How to Change Your Email on Instagram

Last updated: July 6, 2026 · Verified against the current process

Quick answer Open your profile → Edit profile (or Accounts Center → Personal details → Contact info) → tap Email → enter the new address → confirm with the code Instagram sends to that inbox. Change the email before you delete the old mailbox so your recovery and login codes still reach you.

Instagram ties your email to login and account recovery, so it is worth updating before you retire an old inbox — for example, if you are about to delete a Gmail account. The change is quick, but confirmation matters: Instagram does not switch the account over until you enter the code it sends to the new address. Handily, that means you do not need access to the old mailbox to change it, only the ability to log in.

Before you start

Have the new mailbox open so you can grab the confirmation code within a few minutes. Instagram now shares account settings with Facebook and Messenger through Accounts Center, so depending on your app version you may find contact details under Edit profile or under Settings and activity → Accounts Center → Personal details → Contact info. Both lead to the same place; look for the field labelled Email.

Change your email in the app

  1. Open your profile settings

    Tap your profile picture, then the menu (three lines) → Settings and activity. Open Accounts Center → Personal details → Contact info. On older versions, tap Edit profile and find Email.

  2. Select the email field

    Tap Email addresses (or the existing email). Choose Add new email or edit the current one and enter your new address.

  3. Submit and wait for the code

    Confirm the change. Instagram sends a six-digit confirmation code to the new address from a mail.instagram.com sender.

Change it on the web

  1. Open Accounts Center on desktop

    Go to accountscenter.instagram.com or, from instagram.com, open the menu → Settings → Accounts Center → Personal details → Contact info.

  2. Enter the new email

    Select Email addresses, add the new address, and submit. The web flow sends the same confirmation code as the app.

Verify and confirm the change

  1. Enter the confirmation code

    Open the new mailbox, copy the code, and type it back into Instagram. The account only moves to the new address once the code is accepted. If nothing arrives, check spam and use the resend option.

  2. Set it as primary and remove the old one

    If both addresses now show, set the new one as your main contact and remove the old address so Instagram stops emailing an inbox you plan to close.

Confirm before you delete the old mailbox Never delete or lose access to the old inbox until the new email is confirmed on the account. If the change is still pending and you get locked out, Instagram's recovery messages may go to the old address.

2FA and recovery implications

Your login password does not change when you swap emails, and open sessions stay signed in. What moves is the destination for any email-based recovery:

Point recovery at an inbox you intend to keep, and consider using an alias so your real address stays off breach and marketing lists.

Frequently asked questions

Does Instagram change the email immediately or after I confirm?

Instagram sends a code to the new address and only switches the account once you enter it. Until you confirm, the old email stays active. If you close the app before entering the code, the change does not take effect.

Can I change my email if I no longer have access to the old one?

Yes, as long as you can log in. The new email is confirmed by a code sent to the new address, not the old one, so you do not need the old mailbox. If you cannot log in at all, use the login-help flow instead.

Why does my new email say it is already in use?

Instagram allows one account per email. If the new address is attached to another Instagram account you made earlier, change or remove it there first, or pick a different address.

Will changing my email affect two-factor authentication?

If your two-factor method is an authenticator app or SMS, changing your email does not affect it. Only email-based recovery moves to the new address, so make sure it is one you will keep.

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