Does Instagram Delete Inactive Accounts? (2023 Updated)

 

Instagram is one of the biggest social media platforms with more than two billion active users.

People consider it a hub of opportunities for influencers, internet marketers, content creators, and brands.

However, to keep the platform clean and up-to-date, Instagram takes specific measures related to users’ inactivity or violations of terms of use.

 

Does Instagram Delete Inactive Accounts?

 

Yes, Instagram deletes inactive accounts that remain inactive for an extended period.

Instagram does not mention the exact time frame for deleting an inactive account, but upon analyzing case studies of various deleted accounts, we can conclude that one to two years of inactivity will undoubtedly result in account deletion.

Whether using a personal or a brand account, you might face this issue if it remains inactive.

To counter this issue, you should log in to your account once in a while.

 

Which Instagram Account Is Considered Inactive?

 

An account that has no activity for a specific period is considered inactive.

Inactivity does not necessarily mean a lack of regular posts and stories.

In fact, if a user is logging in to your account and simply liking and commenting, Instagram does not consider that an inactive account.

Here are some tips that you can use to protect your account from becoming inactive.

1. Connect your Instagram to Facebook and enable the Instagram sharing option whenever you post on Facebook.
2. Share your Instagram account link on your story of other social platforms and ask people to follow. (Remember, an increase in follower count will make the account active.)
3. Try to log in once in a while, even if you are unwilling to use it.
4. Don’t set your account to private (there are chances someone might like your post).

Any single activity on your account (even if it is a single like received) will stop Instagram’s algorithm from flagging it as an inactive account.

 

Can Deleted Instagram Accounts Be Restored?

 

No, Instagram does not restore any deleted accounts.

Either you delete it yourself, or Instagram deletes it for a reason.

Once there is a deletion, the account is gone forever.

However, if Instagram deletes your account, there is a chance for an appeal.

Although the appeal does not guarantee account recovery, there is still a chance.

To file an Instagram account restoration appeal, you need to follow the steps described below.

1. Collect all the necessary evidence to challenge the decision.
2. Contact the support either by email or on live chat.
3. Show them the evidence and ask for account restoration.

Although chances for account restoration are rare, you should still give it a try.

There have been cases you can read about on the internet where Instagram accidentally deleted an account without any major reason but restored it after an appeal.

However, if you have deleted your account yourself, you can’t bring it back.

The appeal only works when the account is hacked, or Instagram deletes it.

 

Can We Acquire Username Of Inactive Accounts?

 

You cannot acquire the username of an inactive account.

However, you can get the username of accounts once they have been deleted.

Suppose you just created a brand account on Instagram and finalized a username, but unfortunately, the username was taken.

You then analyze the account in-depth and find that the account has been inactive for a long time.

In this situation, if you really want the username, you could report the account by selecting the reason as inactivity.

Instagram will have an in-depth review of the reported account.

If it is found to be inactive for a considerable period, it will be deleted.

Once deleted, you will be free to use the same username for your account.

 

What Are Other Reasons for Account Deletion? (6 Major Ones)

 

Inactivity is not the only reason for Instagram account deletion.

In fact, it is one of the minor reasons.

The major ones are entirely different than inactivity.

Let’s discuss some of them.

 

1. Posting Nudity

Posting nudity has been one of the major reasons for account suspension over the past few years.

Being a model-friendly platform, Instagram often gets exposed to nudity and unethical content.

At the same time, however, Instagram’s algorithm keeps a close eye on the culprits and bans them straight away.

 

2. Harassing Other Users

Online harassment is quite real and rampant these days.

Many social media platform users face harassment or extortion of some kind while using the platforms.

Harassment can be of different types.

Giving death threats or sharing unsolicited content with people that can cause them damage or trauma will be considered harassment.

Once any such activity is reported, you will end up being blocked from the platform.

 

3. Underage Account

Children under the age of 13 need adult supervision to mingle on social media.

