To reset a forgotten Instagram password, use Instagram's built-in account recovery process:
On the mobile app:
- Open Instagram and on the login screen tap "Get help logging in" (or "Forgot password?").
- Enter the username, email, or phone number linked to your account, then tap "Next."
- Instagram will send a login code or password reset link to your email or phone. Choose the option you have access to.
- Open the message and either tap the reset link or enter the code in the app.
- Follow the prompts to create a new password, then confirm it.
On a desktop browser:
- Go to instagram.com and click "Forgot password?" below the login fields.
- Enter your username, email, or phone number and click "Send Login Link" or similar.
- Check your email or SMS for the reset link, click it, and set a new password.
If you no longer have access to the email or phone on the account:
- Try "Need more help?" or "Can't reset your password?" links during the recovery flow — Instagram may let you verify identity via a different email, or by confirming trusted contacts (Facebook accounts, if linked).
- If your account was hacked and the email/phone was changed by someone else, use Instagram's "My Account Was Hacked" support form, which asks for an email or phone previously associated with the account and may require a short video selfie for identity verification.
Tips:
- Check spam/junk folders for the reset email.
- Make sure you're using the exact username, email, or phone number tied to the account — small typos will cause failures.
- Once back in, update your recovery email/phone and consider enabling two-factor authentication for added security.
- Choose a strong, unique password you haven't used elsewhere.
If none of these options work, Instagram's in-app "Report a Problem" or the Help Center's account recovery forms are the next step, though response times can vary.