You can change your birthdate in Instagram settings, but only if your account is at least 18 years old

Instagram lets you update your birthdate through your account settings. The process takes less than a minute. However, Instagram has a rule: if your account shows you are under 18, you cannot change your birthdate yourself. You will need to contact Instagram's support team instead, and they may ask for proof of your real age.

The reason for this restriction is that Instagram uses your age to control which features you can access. Accounts under 13 cannot exist on the platform at all. Accounts between 13 and 17 have limited messaging and advertising options. Once you turn 18, those restrictions lift, and you gain full control over your birthdate.

Key Takeaways

  • If you are 18 or older, you can change your birthdate yourself by going to Settings and Privacy, then Personal Information, then Date of Birth.
  • If your account currently shows you are under 18, you cannot change your birthdate in settings and must contact Instagram Support instead.
  • Instagram may ask for a photo ID or other proof before allowing an age change on accounts that show you as a minor.
  • Once you change your birthdate, the new age takes effect when ready, but you cannot change it again for several months.

How to change your age if you are 18 or older

Open Instagram and tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) at the bottom right of your screen. On a computer, click the menu icon at the top right. Select Settings and Privacy, then Settings.

Scroll down and tap Personal Information. You will see Date of Birth listed there. Tap it to edit. Enter your correct birthdate and tap Save. The change takes effect right away. Your age will update across your account, including in your profile if you chose to display it publicly.

What happens if your account shows you are under 18

If Instagram's records show you are under 18, the Date of Birth field in settings will be locked. You cannot edit it yourself. Instead, you will see a message directing you to contact Instagram Support. Tap that message or go to Help in Settings and select Report a Problem.

When you contact support, explain that your birthdate is incorrect and provide your real date of birth. Instagram will likely ask you to submit a photo of your ID — a driver's license, passport, or national ID card. They use this to verify your age before making the change. The process usually takes a few days to a week.

Why Instagram locks age changes for minors

Instagram's parent company, Meta, is required by law to protect users under 18. The Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) in the United States and similar laws in other countries set strict rules about how platforms handle young users' data and what features they can access.

Because of these rules, Instagram cannot straightforward let someone change their age from under 18 to 18 or older without verification. If it did, a young user could bypass the protections meant to keep them safe. That is why support staff review age changes for accounts that currently show a minor.

How often you can change your birthdate

Instagram does not let you change your birthdate whenever you want. After you make a change, you must wait several months before you can change it again. The exact waiting period is not publicly stated, but most users report waiting at least three to six months.

This cooldown exists to prevent people from constantly switching their age to access different features or to avoid age-based restrictions. If you need to change your birthdate again soon after your first change, contact Instagram Support and explain why. They may make an exception if your original birthdate was genuinely wrong.

What to do if Instagram Support does not respond

Instagram Support can be slow. If you submitted a request and heard nothing after a week, send a follow-up message through the same Help channel. Include your username and a brief description of what you reported.

If you still do not hear back after two weeks, try reporting the issue through a different method. Go to Settings, tap Help, and look for Report a Problem or Contact Us. Some users have had faster responses by reporting through the Instagram app on a mobile phone rather than on a computer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my age if I just turned 18?

Yes, but only if Instagram's system has already updated your account to show you are 18. This usually happens automatically on your birthday. If it has not updated yet, wait a day or two and try again. If it still does not work after a few days, contact Instagram Support.

What if I entered the wrong birthdate when I created my account?

If your account is 18 or older, you can change it yourself in settings. If your account shows you are under 18, you will need to contact Instagram Support and provide ID. Be honest about why the original date was wrong — Instagram staff see many requests and can usually tell the difference between a genuine mistake and someone trying to bypass age restrictions.

Will changing my age affect my followers or posts?

No. Your followers, posts, messages, and all other account content stay exactly the same. Only your age changes. If you had your birthdate set to public on your profile, the public display will update to show your new age, but nothing else is affected.

Can I hide my age after I change it?

Yes. After you update your birthdate, go back to Personal Information and look for the option to make your birthdate private. This hides your age from your profile and from other users, though Instagram itself will still see it for account management purposes.

What if I do not remember my exact birthdate?

Enter your best estimate. If you are off by a few days or even a month, Instagram will not reject the change. If you are significantly off and it puts you in a different age group (for example, changing from 17 to 18), Instagram may ask for ID to verify. When in doubt, contact support first and ask whether you need ID before submitting a change.