How to Recover a Hacked Instagram Account

You wake up to an Instagram notification, eager to check the latest likes, comments, and DMs. But instead of the familiar feed, you meet the login screen. You try to enter your password, but it’s showing incorrect. 

You realize that the account, memories, connections, or business you’ve spent years building are gone. Panic sets in, and a wave of dread washes over you. 

If you ever find yourself in a similar situation or get any hint that your account may have been hacked, don’t let the anxiety consume you. It is important to recover the account in the fastest possible time before the hacker decides to commit anything drastic using your credentials. 

To tackle those situations, here is everything you must know about Instagram hacking and how to recover a hacked Instagram account. 

Here is How to Tell If Your Instagram Account Has Been Hacked

The most common sign that your Instagram has been hacked is that your previous password no longer works, and you’ve been logged out of the account. 

To be extra sure, you can check for the following signs.

• Unexplained change of profile picture or bio without your knowledge
  Identifying posts on the feed you didn’t create
• Inexplicable changes in your follower count. For instance, getting or losing followers for IG randomly
• Receiving suspicious DMs from people you don’t know
• Getting a “suspicious login attempt” alert
• Your likes disappear on someone’s Instagram post quite randomly
• Sudden notifications about changing the email address associated with your account
• Your close friends are receiving suspicious messages you didn’t send. 

These are just a few examples. 

If you notice any of these things happening to your IG account, a hacker may have gained access to your Instagram and logged you out of the account. 

Sometimes, the scammers don’t want to let you know that they have taken over your account. In those cases, they may not change the passwords right away. Instead, they may want to track your sensitive information and save it for felonies they might commit later.

If you notice any suspicious activity in your account, remember one thing: 
Panic is not the solution you need. 

Instead, think rationally. There can be two possible scenarios:

1. Your account has been hacked, but you still have access to it.
2. Your account has been hacked, and the hacker logged you out of it. 

Whichever the situation is, you must act fast and follow the steps mentioned below.

How to Recover a Hacked Instagram Account You Still Have Access to

If, by luck, you still have access to your account, there are still chances that you can flush out your hacker. But this can be possible only if you move fast enough and follow the steps below.

Here are the essential steps to take.

1. Check the phone number and email address listed on your account. These will be essential to reset your password and recover your account. Before trying to change your password, follow the steps to ensure your contact number and email are left untouched.

Settings and Activity> Account Center> Personal Details> Contact Info> Email and Contact Number

2. Then you need to log out of all the devices. To make it easier, just click “Settings and activity” and search “Log out” on the search bar. Two options will show up:

• Log out and,
• Log out all accounts.

Choose the latter one.

This way both you and your hacker will be logged out of all the devices. The twist here is that after changing the password, you can log back to your account with different devices but your hacker can’t. 

3. After the mentioned steps, you’ll need to change your password to kick your hackers out of your account permanently. To change it, follow the steps:

Settings and Activity> Accounts Center> Password and Security> Change Password.

Choose a unique and strong password that is at least eight characters long and includes a combination of letters, numbers, and symbols. 

4. After changing the passwords, turn on two-factor authentication (2FA). It is recommended to choose authentication via SMS or WhatsApp. Follow the steps to turn it on:

Settings and Activity> Accounts Center> Password and Security> Two-factor authentication> Instagram Account> SMS or Whatsapp.

Other than these steps, if you have any third-party apps connected to your Instagram account, remove them ASAP!

Why? Because the hackers may track your sensitive information from these sources easily. Following the above-mentioned steps, you can send your hackers home all packed up (only if you still have access to the account.) 

But what if the hacker has already logged you out and changed the password? 

Worry not because we have solutions to this situation as well. Keep reading to learn more about it!

How to Recover a Hacked Instagram Account You Lost Access to

Here’s what to do if you’ve been locked out of your Instagram account: 

1. Check for emails from Instagram because it will notify you if it detects any suspicious changes. The email will come from security@mail.instagram.com.This email will contain a specific link allowing you to revert the changes you didn’t request. Be sure to check your spam or junk folder too, in case you miss it!
2. The simplest recovery method is to reset Instagram passwords using Instagram’s “Forgot password” feature. You’ll receive a password reset link sent to the email address or phone number that is connected to your account. If the Instagram hacker hasn’t changed your contact information, you should be able to regain access this way.
3. If the hacker has already changed your email address or phone number, the only way left to recover your account is by directly contacting Instagram. Head over to Instagram support to report the hack. Within 2-3 days Instagram will contact you back and may ask for identifications to verify you. This may include a selfie or video to prove that you are the real owner of the account. 

How Hackers Hack Instagram Accounts?

Once you regain your access to your account, ensure that they can never scam you the same way ever again. But how do people fall for it in the first place? Here are the most common ways that scammers gain access to your Instagram account:

1. Phishing Attacks: This way they trick users with fake emails or messages to steal their credentials. Be aware of common Instagram phishing scams, such as:
   – Fake Instagram “support’, “advice”, or “help” accounts
   – They may try to seek your attention with fraudulent pitchings and promises like followers for IG, why are you losing followers, buying Instagram likes, and such things. 
2. Malware: If you randomly click on links in spam emails, there is a high chance of getting infected with malware. They may also steal your username and password.
3. Third-Party Apps: Most of the third-party apps pose a security threat. If hackers attack any third-party app that has weak security, they can get into your Instagram account very easily. 

These are just a few examples of how easily your Instagram account can be compromised if you’re not careful. By understanding these common hacking techniques and implementing robust security measures, you can significantly reduce the risks. 

Final Words

In 2024, there were more than one million cases of social media account takeovers with 85% of victims saying their Instagram account was hacked. 

The complaints are only increasing day by day. However, by following the steps outlined in this guide, you can increase your chances of regaining control of your account. 

Remember, prevention is the key! Paying attention to the details and staying vigilant is much needed to avoid these situations first hand.