Change Your Email on Instagram Through Settings
To change the email address on your Instagram account, open the app and tap the profile icon in the bottom right corner. Then tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) and select Settings and privacy. From there, tap Account center, then Personal information, and finally Email address. Enter your new email, confirm it, and Instagram will send a verification link to that address. Click the link in your email to finish the change.
The entire process takes about five minutes if you have access to both your old and new email accounts. Instagram requires you to verify the new address before the change becomes official, so you must be able to open emails sent to the new address you're adding. If you cannot access the new email account right away, you can complete the verification step later — just return to the same settings menu and finish it when you're ready.
Key Takeaways
- You change your email through Settings and privacy > Account center > Personal information > Email address, not through a separate password or account menu.
- Instagram sends a verification link to your new email address, and you must click that link to confirm the change is real.
- You do not need to know your current password to change your email address.
- If you no longer have access to your old email, you can still change your email address as long as you can verify the new one.
What Happens to Your Old Email After the Change
Once you verify your new email address, Instagram removes the old one from your account entirely. You will no longer receive login notifications, password reset links, or other account messages at the old address. The old email is not stored on your account and cannot be used to log in anymore.
If you own multiple Instagram accounts and used the same email for more than one, changing the email on one account does not affect the others. Each account's email is separate. However, if you want to use the same new email address for a different Instagram account, you must first remove it from the account where you just added it — Instagram does not allow one email to be connected to more than one account at the same time.
Changing Your Email If You Cannot Access the Old One
If you no longer have access to your old email account, you can still change your Instagram email. Skip the verification step for the old address and go directly to adding the new one. When you enter the new email address in the Email address field, Instagram will send the verification link there instead. You only need to verify the new address; you do not need to confirm anything with the old one.
This works even if your old email account was deleted or the provider shut it down. As long as you can receive emails at the new address, you can complete the change. If you are locked out of your Instagram account entirely and cannot reach the settings menu, that is a separate problem requiring account recovery, which uses a different process.
Troubleshooting: Verification Email Not Arriving
If Instagram sends the verification email but you do not see it in your inbox, check your spam or junk folder first — verification emails sometimes land there by mistake. Wait at least five minutes after requesting the email before checking, because Instagram's system can be slow. If you still cannot find it, return to the Email address settings and tap Resend email to request a new verification link.
If the resend does not work, make sure you typed the new email address correctly when you entered it. A single typo will send the verification link to the wrong inbox. Go back to the Email address field, delete what you entered, and type it again carefully. You can also try changing your email on Instagram's website instead of the app — sometimes one works when the other does not, though both use the same underlying system.
Using a Work Email or Shared Email Address
You can change your Instagram email to a work email, school email, or any other address you have access to. Instagram does not restrict the type of email provider you use. However, if you use a shared email address (one that multiple people can read), anyone with access to that inbox will be able to see your account recovery emails, password reset links, and login notifications. Consider using a personal email instead if privacy is a concern.
If your work or school email is managed by an organization that monitors account activity, that organization may be able to see that you are using Instagram on your account. The email address itself does not reveal your Instagram username to anyone watching your email, but the recovery emails and notifications will show up in the shared inbox. If you are changing your email to a work account, understand that your employer or school may have visibility into these messages.
What to Do If You Forget Your New Email Address
If you changed your email but cannot remember what you changed it to, you can see it in the same settings menu where you made the change. Open Settings and privacy > Account center > Personal information > Email address, and your current email will be displayed there (usually with some characters hidden for privacy). Write it down or take a screenshot so you have it for future reference.
If you are locked out of Instagram and cannot access the settings menu, use the login screen's Need help logging in? option. Instagram will ask you to enter your username or phone number, and then it will send a recovery link to the email address on file. You do not need to remember the email address itself — just check whichever email accounts you think might be connected to the account, and look for the recovery message.
Changing Your Email on Instagram's Website Instead of the App
If you prefer to use a computer, you can change your email on Instagram's website the same way you do on the app. Go to instagram.com, log in, and click your profile picture in the top right. Select Settings, then Account center, then Personal information, and finally Email address. The steps are identical to the app version, and you will still receive a verification email that you must click to confirm the change.
Some people find the website version easier because the text is larger and the menu buttons are more spread out. Others prefer the app because it is faster on a phone. Both versions are equally find and will produce the same result — your email address will be changed and verified within a few minutes of clicking the confirmation link.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need my password to change my email address?
No. Instagram does not ask for your password when you change your email address. You only need to be logged into your account and able to verify the new email address by clicking a link Instagram sends to it.
Can I change my email address on Instagram if I am using a third-party login like Facebook?
Yes. Even if you log into Instagram using your Facebook account, you can still add or change an email address in your Instagram settings. The email is separate from your login method and can be updated independently.
How long does it take for the email change to go into effect?
The change is when ready once you click the verification link in the email Instagram sends you. You do not need to wait or restart the app. If you log out and log back in, you can use the new email address to sign in when ready.
What if I want to change my email back to the old one?
You can change your email as many times as you want. Just return to Settings and privacy > Account center > Personal information > Email address and enter the old address again. Instagram will send a new verification link to that address, and once you click it, the change is complete.
Can two Instagram accounts share the same email address?
No. Instagram requires each email address to be connected to only one account. If you try to add an email that is already in use on another account, Instagram will show an error. You must remove the email from the first account before you can add it to a second one.