Whether you’re strengthening your account security or just haven’t updated your password in a while, changing it on Instagram takes only a minute.
This guide walks through exactly how to change your password on Instagram in 2026.
Step 1: Open Instagram Settings
- Open the Instagram app on your phone.
- Tap your profile picture in the bottom right corner.
- Tap the three-line menu, then Settings and Privacy.
Step 2: Access Password Settings
- Tap Accounts Center (or directly Password and security, depending on your app version).
- Select Password and security, then tap Change password.
Step 3: Enter Your Current and New Password
- Enter your current password for verification.
- Enter your new password, then confirm it a second time.
- Tap Save or Change Password to finalize.
Action step: Choose a new password that’s meaningfully different from your current one and not reused from other accounts, since password reuse across platforms significantly increases your vulnerability if any single service experiences a data breach.
What Happens to Saved Login Info on Other Devices?
When you change your password, devices where you’re currently logged in may require you to re-enter credentials.
Action step: Update your saved password in any password manager or browser autofill immediately after changing it on Instagram, since outdated saved passwords can cause confusing login failures on devices where you expect automatic sign-in to still work.
Changing Your Password If You Use Facebook or Google Login
If you originally signed up for Instagram using a linked Facebook or Google account rather than a dedicated Instagram password, the process works differently.
Action step: If you don’t have a dedicated Instagram password set up, you’ll need to first set one specifically through Accounts Center before you can use the standard password change process, since accounts linked exclusively through third-party login don’t have an independent Instagram password to change directly.
Security Notifications After a Password Change
Instagram typically sends a confirmation notification or email after a successful password change, serving as a security check.
Action step: If you receive a password change notification you didn’t initiate yourself, treat this as an urgent signal your account may be compromised, and immediately use the account recovery process to regain control and secure your account further.
How to Change Your Password on Desktop
Prefer using a browser? Here’s the process:
- Go to Instagram.com and log in.
- Click your profile icon, then Settings and privacy.
- Select Accounts Center → Password and security → Change password.
- Enter your current and new password, then save.
What to Do If You Forgot Your Current Password
If you can’t remember your current password, you’ll need to use the reset process instead of the standard change process.
- On the login screen, tap Forgot password?
- Follow the prompts to reset via email or phone number linked to your account.
Action step: Use the reset flow specifically if you’re locked out entirely — the standard change password process described above requires knowing your current password first.
How Often Should You Change Your Instagram Password?
There’s no universal rule, but certain situations clearly call for an immediate change.
Change your password immediately if:
- You suspect unauthorized access to your account
- You’ve reused this password on another service that experienced a data breach
- You shared your password with someone temporarily and no longer want them to have access
Action step: Beyond these specific triggers, changing your password periodically (roughly every 6–12 months) is a reasonable general security habit, though using a strong, unique password matters more than frequency alone.
Creating a Strong New Password
Strong password characteristics:
- At least 12 characters long
- A mix of uppercase, lowercase, numbers, and symbols
- Not based on easily guessable personal information (birthdate, pet name, etc.)
- Unique to Instagram, not reused elsewhere
Action step: Consider using a password manager to generate and store a strong, unique password, since remembering complex, unique passwords for every account without assistance becomes impractical as you accumulate more online accounts.
Should You Enable Two-Factor Authentication Too?
Changing your password is a good opportunity to also strengthen your account with two-factor authentication if you haven’t already.
Action step: Enable two-factor authentication under Accounts Center → Password and security → Two-factor authentication right after changing your password, since this adds a critical additional security layer beyond the password alone.
Common Issues When Changing Your Password
New password not accepted?
Check that it meets Instagram’s minimum requirements, typically at least 6 characters, though a much longer password is recommended for genuine security.
Forgot your current password when trying to change it?
Use the “Forgot password?” reset flow instead, since the standard change process requires your existing password for verification.
Getting logged out of other devices after changing your password?
This is expected behavior — Instagram typically logs out other active sessions as a security measure when your password changes, requiring you to log back in on each device with the new password.
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Final Thoughts
Changing your Instagram password takes just a minute through Settings, provided you remember your current password — otherwise, the “Forgot password?” reset flow handles account recovery instead. Use this as an opportunity to set a strong, unique password, update any saved credentials in your password manager, and enable two-factor authentication if you haven’t already, since both together offer meaningfully stronger account protection than a password change alone.
