Change your email in Instagram settings on any device

To change the email address linked to your Instagram account, open the app or website, go to your profile, tap or click Settings and Privacy, then Account, then Email Address. Enter your new email, confirm it, and Instagram will send a verification link to that new address. Click the link to complete the change.

The process is the same whether you use Instagram on a phone, tablet, or computer. You do not need to log out or create a new account. Your username, followers, posts, and messages all stay exactly as they are.

If you cannot remember your current email or no longer have access to it, you will need to use the account recovery process instead, which is covered in a later section.

Key Takeaways

  • You can change your email from Settings and Privacy > Account > Email Address on any device where you are logged in.
  • Instagram sends a verification link to your new email address, and you must click it to finish the change.
  • If you do not verify the new email within a set time, the change will not go through and your old email stays active.
  • If you have lost access to your current email, use Instagram's account recovery tools instead of trying to change the email directly.

Step-by-step instructions for phone or tablet

Open Instagram and tap your profile icon in the bottom right corner. Tap the three horizontal lines (menu icon) at the top right, then tap Settings and Privacy. Scroll down and tap Account. Tap Email Address.

You will see your current email displayed. Tap the text field below it, delete the old email, and type your new email address. Tap Next. Instagram will show you a confirmation screen with your new email. Tap Change Email to confirm.

Check the inbox of your new email address. Instagram will send you a message with the subject line "Confirm your email address on Instagram" or similar. Open that message and click the link inside it. Your email change is now complete.

Step-by-step instructions for computer or web browser

Go to instagram.com and log in if you are not already logged in. Click your profile icon in the bottom left of the screen, then click Settings. Click Account in the left menu. Click Email Address.

You will see your current email. Click in the text field, clear the old email, and type your new one. Click Next. Review the confirmation screen and click Change Email.

Open your new email inbox. Look for a message from Instagram with a subject line about confirming your email. Click the link in that message. The change is complete.

What happens if you do not verify the new email

If you enter a new email but do not click the verification link within a few days, Instagram will cancel the change automatically. Your account will stay linked to your old email address. You can try again whenever you are ready.

This safety feature prevents someone from changing your email without your knowledge. Even if they get into your account temporarily, they cannot lock you out unless they also verify the new email address.

Recovering your account if you have lost email access

If you cannot log into Instagram because you no longer have access to your current email address, you cannot use the email change tool. Instead, use Instagram's account recovery process. Go to instagram.com/accounts/login/help/ on a web browser.

Enter your username or phone number. Instagram will ask you to verify your identity using a code sent to your phone, a recovery code you saved earlier, or by uploading a photo of your ID. Once you verify, you can set a new email address and regain access to your account.

If you set up two-factor authentication on your account, you will need to verify using that method as well. This process takes longer than a simple email change but is the only way to recover an account when you have lost access to the original email.

Changing email when you use Facebook Login

If you created your Instagram account using Facebook Login or connected it to Facebook, your Instagram email is controlled through your Facebook account settings, not through Instagram directly. To change it, log into Facebook, go to Settings and Privacy > Settings > Personal Information > Email, and update it there.

The change will sync to Instagram within a few hours. You do not need to do anything in the Instagram app. If you want to unlink Instagram from Facebook and manage the email separately, you can do that in Instagram Settings > Accounts Center > Accounts, then remove the connection.

Common reasons the email change does not go through

The most common reason is that you did not click the verification link in time. Check your spam or promotions folder if you cannot find the verification email. If it has been more than a few days, start the email change process again.

Another reason is that the new email address is already linked to a different Instagram account. Each email can only be used for one account. If you own both accounts, you will need to change one of them to a different email first.

If you are using a work or school email that your organization manages, it may have security settings that block the verification email. Try using a personal email address instead, or contact your IT department to allow emails from Instagram.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will changing my email affect my followers or posts?

No. Your username, follower count, posts, stories, messages, and all other account data remain exactly the same. Only the email address linked to your account changes. Your followers will not be notified.

Can I change my email more than once?

Yes. You can change your email address as many times as you need. There is no limit on how often you can do it. Each change requires you to verify the new email address.

What if I enter the wrong email by mistake?

If you have not clicked the verification link yet, start the email change process again and enter the correct address. If you already verified the wrong email, change it again to the correct one. You can do this immediately.

Do I need to log out and log back in after changing my email?

No. You stay logged in the entire time. The email change happens in the background. You can keep using Instagram normally while the verification is happening.

Can I use the same email for Instagram and Facebook?

Yes. One email address can be linked to both an Instagram account and a Facebook account at the same time. They are separate accounts even though they share the same email.