You can disconnect Instagram from Facebook, but the process depends on how your accounts are connected
If you created your Instagram account using your Facebook login, or if you've linked them together over time, you can separate them. Instagram and Facebook are both owned by Meta, so the connection runs deep — but you can break the link without deleting either account. The steps differ depending on whether you want to keep both accounts active, use a different login method for Instagram, or simply stop them from sharing data.
The most common reason people disconnect is privacy: linked accounts mean Facebook can see your Instagram activity and vice versa. Another reason is account security — if someone compromises your Facebook password, they can access Instagram too. A third is simply that you want to use Instagram independently, without your Facebook friends seeing your activity there.
Key Takeaways
- You can disconnect Instagram from Facebook on any device, but the mobile app and website have slightly different steps.
- Before disconnecting, set up a new login method for Instagram (email or phone number) so you can still access your account afterward.
- Disconnecting stops Facebook from seeing your Instagram activity and vice versa, but does not delete either account.
- If you created Instagram using only your Facebook login and have not set up another way to log in, you must do that first or you will lock yourself out.
How to disconnect on the Instagram mobile app
Open Instagram and go to your profile by tapping the person icon in the bottom right. Tap the three horizontal lines (the menu) in the top right corner, then tap Settings and privacy. Scroll down and tap Accounts and password, then tap Password. You will be asked to enter your current password — if you do not know it because you only ever logged in with Facebook, skip to the section on setting up a new login method first.
Once you have confirmed or set a password, go back to Settings and privacy and tap Accounts and password again. This time, look for Connected accounts or Facebook (the exact wording varies by region and app version). Tap it, then tap Disconnect or Remove. Instagram will ask you to confirm. Tap Disconnect again. You are now logged into Instagram with your email or phone number and password, not your Facebook account.
How to disconnect on the Instagram website
Go to Instagram.com and log in. Click your profile picture in the top right, then click Settings. On the left sidebar, click How you login. Under Logins, you will see a list of ways you can access your account. If Facebook is listed, click the three dots next to it and select Remove. Confirm the removal when prompted.
If Facebook is the only login method shown, you must add another one before you remove it. Click Add login method, choose Email or Phone number, and follow the prompts to add and verify it. Only then can you remove Facebook as a login option. This extra step prevents you from locking yourself out of your account.
What to do if you only ever logged in with Facebook
If you created your Instagram account by signing up with Facebook and have never set a password or added an email login, you need to create one before disconnecting. The safest way is to use the "Forgot password?" option on the Instagram login screen, even though you technically have not forgotten it — you never set one.
Go to Instagram.com and click Forgot password? below the login fields. Enter your username or the email address associated with your Instagram account. Instagram will send you a password reset link. Click the link, create a new password, and save it somewhere safe. Now you can follow the disconnection steps above — you will log in with your email and password instead of Facebook.
What happens after you disconnect
Once disconnected, Facebook can no longer see your Instagram posts, stories, or activity. Instagram can no longer see your Facebook posts or friends list. You will log into Instagram using your email address (or phone number) and password, not your Facebook credentials. Your Instagram account itself remains active and unchanged — you are only changing how you log in and what data flows between the two platforms.
If you were using Instagram's cross-posting feature to share posts to Facebook automatically, that will stop working after disconnection. You can still manually share individual posts to Facebook if you want to, but you will need to log into Facebook separately to do it. This gives you more control over which posts appear on which platform.
If you want to reconnect later
Disconnecting is not permanent. If you change your mind, you can link your accounts again at any time. Go to Settings and privacy > Accounts and password > Connected accounts (or How you login on the website), and look for an option to add Facebook. You will be asked to log into Facebook and confirm that you want to reconnect. Your accounts will be linked again, and Facebook will resume seeing your Instagram activity.
The reconnection process takes only a few minutes and does not affect your posts, followers, or any other account data. You can disconnect and reconnect as many times as you need to.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will disconnecting delete my Instagram account?
No. Disconnecting only breaks the link between your Instagram and Facebook accounts. Your Instagram account, posts, followers, and messages all remain exactly as they were. You are simply changing how you log in and stopping the two platforms from sharing your activity data.
Can I disconnect if I do not remember my Instagram password?
Yes. Use the "Forgot password?" option on the Instagram login screen to reset it, even if you originally signed up with Facebook. Once you have set a new password, you can disconnect Facebook as a login method and use your email and password to log in instead.
What if I want to delete my Instagram account entirely?
Disconnecting from Facebook is different from deleting Instagram. If you want to permanently delete your Instagram account, go to Settings and privacy > Help > Delete account. Instagram will ask you to confirm and explain why. Deleted accounts cannot be recovered after 30 days, so make sure that is what you want before you proceed.
Will my Facebook friends still see my Instagram posts after I disconnect?
Only if you manually share them. After disconnecting, Instagram no longer automatically posts your content to Facebook. You can still choose to share individual posts to Facebook by tapping the share button on a post and selecting Facebook, but you will need to log into Facebook to do it.
Does disconnecting improve my privacy?
It stops Facebook and Instagram from sharing your activity data with each other, which is a meaningful privacy improvement if you want to keep the two platforms separate. However, both platforms still collect data about how you use them individually. Disconnecting does not change Instagram's or Facebook's own data practices — it only stops them from combining what they know about you across both apps.