How to Delete a Threads Account Without Leaving Instagram

When Threads debuted from Meta (FaceBook), it was intricately linked to Instagram, and initially when you went to delete or deactivate a Threads account, it had the unfortunate side effect of also deleting the related Instagram account. But that is no longer the case. Now you can choose to delete a Threads account without impacting your Instagram account, and you can also deactivate a Threads account without impacting or leaving Instagram too.

How to Delete / Deactivate a Threads Account, Without Impacting Instagram

You will need to use the Threads app for this, as currently it does not appear to be in the desktop web browser experience for Threads.

1. Open the Threads app
2. Tap on your profile in the bottom corner, then tap on the menu button in the top right corner
3. Tap on “Account”
4. Tap on “Delete or Deactivate Profile”
5. Choose to either “Delete profile” or to “Deactivate Profile” – neither of which will impact your Instagram account

Deactivate Profile means that everything will be archived and kept in place, but if you decide to rejoin Threads at a later date you can do so and resume right where you left off. None of this impacts your Instagram account either.

Delete Profile / Account will do exactly that, with Meta deleting the profile and all posts associated with the Threads account, but without impacting your Instagram account that may even share the same username.

This is a fairly new capability, announced by @mosseri, the head of Instagram, on Threads (of course).

Presumably you can also still go the other direction too, and delete your Instagram account but without impacting your related Threads account as well.

Hooray for more social networks, everyones favorite thing, right?!