Instagram closes an account when it breaks Instagram's rules, or when the right person asks with the right proof. Fake accounts pretending to be you: report them in the app or with Instagram's impersonation form. Scam, spam and abusive accounts: report the profile. A deceased person's account: anyone can ask for it to be memorialized with proof of death, and immediate family can ask for it to be removed. A child under the minimum age: use Instagram's underage form. Your own old account: log in and delete it, and if you can't log in, recover access first. An account that follows the rules can't be closed just because someone wants it gone.
Which route fits your case
| Situation | Official route | What Instagram needs |
|---|---|---|
| A fake account pretending to be you | Report it in the app, or use Instagram's impersonation form | Proof that you're the person being impersonated |
| A scam, spam or abusive account | Report the profile in the app | The profile, and the reason it breaks the rules |
| Someone who has died | Memorialization request, or removal request by immediate family | Proof of death; for removal, proof of family relationship or legal authority |
| A child under the minimum age | Instagram's underage report form | The account; Instagram checks who manages it |
| Your own old account | Log in and delete it | Access to the account |
Fake accounts pretending to be you
If someone created an account pretending to be you, Instagram lets you report it. With an Instagram account, you report it from the fake profile in the app; without one, you can contact Instagram through its impersonation form. Reports are anonymous, except for intellectual property reports: the account you report won't see who reported it.
Evidence makes the difference: the profile link, screenshots and any messages it sent. The full walkthrough, including the ID Instagram asks for and the route for brands, is in our guide: someone is impersonating you on Instagram.
Scam, spam and abusive accounts
Instagram says spam, fake accounts and other accounts that don't follow its Community Standards may be removed. You report a profile from the profile itself:
- Go to the profile and tap the options menu next to the username.
- Select Report, choose the type of problem and follow the instructions.
- Reasons Instagram lists include bullying or unwanted contact; violence, hate or exploitation; selling restricted items; nudity; scam, fraud or spam; false information and intellectual property. A profile can also be reported for pretending to be someone else or for being a child under 13.
- Anonymous: except for intellectual property reports, the account won't see who reported it.
- Follow-up: you may be able to check the status of your report in the app.
- No account, or blocked? Instagram suggests asking a friend with an account to report it, with as much detail as possible, including links and screenshots.
If the account shares private or intimate images of you, use the dedicated routes in getting content about you removed; those reports are handled differently from a general report.
The account of someone who has died
Instagram offers two separate requests:
- Memorialization: anyone who sees the profile of someone who has passed away can ask Instagram to memorialize it. Instagram needs proof of death, such as a link to an obituary or a news article.
- Removal: verified immediate family members can ask for the profile to be removed. Instagram asks for proof, such as the person's birth certificate, death certificate, or proof under local law that you're the lawful representative of the person or their estate.
Instagram doesn't give anyone the login details of a memorialized profile, and logging into another person's profile is always against its policies.
Accounts of children under the minimum age
Most countries require users to be at least 13. Instagram lists exceptions such as 14 in South Korea, Quebec, Spain and Florida, and 16 in Australia. To report an account belonging to someone under the minimum age, or an account impersonating your child, Instagram has a dedicated form.
Instagram says it deletes the account if it can't verify that it's managed by someone old enough. An account that represents a younger child must say clearly in its bio that a parent or manager runs it. If your own child made an account, you can show them how to delete it. More on age checks: Instagram age verification and appeals.
Your own account you can't get into
Instagram says it can't delete a profile for you: you need to be able to log in to request deletion. So the route is two steps:
- Get back in first: lost access to your email or phone, or your account was hacked.
- Then delete it from the account settings. What happens next, including the waiting period and what you can still save, is in deleted or deactivated Instagram accounts.
If someone else is using an old account of yours to pretend to be you, report it as impersonation instead.
What doesn't work
- Closing an account that follows the rules. Instagram decides based on its Community Standards, not on who wants an account gone. We don't take on cases to close accounts that follow the rules.
- False or coordinated reports. A report has to describe what the account really does. We only file truthful reports with real evidence.
- Anyone who promises to "close any account". Nobody outside Instagram can close an account, and nobody can guarantee what Instagram decides. See how to spot recovery scams.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get someone else's Instagram account closed?
Only if the account breaks Instagram's rules, for example by pretending to be you, scamming people or harassing someone, or if it falls under a special case such as a deceased person or a child under the minimum age. Report it with evidence; Instagram makes the decision.
How do I close the Instagram account of someone who has died?
Anyone can ask Instagram to memorialize the profile with proof of death, such as an obituary. Verified immediate family members can ask for the profile to be removed, with proof such as a birth or death certificate or proof of legal authority.
Can I delete my Instagram account without the password?
No. Instagram says it can't delete a profile for you and that you need to be able to log in to request deletion. Recover access first, then delete the account.
Will the person know that I reported their account?
No. Instagram says reports are anonymous, except for intellectual property reports, and the reported account won't see who reported it.
Need an account closed?
Send us the link and tell us what the account does. We'll tell you for free which official route fits and what proof you need. We only file truthful reports, and we never ask for your password.
Sources
- Report a post or profile on Instagram (Instagram Help Center) help.instagram.com
- Report an account that's impersonating you on Instagram (Instagram Help Center) help.instagram.com
- Report a deceased person's profile on Instagram (Instagram Help Center) help.instagram.com
- Report an Instagram user under the minimum age (Instagram Help Center) help.instagram.com
- How to report something on Instagram if you don't have an account or can't see it (Instagram Help Center) help.instagram.com
- Types of accounts that are removed from Instagram (Instagram Help Center) help.instagram.com
- Permanently delete or deactivate your Instagram profile (Instagram Help Center) help.instagram.com