Does Instagram Delete Inactive Accounts From the Platform?

There are millions of active accounts on Instagram. Some creators have millions of likes on their posts, so we know it’s true. Simultaneously, there are some inactive ones as well. What happens to these accounts? Is there an inactive account policy? Does Instagram delete inactive accounts? This article will help you answer all of those questions.

Find out if you need to be more cautious of your Instagram account. Maybe you don’t use it as often as you should. We would hate for you to lose everything you have been working on to grow your page. So, what is an inactive account on Instagram?

What Is an Inactive Account on Instagram?

An inactive Instagram account has no recent activity on the page, which could mean no recent posts for active users to engage with. 

Naturally, this will also mean a lack of interaction on the page. 

This will cause a ripple effect. Older posts mean that Instagram doesn’t have anything to promote. It’s unlikely that the IG algorithm will find an older post to put on the Explore Page. 

When you are inactive on your Instagram account, Instagram also becomes inactive on your behalf.

It’s the least of what Instagram can do to your account. It also has the power to delete an inactive account. 

Yes, there are hundreds of millions of Instagram accounts right now. Some of them are at risk of disappearing, but Instagram could always reduce this number.

After How Long Does Instagram Delete Inactive Accounts?

There is no official timeframe after which Instagram deletes inactive accounts. This is frustrating for creators who want to make plans surrounding their accounts. It could take years before Instagram decides to get rid of your account. 

Some people joined Instagram in the early days. They may have taken a break that lasted years. Then, they returned to the social media platform with impunity. 

Their account was still there, and they were able to hop on like nothing had happened. Instagram may be slow to remove a page even if it is inactive. 

Other Instagram users may get the attention of the Instagram staff. They could make a report about inactive Instagram accounts. This could expedite the waiting game. 

So, after how long does Instagram delete inactive accounts? Keep reading for tips on how to keep your account active.

How To Report an Inactive Instagram Account and Secure Your IG Handle 

Maybe you want to create a new Instagram account. You may want to make your professional account public. It could be the name for an online Instagram store. It’s the one that fits what you offer it ideally. 

Unfortunately, you found out that someone is already using this IG handle. Well, technically, they don’t use it. The Instagram account is relatively dormant. They barely post anymore; when they did, it was years ago. You think this page does not deserve the fantastic name you thought of. 

Waiting for Instagram to take action may not be in your best interest. Who knows when they will get around to it? You need to know how to report an inactive Instagram account. 

Yes, you have the power to do that. You can report to Instagram, and they will decide if the page should remain.

Will Instagram delete inactive accounts that you report? It’s entirely up to their discretion. Feel free to nudge them to see if they agree with you. If and when the platform deletes the page, the name is yours for the taking. Follow these steps per the inactive username policy:

1. Find the inactive Instagram account that you want to report. 
2. In the top right corner, use the three dots. Click on them. 
3. Select Report from the pop-up menu. 
4. Select Inactive account when it’s time to give a reason for the report. 
5. Follow the instructions that come next to finish making the report.

Hopefully, inactive usernames won’t stop you from getting your desired name. Remember that you can also report accounts when you see inappropriate content. 

Learn How To See What Instagram Accounts Are Inactive

Having a healthy follower count is nice, but you didn’t come here for spectators. You want people to engage with your content. You need them to engage, and your engagement rate depends on it.

You don’t want followers who don’t like, comment on, and share your content. They don’t contribute to the overall progression of your Instagram page, and having a high number isn’t worth it. Consider getting rid of these highly inactive pages. 

Look through your follower list. Do you see these names in your notifications? Do they like or comment on your posts? Do they react to your Stories? 

If not, maybe they shouldn’t be your follower. Select Following from the top of your page to remove them as a follower.

IG will not inform them that you removed them. However, they may catch on when they don’t see your content. They can go to your page and notice they no longer follow you.

Doing this doesn’t stop them from following you again. It’s not a final move like blocking an Instagram user. IG shows you the accounts you interact with rarely. It doesn’t show you the ones that never interact with you. You’ll have to go through the following manually. This is how to see what Instagram accounts are inactive.

Does Instagram Delete Inactive Accounts That Are Bots?

When you attempt to buy Instagram followers, you get a particular type of follower. You don’t get the ones that look particularly human. On the contrary, some accounts don’t have a profile picture or an Instagram bio. 

So many people complain that when they buy followers, they don’t last. There is an instant boost in the following. Soon after, these accounts disappear entirely. The third-party website did not scam you. Instagram stepped in to remove these accounts from the platform altogether. 

IG doesn’t want ingenious interactions on the platform. It wants content creators to earn the following they get. Buying fake followers gives some users an unfair advantage. 

To even the playing field, Instagram will remove these followers. This is also the fate of accounts that spread spam to other users.

How To Keep Your Account Active

Does IG delete inactive accounts? Yes, it has the power to do so. Instead of worrying about that, let’s be proactive. Let’s discuss how you can ensure your account stays active. These tips work for people who can’t be on social media daily.

Schedule Instagram Posts 

Not everyone can visit their social media sites all the time, and managing several profiles can get pretty hectic. However, there is a solution. 

Set up a time for creating posts. During this time, you can create all the content that you want to share over time. 

You can edit them completely and delay when they go live on Instagram. You can do well before the desired date. This way, it will still look as though your account is active. In reality, you may not have signed in for some time.

Like Posts

Interact with some posts that you genuinely like. Don’t just scroll after making a mental note that you liked the content. Double-tap or leave a small comment. You don’t want your profile to seem like it belongs to a robot. 

Attempt genuine interactions with other social media users. Doing just enough will show Instagram that your page is active.

As you can see, you don’t have to do anything elaborate. There’s no need to go live on Instagram and show everyone you’re still alive. We still advise you to do enough to maintain a noticeable presence. You might not risk losing your account that easily.

However, you will risk causing your engagement rate to plummet. This could be the cause of death for your Instagram account.

Let’s Activate Your Instagram Following

We want more activity on your social media account. Getting likes, comments, and shares is great for your overall brand. But what about your follower count? What do those numbers look like? 

We think you can improve in that department as well. Still, you can’t do it on your own. You should look into getting help from a growth professional at Plixi.

Our tools can help you secure the following you want for your platform. We have an in-house platform for Instagram influencers, and our AI targeting algorithm provides great support. 

So, does Instagram delete inactive accounts? If they do, that won’t be your problem.

You will have an active following with regular new followers. Are you ready to start your growth journey? Start doing your Instagram following with Plixi today!