing Your Password Through Instagram's Website

If you prefer using Instagram on a computer, or if you want to change your password from a desktop browser, you can do that through Instagram's website. This method is also useful if you're troubleshooting problems with the app.

Learn About Checking Your VA Claim Status Online →

Go to instagram.com in your web browser and log in to your account if you're not already logged in. Once you're on your home feed, look in the top right corner of the screen. You'll see a small circular profile image with your profile picture in it. Click on that image to open a dropdown menu with several options.

In that dropdown menu, look for "Settings" or "Settings and privacy"—the exact wording varies slightly depending on when Instagram updated their interface, but it will be worded similarly. Click on it. You'll be taken to a settings page with different categories listed on the left side of the screen (if you're on a larger monitor) or at the top (if you're on a smaller screen or tablet).

Find the "Account" or "Account center" section and click it. This section contains all the tools related to your account management. You should see an option for "Password" or "Change password." Click on that. Just like the app version, Instagram will ask you to enter your current password first as a security check. Type it in and click the button to proceed.

Now you'll see two fields where you can enter your new password. Type the new password into the first field, then type it again into the second field to confirm you didn't make any typos. Make sure your new password is something you'll remember, or better yet, something you've written down in a secure location like a password manager. Click the button to confirm the change, and you're finished.

Takeaway: The website method gives you the same result as the app method but may feel more familiar if you're used to managing accounts on a computer. The steps are nearly identical between the two.

What to Do If You've Forgotten Your Current Password

If you want to change your password but you can't remember your current password, you have options. Instagram requires you to enter your current password when changing it—this is a security feature to prevent someone else from accessing your account and changing the password without your permission. However, you can recover access to your account through Instagram's account recovery process.

Free Guide to Legacy Credit Card Login →

If you're using the Instagram app and you've been logged out, you'll see the login screen. Look for a link that says "Forgot password?" or "Can't log in?" Click or tap it. Instagram will ask you to enter the username or email address associated with your account. Provide one of these details, and Instagram will send you a link to reset your password via email.

Check your email inbox for a message from Instagram. The email will contain a link that you can click to reset your password. Click that link, and you'll be taken to a page where you can create a new password. Remember that this new password should be different from your previous one and ideally different from passwords you use elsewhere.

If you don't see an email from Instagram in your inbox, check your spam or junk folder—sometimes legitimate emails end up there. If you still can't find it after checking spam, you can try the recovery process again, but use a different email address or username if your account is linked to multiple email addresses.

In some cases, Instagram may offer other recovery methods besides email, such as text message or a link sent to a phone number. These alternative methods are useful if you no longer have access to your email account. The specific recovery methods available to you depend on what information you provided when you created your account.

Takeaway: Forgetting your current password doesn't mean you're locked out forever. Instagram's account recovery process lets you reset your password, which is essentially the same as changing it, but it happens when you don't know the old password.

Keeping Track of Your New Password and Staying Secure

Now that you've changed your password, you need to remember it or store it somewhere you can retrieve it later. Many people keep passwords in their heads, but this becomes difficult when you have accounts on dozens of websites and apps. Research on human memory shows that most people can reliably remember only about 5-7 complex passwords before they start forgetting or mixing them up.

Learn How to Make Video Calls on Android →

One approach is to use a password manager—a tool designed specifically to store and organize passwords. Password managers like 1Password, LastPass, Dashlane, and Bitwarden let you create one strong master password that protects all your other passwords. You only have to remember the master password; the password manager remembers everything else. Many password managers also generate random, strong passwords for you, which is more secure than creating passwords yourself based