How to change your Instagram email in the app or on the web
Open Instagram and go to your profile. Tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) in the bottom right, then tap Settings and privacy. Select Account center, then Personal information. Tap Email and enter your new email address. Instagram will send a confirmation link to that new address — you must click it within a set time to complete the change.
On a computer, the steps are the same: go to your profile, click the menu icon, select Settings and privacy, then Account center, then Personal information, then Email. Type in your new email and confirm it when Instagram sends the verification link.
The email you use does not have to be the same as the one connected to your Facebook account, even if your Instagram is linked to Facebook. You can change your Instagram email independently at any time.
Key Takeaways
- You change your email through Settings and privacy > Account center > Personal information > Email, not through a separate email settings page.
- Instagram sends a confirmation link to your new email address, and you must click that link to finish the change.
- Your Instagram email and your Facebook email can be different, even if the accounts are linked.
- You can change your email as many times as you want, but you must wait for the confirmation link each time.
- If you no longer have access to your old email, you may need to verify your identity through a phone number or other method before changing it.
What happens to your old email after you change it
Once you confirm your new email address, Instagram stops using the old one for your account. The old email is no longer tied to your Instagram login. If someone else tries to sign up for Instagram with that old email, they can do so — it is no longer reserved for your account.
You will receive future notifications, password reset links, and account alerts at your new email address only. If you ever need to recover your account, Instagram will send the recovery link to the new email you set, not the old one.
If you cannot access your old email to confirm the change
If you have already changed your email but did not confirm it, or if you no longer have access to your old email address, you may not be able to complete the change through the normal process. Instagram will ask you to verify your identity using other information on your account.
Go to Settings and privacy > Account center > Personal information > Email and try to enter a new email. If Instagram blocks the change, it will offer you options to verify who you are — usually through a phone number linked to your account, a government ID, or a confirmation code sent to a recovery email you set up earlier. Follow the prompts Instagram shows you.
If you set up two-factor authentication using an authenticator app, that does not help you recover email access — you will need one of the verification methods Instagram offers in the prompt.
Changing email when your account is hacked or compromised
If you think someone else has access to your Instagram account, change your password first, then change your email. Go to Settings and privacy > Password and change it to something long and unique that you have not used anywhere else.
After you change your password, follow the normal email change steps. Changing your email removes the attacker's ability to reset your password or receive account alerts, since those go to the email address on file. If you cannot log in at all, use the "Need more help?" option on the login screen to report the account and request a recovery process.
Email change and two-factor authentication
Changing your email does not affect two-factor authentication if you use an authenticator app like Google Authenticator or Authy. Those apps work independently of your email and will continue to work after you change it.
If you use text message (SMS) as your two-factor method, that is tied to your phone number, not your email, so changing your email will not disrupt it. If you use email as your two-factor method — meaning Instagram sends a code to your email when you log in — you will receive those codes at your new email address after the change is complete.
Changing email on a business or creator account
The process is identical whether you have a personal account, a business account, or a creator account. Go to Settings and privacy > Account center > Personal information > Email and enter your new address. You will still receive a confirmation link at the new email.
If your account is a business account connected to a Facebook business page, changing your Instagram email does not change the email on the Facebook page. Those are separate settings in separate places. You would need to change the Facebook email through Facebook's own settings if you want both to match.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take for the email change to go through?
The change is instant once you click the confirmation link in the email Instagram sends you. If you do not click the link within a few days, the request expires and you have to start over. Check your spam or promotions folder if you do not see the confirmation email in your inbox.
Can I change my email back to the old one?
Yes. Follow the same process and enter your old email address. Instagram will send a confirmation link to that old email, and once you click it, the change is complete. You can switch back and forth as many times as you need.
What if I enter the wrong email by mistake?
If you have not clicked the confirmation link yet, you can start the process over and enter the correct email. If you already clicked the link, your account is now using the wrong email. Go back to Settings and privacy > Personal information > Email and change it to the correct address.
Does changing my Instagram email affect my Facebook account?
No. Your Instagram email and Facebook email are separate. Changing one does not change the other, even if the accounts are linked. You manage each email through its own platform's settings.
Can I use the same email for multiple Instagram accounts?
No. Each Instagram account must have its own unique email address. If you try to use an email that is already connected to another Instagram account, Instagram will not let you complete the change.