Hacked Accounts
Learn what to do if you notice suspicious activity on your account:
If your account is leaving comments or sharing things that you haven't posted, your password may be compromised.
To help secure your account:
- Change your password or send yourself a password reset email.
- Revoke access to any suspicious third-party apps.
Note: You shouldn't grant third-party access to websites or apps that don't follow our Community Guidelines or Terms of Use (including websites that sell or promise free followers or likes). These websites and apps are likely attempts to use your account in an inappropriate way.
If you think your account has been hacked or taken over, there are several actions you can take to secure your account.
If you're still able to log into your Instagram account
If you think your account has been hacked and you're still able to log in, there are things you can do to help keep your account secure:
- Turn on two-factor authentication for additional security.
- Check Accounts Center and remove any linked accounts you don’t recognize.
- Revoke access to any suspicious third-party apps.
Check your email account for a message from Instagram
If you received an email from security@mail.instagram.com letting you know that your email address was changed, you may be able to undo this change by selecting revert this change in that message. If additional information was also changed (example: your password), and you're unable to change back your email address, request a login link or security code from Instagram
Request a login link from Instagram
To help us confirm that you own the account, you can request that we send a login link to your email address or phone number.
To request a login link:
- On the login screen, tap Get help logging in. (Android) or Forgot password? (iPhone).
- Enter the username, email address, or phone number associated with your account, then tap Next. Note: If you don’t know the username, email address, or phone number associated with your account, tap Need more help? below the Next button and follow the on-screen instructions.
- Select either your email address or phone number, then tap Send Login Link.
- Click the login link in your email or a text message (SMS) and follow the on-screen instructions.
Request a security code or support from Instagram
If you're unable to recover your account with the login link we sent to you, you may be able to request support from us.
To request support from Instagram:
On Android:
- On the login screen, tap Get help logging in. below Log In.
- Enter the username, email address, or phone number associated with your account, then tap Need more help?. Keep in mind that if you have more than one Instagram account you may need to select the account you’re having trouble logging into first, then follow the on-screen instructions.
- Tap Need more help? then follow the on-screen instructions.
- Select either your email address or phone number, then tap Send Security Code.
- If you don’t receive a security code, tap I can’t access this email or phone number below Send Security Code, then follow the on-screen instructions.
On iPhone:
- From the login link screen, tap Need more help? below Send Login Link. Select either your email address or phone number, then tap Send Security Code.
- If you don’t receive a security code, tap I can’t access this email or phone number below Send Security Code, then follow the on-screen instructions.
Be sure to enter a secure email address that only you can access. Once you've submitted your request, you should receive an email from Instagram with next steps.
Learn more about what you can do if you don't know your username
Verify your identity
Once you submit your support request, you should receive an auto-response email from the Support Team at Facebook asking you to help us verify your identity. You'll be asked for one or both of the following:
- A photo of yourself holding a paper with a handwritten code we've provided you.
- The email address or phone number you signed up with and the type of device you used at the time of sign up (example: iPhone, Android, iPad, other).
If you're still having trouble accessing your account, we'd like to hear more about your experience so we can continue to improve our support options.
Protect your account with our security tips:
Security Tips
Here are some things you can do to help keep your account safe:
- Pick a strong password. Use a combination of at least six numbers, letters and punctuation marks (like ! and &). It should be different from other passwords you use elsewhere on the internet.
- Change your password regularly, especially if you see a message from Instagram asking you to do so. During automated security checks, Instagram sometimes recovers login information that was stolen from other sites. If Instagram detects that your password may have been stolen, changing your password on Instagram and other sites helps to keep your account secure and prevent you from being hacked in the future.
- Never give your password to someone you don't know and trust.
- Turn on two-factor authentication for additional account security.
- Make sure your email account is secure. Anyone who can read your email can probably also access your Instagram account. Change the passwords for all of your email accounts and make sure that no two are the same.
- Log out of Instagram when you use a computer or phone you share with other people. Don't check the "Remember Me" box when logging in from a public computer, as this will keep you logged in even after you close the browser window.
- Think before you authorize any third-party app.
Learn how to reset your password.