Open Instagram settings and find the email field
To change the email on your Instagram account, open the Instagram app or go to Instagram.com in a web browser and log in. Tap the profile icon in the bottom right corner (on mobile) or click your profile picture in the top right (on desktop), then select Settings and privacy. From there, tap or click Account center, then Personal information, then Account ownership and control. You will see your current email listed under Email address.
If you are using a desktop browser, the path is slightly different: go to Settings, then Account, then scroll down to find Email. The email field will show your current address.
Key Takeaways
- You can change your Instagram email through Settings and privacy > Account center > Personal information > Account ownership and control on mobile, or Settings > Account on desktop.
- Instagram will send a confirmation link to both your old email and your new email before the change takes effect.
- You must have access to your old email address to confirm the change, unless you have already lost access to it.
- If you cannot access your old email, you can use Instagram's account recovery process by providing a phone number or other identifying information instead.
Click the email field and enter your new address
Once you locate the email field, tap or click on it. A text box will appear where you can type your new email address. Delete the old address and type the new one carefully — Instagram will not let you proceed if the format is incorrect or if the email is already linked to another Instagram account.
After you type the new email, tap or click Next or Change email, depending on whether you are on mobile or desktop. Instagram will then ask you to confirm your password to verify that you own the account.
Confirm your password and check both email inboxes
Enter your Instagram password when prompted. This is a security step to prevent someone else from changing your email if they gain temporary access to your phone or computer. After you enter your password, Instagram will send confirmation emails to both your old email address and your new email address.
Check your old email inbox first. You will see a message from Instagram asking you to confirm that you want to change your email. Click the link in that email. Then check your new email inbox — you should receive another confirmation message. Click the link in that message as well. Both confirmations must be completed for the change to go through.
What to do if you no longer have access to your old email
If your old email account no longer exists or you cannot log into it, you will not be able to confirm the change through the standard process. Instead, go to the Instagram login page and select Need more help logging in? or Forgot password? depending on your device. Instagram will guide you through account recovery using a phone number, a backup email, or other identifying information you provided when you created the account.
Once you regain full access to your account through recovery, you can then change your email using the normal method. If you set up two-factor authentication with a phone number, that phone number can also serve as a backup way to recover your account.
Update your email in third-party apps connected to Instagram
If you use your Instagram account to log into other apps or websites — such as games, photo editors, or social media management tools — those apps may still have your old email on file. Changing your Instagram email does not automatically update those connections. Log into each app or website separately and update your email there if you want your records to match.
You can see which apps and websites are connected to your Instagram account by going to Settings and privacy > Apps and websites > Active apps and websites. This list shows everything that currently has permission to access your Instagram account.
Verify the change was successful
After you have confirmed both emails, return to your Instagram settings to verify that the change took effect. Go back to Settings and privacy > Account center > Personal information > Account ownership and control (mobile) or Settings > Account (desktop) and check that your new email address now appears in the email field.
Instagram may take a few minutes to update this information across all its servers, so if you do not see the change immediately, wait a few minutes and refresh the page. Once the new email appears in your settings, the change is complete and you can use that email to log into Instagram in the future.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change my email without confirming the old one?
No. Instagram requires confirmation from both your old and new email addresses before the change takes effect. This is a security measure to prevent unauthorized changes. If you cannot access your old email, use Instagram's account recovery process instead.
What happens if I enter an email that is already linked to another Instagram account?
Instagram will not allow you to proceed. You will see an error message saying the email is already in use. You must use a different email address, or you must remove that email from the other account first.
How long does it take for the email change to show up in my settings?
Once you confirm both emails, the change usually appears in your settings within a few minutes. If it does not show up after 10 minutes, try logging out and logging back in, or refresh your browser if you are on desktop.
Do I need to change my password when I change my email?
No. Your password and email are separate. Changing one does not affect the other. However, if you are concerned about account security, you can change your password separately through Settings and privacy > Account center > Personal information > Password.