Kids of a young age are naïve and can get exposed to all sorts of negative content on social media, so it is important to restrict young kids from accessing social media sites.

Instagram has a strict age rule and does not allow users under 13 years of age.

Any such user who does not meet the age criteria will be blocked immediately.

 

4. Hate Speech

Like any other social media platform, Instagram also does not allow any hate speech.

Whether you are criticizing or targeting a specific person or a whole organization, you should respect certain boundaries to avoid any unwanted situation.

Hate speech can even lead to the company or individual pursuing legal action against you.

 

5. Malware Or Hacking

Malware and hacking are quite a widespread phenomenon on the internet today.

To protect users from these threats, Instagram has specific rules in place and keeps a firm eye on any suspicious activity.

When any such action is caught, Instagram instantly blocks it.

 

6. Spam Emails

Spamming DMs or comments with irrelevant emails and messages must be avoided on Instagram.

Instagram is different from most social platforms in this case.

It has a firm policy for spammers, and they never hesitate to block the account once you are caught spamming.

 

Does Instagram Send A Warning Before Deleting the Account?

 

After the latest update, Instagram has claimed that it is now sending a warning before deleting any account.

Whether the platform has decided to delete the account because of inactivity or violation of any terms of use, you will receive a warning in your email before they proceed.

If you can act timely to that warning and sort out the issue, your account might remain protected.

 

Can I Recover Deleted Instagram Posts?

 

Yes, you can recover accidentally deleted Instagram posts, stories, videos, and even IGTV.

To recover your files, use the “Recently Deleted” feature which was added to the platform recently.

To access this feature, follow the steps described below:

1. Go to your profile menu.
2. Go to the top right bar.
3. Select settings.
4. Then click on accounts and proceed to account settings.
5. Choose the “Recently Deleted” option from the menu.
6. Select files that you want to recover.
7. Click restore,

Following this process, you can recover anything that was deleted within the last 30 days.

However, you can also use this feature to clear all the recently deleted files from your account.

For that purpose, you just need to choose “Delete” instead of “Restore” after files selection.

 

Can I Recover Deleted Instagram Messages?

 

Yes, you can recover the Instagram messages that you deleted in the last 30 days.

To recover the messages, use the “Recently Deleted” feature.

However, you can only retrieve messages sent from your profile.

You can’t delete messages sent from other people’s profiles.

Although you can utilize third-party applications, it can result in data breaching and is strongly not recommended.

 

What Is Vanish Mode On Instagram?

 

Vanish mode enables the users to do private chat within Instagram.

The thread is deleted forever once the conversation is finished.

It is similar to the chat feature on Snapchat, which has extra security features, and once you leave the chat, everything simply vanishes.

You can use the vanish mode by following the steps below.

1. Open the Instagram app and go to the chat option.
2. Select any of your existing chats.
3. Swipe up on the screen from the bottom.
4. The vanish mode appears.

 

How Many Reports Can Result In An Instagram Account Getting Deleted?

 

At least four or five reports from the different Instagram accounts will prompt Instagram’s support team to permanently delete the reported account.

However, the account must be in violation of Instagram’s terms of use.

Instagram’s trust and safety team will first check the account.

If found to be in violation, it will be permanently banned.

 

What Is the Difference Between Account Ban And Account Deletion?

 

An account ban is a temporary hold on any account, while account deletion is a complete account removal.

Generally, Instagrammers consider both the same, which is not valid.

Banned accounts can be quickly recovered compared to deleted accounts.

Most of the time, temporary bans are lifted without any complaint by the user to the support.

 

Why Does Instagram Ban Accounts? (5 Major Reasons)

 

Accounts are typically banned when Instagram’s algorithm notices any suspicious activity.

The feature is quite beneficial for Instagram account holders as it protects you from further harm.

Suppose your account got hacked and the hacker is trying to carry out unethical activities from your account.

During this time, Instagram’s account feature comes into play.

The account will be banned most of the time before the hacker can enter the account.

