Change your email in Instagram settings in under a minute
Open Instagram on your phone or computer, go to your profile, tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines), and select Settings and privacy. Choose Account center, then Personal information, and tap Email. Enter your new email address, confirm it, and Instagram will send a verification link to that new address. Click the link in the email to finish.
The whole process takes about 60 seconds if you have access to both your old and new email inboxes. Instagram requires you to verify the new address before it becomes active, so you cannot skip the email confirmation step.
Key Takeaways
- You change your email through Settings and privacy > Account center > Personal information > Email, not through a separate password or security page.
- Instagram sends a verification link to your new email address, and you must click it to complete the change.
- If you no longer have access to your old email, you can use your phone number or username to recover your account instead.
- The change takes effect when ready after you verify the new email, and your old email address stops being linked to your account.
Step-by-step walkthrough for phone and desktop
On your phone (iOS or Android): Open Instagram and tap your profile icon in the bottom right corner. Tap the three-line menu icon at the top right. Scroll down and tap Settings and privacy. Tap Account center. Tap Personal information. Tap Email. Delete your current email and type in your new one. Tap Next or Save. Instagram will send a verification email to your new address within seconds.
On desktop: Go to instagram.com and log in. Click your profile icon in the bottom left corner of the screen. Click Settings and privacy. Click Account center. Click Personal information. Click Email. Clear the old address and enter the new one. Click Next. Check the new email inbox (including spam folder) for the verification message from Instagram.
Once you receive the verification email, open it and click the link inside. This confirms that you own the new email address and have access to it. After you click the link, your email change is complete and active on your account.
What happens if you cannot access your old email anymore
If you no longer have access to the email address currently on your account, you cannot use the email change method above. Instead, you will need to recover your account using a different method.
Go to instagram.com/accounts/login/help/ and enter your username or phone number. Instagram will ask you to verify your identity by sending a code to the phone number on file or by answering security questions you set up earlier. Once you verify, you can reset your password and then change your email address using the normal steps.
If you do not have access to your phone number either, you can request a review by Instagram. Tap Need more help? on the recovery page and provide a photo of your ID. This process can take several days, so it is worth keeping your recovery email and phone number current even if you do not plan to change them soon.
Why Instagram asks you to verify your new email
The verification step protects your account from being hijacked. If someone gained access to your account settings, they could type in their own email address and lock you out. By requiring you to click a link in the new email inbox, Instagram confirms that you actually own that address and are not being impersonated.
The verification link expires after a certain period of time, usually 24 hours. If you do not click it within that window, you will need to start the email change process over. Your old email remains active on your account until the new one is verified, so you will not lose access to your account if the link expires.
What to do if the verification email does not arrive
Check your spam or junk folder first — verification emails sometimes land there by mistake. If it is not there, wait a few minutes and refresh your inbox, as Instagram's email system can be slow.
If you still do not see the email after 10 minutes, go back to Instagram settings and try entering the new email address again. You can request a new verification email as many times as you need. Make sure you are typing the email address correctly — a single typo will send the verification link to the wrong inbox.
If the email address you entered is already linked to another Instagram account, Instagram will not let you use it. You will see an error message saying the email is already in use. In that case, you will need to use a different email address, or remove that address from the other account first.
Changing your email does not affect your password or two-factor authentication
Your password stays the same when you change your email. You do not need to reset it or create a new one unless you want to. Two-factor authentication (the security code Instagram sends to your phone when you log in from a new device) also stays active and unchanged.
However, if you set up two-factor authentication to send codes to your old email address, you should update that setting to use your new email or your phone number instead. Go to Settings and privacy > Account center > Password and security > Two-factor authentication to change where the codes are sent.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change my email address on Instagram without a phone number?
Yes. You only need your phone number if you are recovering a lost account or resetting your password. To change your email in normal circumstances, you just need access to your current email inbox and the new email address you want to use.
Will my followers see that I changed my email?
No. Your email address is private and only visible to you and Instagram. Your followers will not be notified and cannot see what email is on your account. Changing your email does not change your username, profile picture, or any public information.
How long does it take for the email change to go through?
The change is when ready once you click the verification link in the new email. You do not need to wait or restart the app. Your new email becomes active when ready and your old email is removed from your account.
What if I change my mind and want to switch back to my old email?
You can change your email as many times as you want using the same process. Go back to Settings and privacy > Account center > Personal information > Email and enter your old address. Instagram will send a verification link to that address, and once you click it, you are switched back.
Can I use the same email for multiple Instagram accounts?
No. Each Instagram account must have its own unique email address. If you try to add an email that is already linked to another account, Instagram will show an error. You will need to remove it from the other account first, or use a different email address.