How to Change Your Password on Instagram (All Devices Covered)
Changing your Instagram password is one of the most straightforward account security tasks — but the exact steps vary depending on whether you're on a mobile app or a desktop browser, and whether you actually remember your current password or not. Both paths are covered here.
Why You Might Need to Change Your Instagram Password
People change their Instagram passwords for several reasons: routine security hygiene, suspicion that someone else has accessed their account, switching to a stronger password after a data breach elsewhere, or simply because they've forgotten it and been locked out.
Each situation leads to a slightly different process. If you know your current password, you can change it from within the app or website. If you don't know it, you'll go through Instagram's account recovery flow instead.
How to Change Your Instagram Password When You're Logged In
On the Instagram Mobile App (iOS or Android)
This is the most common route for most users:
- Open the Instagram app and go to your profile (tap your profile picture in the bottom-right corner).
- Tap the three horizontal lines (hamburger menu) in the top-right corner.
- Tap Settings and privacy.
- Tap Accounts Center — this is Meta's unified account hub.
- Select Password and security.
- Tap Change password.
- Choose the Instagram account you want to update (if you manage multiple).
- Enter your current password, then your new password twice to confirm.
- Tap Save changes.
🔐 Instagram requires your new password to be at least six characters, but best practice is to use a mix of uppercase, lowercase, numbers, and symbols — and make it at least 12 characters.
On a Desktop Browser
If you prefer to manage this from a computer:
- Go to instagram.com and log in.
- Click your profile picture in the top-right corner.
- Click Settings.
- In the left-hand panel, click Accounts Center.
- Click Password and security, then Change password.
- Follow the same steps — enter your current password, then your new one twice.
- Click Save changes.
The desktop experience mirrors the mobile flow because both now route through Meta's Accounts Center, introduced as part of Instagram's integration with Facebook's account management system.
How to Reset Your Instagram Password If You're Locked Out
If you've forgotten your password and can't log in, Instagram offers several recovery options.
From the Login Screen
- On the Instagram login page, tap or click Forgot password?
- Instagram will ask you to enter your username, email address, or phone number linked to the account.
- Choose how you want to receive the reset link: email or SMS.
- Check your inbox or messages for the reset link.
- Tap the link, enter your new password, and confirm it.
Logging In With Facebook
If your Instagram is linked to a Facebook account with the same email, you may be able to tap Log in with Facebook to bypass the password entirely and regain access that way — then change your password once you're in.
Using "Get more help" on Mobile
If you no longer have access to the email or phone number on file, Instagram provides an additional verification path:
- Tap Get more help on the "Trouble logging in?" screen.
- Follow the identity verification steps, which may include video selfies or confirming account details.
This path is slower and not guaranteed — it depends on how much identifying information Instagram can verify.
Variables That Affect the Process 🔄
Not every user's experience will be identical. A few factors shape how smoothly this goes:
| Variable | How It Affects the Process |
|---|---|
| OS version | Older versions of the Instagram app may show slightly different menu layouts |
| Linked accounts | If your Instagram is tied to Facebook via Accounts Center, recovery options expand |
| Account recovery info | Having an up-to-date email and phone number makes resets significantly easier |
| Two-factor authentication | If 2FA is enabled, you'll need your authentication code during some flows |
| Multiple accounts | The app may ask you to select which account you're changing the password for |
What Makes a Strong Instagram Password
Instagram doesn't enforce complexity rules beyond a minimum length, but that doesn't mean a weak password is safe. The most common way Instagram accounts get compromised isn't Instagram itself — it's credential stuffing, where attackers use passwords leaked from other services.
Best practices:
- Use a password you haven't used anywhere else
- Use a password manager to generate and store a long, random string
- Enable two-factor authentication (found in Accounts Center > Password and security > Two-factor authentication) for an additional layer of protection
The Part That Depends on Your Setup
The mechanics of changing your password are the same for everyone, but how straightforward the experience actually is depends on your specific situation. Someone with an up-to-date recovery email, two-factor authentication enabled, and the latest app version will move through this in under a minute. Someone who set up their account years ago with an old email address they no longer access, no linked phone number, and an outdated app version may hit friction at multiple steps.
Whether you're doing a routine update or trying to recover an account you've been locked out of, the right starting point — and the right recovery path — depends on what account information you currently have access to.