If not, it will send you an indication of something suspicious.

Here are the five primary reasons Instagram will ban accounts.

 

1. Too Many Wrong Password Attempts

Too many login attempts with wrong passwords may indicate something suspicious, and your account might face a ban.

This is because Instagram thinks someone else may be trying to access your account.

If you have forgotten your password, use the password recovery option to recover your account.

 

2. Constant Change Of IP address

If you are constantly accessing your account from different locations, Instagram may consider it suspicious.

While this is not in your control, especially if you are traveling, Instagram still needs to do its due diligence.

To avoid this issue, stay logged in while you are on the go.

 

3. Simultaneous Actions From The Same Account

Whenever your account is accessed from different locations and IPs simultaneously, it is a clear violation of Instagram’s TOS.

This means you have shared your password with two or more people and multiple people are using one person’s account.

The action is considered a clear red flag and Instagram’s algorithm will ban your account.

 

4. Excessive Use Of Any Action

Too much of anything can be a violation on social media platforms.

Be it Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, or any other social platform, you will be simply marked as a spammer.

The platform will either put a temporary hold on that action or ban the account.

To avoid this situation, take a balanced approach when sharing content with your friends and family.

For example, if you are sending hundreds of follow requests daily to irrelevant users who have no connections with you, you will most probably be banned.

 

5. Use Of Third-Party Apps

Social media platforms, especially Instagram, do not like third-party integrations.

Most people use these apps for fake followers and likes and as a result, get their accounts banned.

These apps can also harm your account’s privacy and expose your data to malware.

 

How to Recover An Instagram Banned Account

 

Reinstating a banned account is relatively easy as compared to deleted accounts.

Most of the time, prohibited accounts are reinstated automatically as Instagram’s algorithm forbids them.

It usually takes 24 to 48 hours for a banned account to start working.

However, if the account is not reinstated within the 48-hour period, you need to take the following steps.

1. Clear cache and log into your account.
2. Use the forget password option to recover your account.
3. Contact support if the first two options do not work.

 

How Will I Know Whether My Account Is Deleted Or Banned?

 

The only difference between a banned and a deleted account is that the deleted account never opens.

The forbidden account unlocks but does not allow you to take any action.

The word “ban” covers a broad spectrum on Instagram.

It is not always the case that Instagram bans the whole profile.

In fact, the platform can stop you from utilizing any of the features as well, which is also considered a ban.

 

What Is Shadowban On Instagram?

 

A shadowban is when Instagram restricts certain content or the entire profile from reaching its audience.

Almost all content creators fear this ban and create strategies to remain protected.

There can be different reasons Instagram applies shadowban on other profiles or content types.

The major ones are listed below.

1. The person tends to take traffic out by using different strategies.
2. Content type is irrelevant to the interest of any person’s follower.
3. The account holder does not post regularly.
4. Content is not highly engaging.

 

3 Methods To Be Successful on Instagram

 

 

Instagram is a huge platform that has good earning potential.

If you are a content creator or a brand owner, you must build a strong presence on Instagram.

Here are three essential tips for being successful on Instagram.

 

1. Remain Active

The algorithm of Instagram works the same way as other social media platforms.

The more you are online and sharing content, the better exposure you will get.

Therefore, it is crucial to understand the importance of being active most of the time.

 

2. Engage With Audience

Engagement is a primary reason for the success of most content creators on Instagram.

Almost all successful content creators started their journey by commenting, liking, and messaging followers and friends.

By doing this consistently, they get a fair advantage from Instagram and succeed.

 

3. Create Quality Content

Quality content is essential for every content creator and brand owner on social media.

Your content should be eye-catching, highly attractive, and must hook the reader and engage with them.

 

Conclusion

If you practice safe and healthy content posting and sharing, it is highly unlikely that you will ever get banned or deleted from Instagram.

If you have old accounts, go back to them and start posting regularly so Instagram doesn’t delete them.