You can disconnect Facebook from Instagram, but the steps depend on what you want to stop
Instagram and Facebook are owned by the same company, so they're linked by default. If you want to stop them from sharing data, showing each other's content, or letting you log in with a Facebook account, you have several separate options — and they work differently depending on whether you use Instagram on your phone or computer.
The most common reason to disconnect them is privacy: you may not want Instagram to see your Facebook friends, or Facebook to track what you do on Instagram. Another reason is login: if you created your Instagram account using Facebook, you might want to switch to a username and password instead. A third reason is simply that you don't want to see Facebook content mixed into your Instagram feed.
Each of these requires a different step, and some require you to go into Facebook's settings rather than Instagram's. This guide covers all three.
Key Takeaways
- Disconnecting your Facebook login from Instagram requires you to set a username and password in Instagram first, then remove the Facebook connection in Instagram settings.
- Stopping Instagram from sharing your activity with Facebook happens in Facebook's settings under Apps and Websites, not in Instagram itself.
- Hiding Facebook content from your Instagram feed is a separate action that only removes suggested posts and stories from Facebook accounts.
- On a phone, you'll use the Instagram app or Facebook app depending on which connection you're breaking; on a computer, you'll use the website version of each.
- Disconnecting Facebook from Instagram does not delete either account — it only breaks the link between them.
How to stop using your Facebook account to log into Instagram
If you signed up for Instagram using your Facebook account, you can switch to logging in with a username and password instead. This is the most complete way to separate the two accounts.
On your phone, open Instagram and go to your profile. Tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) and select Settings and Privacy, then Settings. Scroll down and tap Login and Security, then tap Passwords. Create a strong password and save it. Once you have a password set, go back to Settings and Privacy, then Settings, then Accounts Center. Tap Accounts, then tap your Instagram account, then tap Remove Account. Confirm the removal. You can now log into Instagram with your username and password instead of Facebook.
On a computer, go to instagram.com and log in. Click your profile picture in the top right, then Settings. Click Login and Security on the left side, then Passwords. Create a password. Then go back to Settings, click Accounts Center on the left, click Accounts, click your Instagram account, and click Remove Account. Confirm the removal.
How to stop Instagram from sharing your activity with Facebook
Even if you don't log in with Facebook, Instagram shares information about what you do — which accounts you follow, which posts you like, which stories you watch — with Facebook's parent company. You can turn this off in Facebook's settings.
Open Facebook and go to Settings and Privacy, then Settings. On the left side, click Apps and Websites. Under Active, you'll see Instagram listed. Click it, then click Remove. This stops Facebook from receiving data about your Instagram activity going forward.
On a phone, open the Facebook app and tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) at the bottom right. Tap Settings and Privacy, then Settings. Tap Apps and Websites. Under Active, tap Instagram, then tap Remove.
How to hide Facebook content from your Instagram feed
Instagram sometimes shows you suggested posts and stories from Facebook accounts and pages. You can't turn this off completely, but you can reduce how often it happens by telling Instagram you're not interested in Facebook content.
When you see a suggested post from a Facebook account in your feed, tap the three dots in the top right corner of that post. Tap See Fewer Posts Like This. Repeat this each time you see Facebook content you don't want to see. Instagram will gradually show you less of it.
This method works on both phones and computers. On a computer, hover over the post and click the three dots instead of tapping them.
What happens to your accounts after you disconnect them
Disconnecting Facebook from Instagram does not delete either account. Your Instagram account stays active, your Facebook account stays active, and all your posts, followers, and messages remain. You simply break the link between them.
If you had two-factor authentication set up through Facebook, you'll need to set it up again through Instagram or your phone number after you disconnect. Check your Login and Security settings in Instagram to make sure you still have a way to recover your account if you forget your password.
How to reconnect Facebook and Instagram later
If you change your mind, you can link them again. Open Instagram, go to Settings and Privacy, then Settings, then Accounts Center. Tap Add Account and follow the steps to connect your Facebook account. You'll be asked to confirm that you want to link them.
Reconnecting does not restore any settings you changed — for example, if you turned off activity sharing in Facebook, you'll need to turn it back on separately in Facebook's Apps and Websites settings.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will disconnecting Facebook from Instagram affect my Instagram followers or posts?
No. Your followers, posts, stories, and messages stay exactly as they are. Disconnecting only breaks the link between the two accounts — it does not change anything visible on either platform.
Can I still use Instagram if I disconnect from Facebook?
Yes. Once you set a username and password in Instagram, you can log in and use Instagram normally without ever touching Facebook. The two accounts work independently.
If I remove Instagram from Facebook's Apps and Websites, will Facebook still show me ads?
Yes. Removing Instagram from your connected apps stops Instagram activity from being shared with Facebook, but Facebook will still show you ads based on other information it has about you. Ads on Facebook and Instagram are controlled separately.
Do I have to disconnect Facebook to change my Instagram password?
No. You can change your Instagram password without disconnecting from Facebook. Go to Settings and Privacy, then Settings, then Login and Security, then Passwords, and enter a new password. Your Facebook connection stays active unless you remove it.
What if I forgot the password I set for Instagram before disconnecting Facebook?
Go to the Instagram login screen and tap Forgot Password. Enter your username or email address, and Instagram will send you a link to reset it. You don't need Facebook to recover your Instagram account.