Last updated · reviewed by the Essentras editorial team

Guide

How to recover Instagram without email or phone number

You may still be able to get back into Instagram without the old email or phone, but Meta does not promise it. Go to instagram.com/hacked and follow the on-screen instructions for people who cannot use the email or phone on the account. Instagram may then ask for an identity check: a video selfie if the account has photos of you, or the email or phone you signed up with and the device type if it does not.

The steps

01

Open the official login-help flow

On the login screen tap "Forgot password?" and request a login link if you can still use any email or phone on the account. If you cannot, go to instagram.com/hacked and follow the on-screen instructions.

02

Request support from a mobile device

If the login link does not work, Instagram says you may be able to request support from a mobile device. Enter a secure email address that only you can access: Instagram sends the next steps there.

03

Verify your identity

If the account has photos of you, record the video selfie Instagram asks for, turning your head in different directions. If it has none, Instagram asks for the email or phone you signed up with and the type of device you used. It may also ask for an ID to confirm the account is yours.

04

Wait for Meta’s review

While Meta reviews a video selfie you cannot use the account. If you pass, Instagram may email a link to reset your password to the secure address you gave. If you do not pass, you may be able to submit a new video. Meta publishes no review time.

Official starting point: Meta’s lost-access help. It warns that if you cannot reach the email you registered with and never linked Facebook, Meta is unable to give you access to the account, so treat the steps above as options, not a promise. We are not affiliated with Meta.

If the identity check keeps failing

Instagram uses the video selfie for accounts with photos of you, and asks accounts without photos of you for the email or phone used at sign-up and the device type instead. If you have tried and stalled, Essentras helps you prepare the strongest possible identity case, coaches you through Meta’s official steps, reviews what you plan to submit and tracks the case. You complete the identity steps yourself. We never ask for your password, with a money-back guarantee: if we don't get it back, you get a full refund.

Get a free case assessment →

FAQ

Recovering without email or phone, FAQ

How do I recover my Instagram account without the email or phone number?▾

Go to instagram.com/hacked and follow the on-screen instructions for people who cannot use the email, phone number or username on the account. Instagram says you may be able to request support from a mobile device, and it then emails the next steps. The identity check can be a video selfie if the account has photos of you, or the email or phone you signed up with and the device type if it does not. Meta does not promise access: its lost-access page says it is unable to give you access if you cannot reach the email you registered with and never linked Facebook. Essentras helps you prepare and review each step; you complete the identity checks yourself.

Can a hacked Instagram account be recovered?▾

Instagram has an official recovery process for hacked accounts, including an identity check for people who can no longer use the email or phone on the account. Meta says the relative success rate of hacked-account recovery rose by more than 30% in the US and Canada in 2025, but it publishes no absolute rate, so nobody can promise yours will be recovered. You complete the identity steps yourself; Essentras helps you prepare, coaches you, reviews your submission and tracks the case. No hacking is involved, and Meta makes the final decision.

How long does Instagram account recovery take?▾

Meta publishes no review time for account recovery or disabled-account appeals on the Instagram and Meta pages we checked on 15 October 2026. Third-party guides report anything from minutes to several days, but those figures are not Meta's. While Meta reviews a video selfie you cannot use the account. If it does not pass, you may be able to submit a new video. Nobody can promise a fixed time, because Meta controls the queue and the decision.

Do you need my Instagram password?▾

No, and you should never give your password to anyone offering recovery. Essentras guides you through Meta's own verification on your device. We prepare the case and the documentation; you stay in control of your own login at all times.

What happens if you cannot recover my account?▾

You pay nothing. We assess your case for free first and tell you honestly whether recovery is realistic before you commit. If we take it on and your account is not restored, there is no fee.

Stuck on identity verification?

Free case assessment in 24 hours. No password required. Money-back guarantee if we don't recover your account.

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