The fastest way to change your Instagram password

Open Instagram on your phone or computer and go to your profile. Tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines on mobile, or your profile picture on desktop), then select Settings and privacy. Choose Security and login, then tap Password. Enter your current password, then type your new password twice to confirm it. Instagram will save the change immediately.

On a computer, the steps are the same: profile picture in the top right, then Settings and privacy > Security and login > Password. You do not need to log out or restart the app — the change takes effect right away.

Key Takeaways

  • You can change your password from your phone or computer using the Settings and privacy menu, and the change happens instantly.
  • Instagram will ask for your current password before letting you set a new one, so you need to remember what it is.
  • If you have forgotten your current password, use the "Forgot password?" option on the login screen instead of trying to change it from settings.
  • A strong password includes uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols — avoid using the same password across multiple accounts.

What to do if you have forgotten your current password

If you cannot remember your current password, you cannot change it from the settings menu. Instead, go to the Instagram login screen and tap Forgot password? below the login box. Enter your username, email, or phone number, and Instagram will send you a link to reset your password. Click the link in your email or text message, then create a new password.

This process logs you out of all your devices once you set the new password. You will need to log back in on your phone, computer, or any other place where you use Instagram.

Creating a password Instagram will accept

Instagram requires passwords to be at least six characters long, but a stronger password is much longer and includes a mix of uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols. For example, "BlueSky#2024Rain" is stronger than "password123" because it uses capital letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and a symbol.

Avoid passwords that are easy to guess, such as your birthday, your name, or a simple word from the dictionary. Do not use the same password on Instagram that you use on other accounts — if one account gets hacked, the others stay safe. If you use many accounts, a password manager like Bitwarden or 1Password can store them securely so you only have to remember one main password.

Why you might want to change your password regularly

Changing your password every few months reduces the risk that someone else has figured it out or stolen it from another website. If you think someone has accessed your account without permission, change your password immediately and check your Login activity in the Security and login settings to see where your account has been used.

If you see a login from a place you do not recognize, tap it and select Log out to end that session. Then change your password to something completely new that you have never used before.

Changing your password on Instagram's website versus the app

The steps are identical whether you use the Instagram app or the website at instagram.com. On mobile, tap the menu icon and go to Settings and privacy. On the website, click your profile picture in the top right corner and choose Settings and privacy. Both routes take you to the same password change screen.

If you are on a shared computer or a device that is not yours, log out completely after changing your password. This prevents someone else from accessing your account later.

What happens after you change your password

Your new password takes effect immediately. You stay logged in on the device where you made the change, so you can keep using Instagram without interruption. On other devices — your phone, tablet, or computer — you will stay logged in until you log out or until Instagram logs you out automatically for security reasons.

If you want to log out everywhere at once and force a fresh login on all your devices, go to Settings and privacy > Security and login > Where you're logged in and tap Log out of all sessions. Then log back in on each device with your new password.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my password if I do not remember my email or phone number?

If you cannot access the email or phone number linked to your account, you will have trouble resetting your password. Try logging in with your username instead. If you still cannot get in, visit Instagram's help center and look for the "Hacked or Compromised Account" section, which walks you through recovering access using other information Instagram has on file.

Will changing my password log me out of the Instagram app on my phone?

No. Changing your password from settings keeps you logged in on that device. You will stay logged in on your phone, tablet, and computer unless you manually log out or Instagram logs you out for security reasons. If you want to log out everywhere, use the "Log out of all sessions" option in Security and login.

What if Instagram says my new password is too weak?

Instagram rejected it because it is too short, uses only numbers, or matches a password that has been in a data breach. Try a longer password with a mix of uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols. Avoid common words or patterns like "123456" or "qwerty".

Can I change my password on Instagram if I use Facebook to log in?

If you log into Instagram using your Facebook account, you do not have an Instagram password. To create one, go to Settings and privacy > Security and login > Password and tap Set a password. This lets you log in with either your Facebook account or your new Instagram password in the future.