My Instagram account was hacked. What now?

Steps for Instagram

1. 01

   Look in your email for a message from Instagram saying your email or phone number was changed. If there is one, use the link in it to undo the change. Open it from your email app after checking the sender; never from a text or a direct message.

2. 02

   If you can still sign in, change your password straight away and sign out of all other devices from the login or security settings.

3. 03

   If you cannot sign in, follow Instagram's own hacked-account steps. You may be asked to confirm who you are with a short video selfie.

4. 04

   Once you are back in, check which email address and phone number are linked to the account, and remove any that are not yours.

5. 05

   Turn on two-step verification with an authenticator app, and remove third-party apps you do not recognise.

Menus change often. If a screen looks different, follow the official page above.

Then, for every hacked account

1. Use a device you trust

   Do the recovery on your own phone or computer, on a network you trust. If you suspect a virus, do it from a different, clean device first.

2. Secure your email first

   Reset links and codes go to your email, so whoever controls it controls everything else. Change its password and turn on two-step verification before anything else.

3. Change the password everywhere you reused it

   Attackers try a leaked password on other services. Use a different password for each account, from a password manager if you can.

4. Turn on two-step verification the strong way

   Prefer an authenticator app or a security key to text-message codes, which can be intercepted.

5. Check what the attacker changed

   Look at the recovery email and phone number, forwarding rules, connected apps and the list of signed-in devices. Remove anything you do not recognise.

6. Warn the people who know you

   Tell your contacts that messages from you may not be from you, especially any asking for money, codes or a click.

7. If money or cards are involved, call your bank now

   Ask them to block the card and watch the account. Do not pay anyone who offers to get your account back for a fee: those offers are scams.

8. Report it

   Report it to the service, and, if you lost money or identity documents, to the police cybercrime or fraud service in your country.

Questions