How to change your instagram password when you forgot it

Forgot your Instagram password?

That's a shame. You didn't want to get back into your account, did you?

Oh. You did. Guess we'll go ahead and show you how to reset your password then.

1. Go to the Instagram login page on desktop

2. Click "Forgot password?"

How to change your instagram password when you forgot it

"Forgot password?" Credit: Instagram

3. Enter either the email, phone number, or username you used to create your account

You also don't have to have forgotten your password in order to reset it. If you know your password and just want to change it to something different (maybe a little stronger than "Instagram1234"), here's how to do that.

1. Tap the menu icon in your Instagram profile and then tap "settings"

How to change your instagram password when you forgot it

Go to your Instagram settings Credit: Andy Moser / Instagram

2. Tap "Security" in your settings menu

How to change your instagram password when you forgot it

Tap "security" Credit: Andy Moser / Instagram

3. Tap "Password" at the top

How to change your instagram password when you forgot it

Tap "Password" in your Instagram security settings Credit: Andy Moser / Instagram

4. Enter your current password

5. Enter what you want your new password to be

6. Enter it again to confirm, and then tap "save"

More Instagram tutorials

  • How to delete all of your Instagram posts

  • How to disable your Instagram

  • How to change the background color on your Instagram Story

  • How to change your Instagram algorithm to a chronological feed

Being a popular photo-sharing platform, Instagram stores plenty of personal data. For instance, my account has photos from 2013 – my college days! Hence, it is crucial to keep it secure, and one way to ensure this is by changing the Instagram password frequently.

Alternatively, if you believe your account has been compromised in a password breach, or you’ve forgotten your existing Instagram password, here is how you can change or reset it on your iPhone, Android, or desktop.

Before we begin: Make sure not to use a weak, easily guessable password. Always use a combination of at least six numbers, letters, punctuation symbols, etc. You can also let the iCloud Keychain or a third-party password manager suggest a long, complicated password.

  • How to change your Instagram password on iPhone or Android
  • How to change your Instagram password using the desktop website
  • Reset your Instagram password on iPhone and Android
  • How to reset your Instagram password using the desktop website
  • Turn on two-factor authentication on Instagram

How to change your Instagram password on iPhone or Android

  1. Open the Instagram app, go to your profile and tap the hamburger icon (three short lines) at the top right.
  2. Tap SettingsSecurityPassword.
  3. Enter your current password and then the new strong password.
  4. Finally, tap Save.

    How to change your instagram password when you forgot it

How to change your Instagram password using the desktop website

  1. Visit Instagram.com on your Mac or PC and login if needed.
  2. Go to your profile and click the gear icon next to Edit Profile.

    How to change your instagram password when you forgot it

  3. Click Change Password.
  4. Enter your current (old) password and the new password you wish to set.
  5. Finally, click Change Password.

    How to change your instagram password when you forgot it

Reset your Instagram password on iPhone and Android

If you have forgotten your Instagram password, you can easily reset it by following the steps below.

  1. Open the Instagram app. (If you are already logged in, go to your profilehamburger iconSettingsLog out)
  2. Tap Forgot password?.
  3. Enter your username or phone number and proceed.

    How to change your instagram password when you forgot it

  4. Instagram will send you an email or text to your registered email address or phone number.
  5. From the email, you can directly log in to Instagram or reset your Instagram password.

    How to change your instagram password when you forgot it

How to reset your Instagram password using the desktop website

  1. Visit Instagram’s Reset Password page.
  2. Enter your email, phone, or username to get the login link.
  3. Follow the received instructions to log in or reset your password.

Alternatively:

  1. If you are already logged in to Instagram on the web, click your profile picture from the top.
  2. Click SettingsChange Password.
  3. Click Forgot PasswordSend Login Link.

    How to change your instagram password when you forgot it

    How to change your instagram password when you forgot it

  4. Follow the instructions sent to you in the email.

    How to change your instagram password when you forgot it

In the steps above, we saw how to change or reset the Instagram password. But to make it extra secure, you must enable two-factor authentication. This will ensure that even if someone knows your password or retrieve it from a data breach, they cannot log in to your Instagram account without the 2-factor verification code.

We have multiple posts showing you how to enable 2FA for your Apple ID, Facebook, Twitter, Amazon, Google account, etc. In this post, let us cover Instagram as well.

Turn on two-factor authentication on Instagram

Before you begin: Download the Google Authenticator or one of the similar authenticator apps.

  1. Open Instagram, go to your profile, and tap the hamburger icon at the top right.
  2. Tap SettingsSecurityTwo-factor authenticationGet Started.

    How to change your instagram password when you forgot it

  3. From here, you can choose to get the 2FA code from an authenticator app (this works even offline) or via text message. Let us choose the ‘Authentication app.’
  4. Tap NextOpenYes. (this may vary if you use some other authenticator app)
  5. Now, tap the six-digit Instagram code to copy it.
  6. Go back to Instagram and paste/enter the code here.
  7. Tap Next to successfully set up 2FA for your Insta account!
  8. Important: Do not forget to save your backup codes somewhere else. These will come in handy if you lose your device or cannot access the authenticator app.

    How to change your instagram password when you forgot it

After this, you may follow the same steps to enable 2FA using text messages to have an additional method of verification.

You can also set Instagram two-factor authentication via computer. For this, click your profile picture → SettingsPrivacy and SecurityEdit Two-Factor Authentication Setting. Now, click Use Text Message and enable 2FA (the authentication app option is currently unsupported on the web).

How to change your instagram password when you forgot it

Once 2FA is set, you will have to enter this one-time code every time you log in to Instagram from a new, untrusted device.

This is how you can change, reset, and strengthen your Instagram account. I hope you have a good time using this photo/video-sharing app. While you are there, search for iGeeksBlog to see what we are up to. Cheers!

More helpful posts:

  • How to use Instagram Remix Reels on iPhone
  • Stop Instagram auto-refresh on iPhone
  • Why there’s no native Instagram app for iPad?
  • How to use password authenticator on iPhone

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How to change your instagram password when you forgot it

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A tech-aficionado whose superpower lies in blabbering interminably about new technologies. After 4+ years and 4500+ content pieces that helped diverse companies grow, I followed my passion and made iGeeks Media my home. When not gushing over technology, you will find me immersed in a fictional world, either reading or creating one.