How to change your Instagram email in three steps

Open Instagram on your phone or go to Instagram.com on a computer. Tap or click the profile icon in the bottom right corner, then tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines). Select Settings and privacy, then Account center. From there, choose Personal information, then Email. Enter your new email address and tap Save. Instagram will send a confirmation link to both your old and new email addresses — you must click the link in the new email to complete the change.

If you use Facebook to log into Instagram, the process is different. Your Instagram email is tied to your Facebook account in that case, so you would change it through Facebook's settings instead. Go to Facebook.com, click the menu icon, select Settings and privacy, then Settings. Choose Personal information and update your email there.

The entire process takes about five minutes if you have access to both your old and new email inboxes. If you cannot access your old email, you can still change it, but you will need to verify your identity through other means — Instagram may ask you to confirm your phone number or upload a photo of your ID.

Key Takeaways

  • You can change your Instagram email through Settings and privacy > Account center > Personal information > Email on any device.
  • Instagram sends confirmation links to both your old and new email addresses, and you must click the new one to finish the change.
  • If you log in with Facebook, change your email through Facebook's settings instead, since the two accounts are linked.
  • If you no longer have access to your old email, Instagram can verify your identity using your phone number or a photo ID.

What happens to your old email after you change it

Once you confirm the new email address, your old email is no longer connected to your Instagram account. You can use that old email to create a different Instagram account if you want, or you can leave it unused. Instagram does not send future notifications or password reset codes to the old address.

If someone else has access to your old email account, they cannot use it to log into your Instagram anymore. However, if they know your username and password, they can still log in directly. Changing your email is not the same as securing your account — if you think someone else knows your password, change that too through the same Settings menu.

Changing your email when you cannot access the old one

If your old email account no longer exists or you cannot log into it, you can still change your Instagram email. When you try to save a new email address, Instagram will notice you cannot confirm the old one and will ask you to verify your identity instead.

Instagram typically offers two ways to verify: through your phone number (if you added one to your account) or by uploading a photo of your government ID. The phone number route is faster — Instagram sends a code to your phone that you enter to prove you own the account. If you do not have a phone number on file, you can upload a clear photo of your driver's license, passport, or national ID card. Instagram reviews these uploads within a few days.

Recovering a hacked or locked account

If you cannot log into your Instagram account at all, you cannot change the email through the normal settings. Instead, go to Instagram.com and click Forgot password? on the login screen. Enter your username or the email currently attached to the account. Instagram will send a password reset link to that email address.

If you no longer have access to that email, click Need more help? on the password reset page. Instagram will ask you to enter your username and upload a photo of your ID. This process can take several days, and Instagram may ask follow-up questions to confirm you own the account. Once your account is unlocked, you can change the email address through settings as normal.

Using a business or work email instead of personal

You can change to any email address you own and can access — there is no requirement that it be personal or from a specific provider. Many people switch to a business email when they start using Instagram for work, or to a work email when they leave a job.

If you are switching away from a work email because you no longer work there, do it before you lose access to that email account. Once you change it, the old work email is free for someone else at your company to use. If your workplace reuses email addresses, make sure the new email you choose is one only you can access.

What to do if you do not receive the confirmation email

After you enter a new email and tap Save, Instagram sends a confirmation link to that address. Check your inbox and your spam or junk folder — confirmation emails sometimes end up there by mistake. If you still do not see it after five minutes, try these steps: make sure you typed the email address correctly, wait another ten minutes, or try the process again from the beginning.

If the confirmation email never arrives, your new email address may be blocked or flagged by Instagram's system. This sometimes happens with temporary or disposable email addresses. Try using a permanent email address instead — Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo, or your work email usually work without problems. If you still have trouble, you can contact Instagram through the in-app help menu, though response times vary.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my Instagram email on my phone and computer at the same time?

No. Once you start the email change process, you must complete it on the same device. If you begin on your phone, finish on your phone. If you switch devices before confirming, the change may not go through. You can change your email again later from a different device.

Will changing my email log me out of Instagram?

No. Changing your email does not affect your login status. You will stay logged in on all your devices. The new email only matters if you use the "Forgot password?" feature or log in on a new device in the future.

What if I change my email by mistake?

You can change it back immediately. Go through the same process — Settings and privacy > Account center > Personal information > Email — and enter your old email address. Instagram will send a confirmation link to both addresses, and you can switch back without any penalty.

Do I need to tell Instagram why I am changing my email?

No. Instagram does not ask for a reason. You can change your email as often as you want, and there is no limit to how many times you can do it.