In short
What should I do if my Instagram was hacked and the email was changed?
Check your original email inbox for a message from security@mail.instagram.com and use its link to reverse the change. If that doesn't work, go to instagram.com/hacked and follow the steps; Instagram may ask for a video selfie. Never share codes with anyone who offers to help.
Step 1: Look for Instagram's security email
When the email on an Instagram account is changed, Instagram sends a message to the original address with a special link to reverse the change. It comes from security@mail.instagram.com. Open it in your original inbox and use the link as soon as you can.
Check spam and other folders too, and only follow links in emails from Instagram's official addresses.
Step 2: Use Instagram's official hacked-account page
- 1Go to instagram.com/hacked on a phone or computer.
- 2Choose the option that matches what happened, for example that your email or phone number was changed.
- 3Follow the steps on screen. Instagram may send a code to an email or phone number you still control.
- 4If Instagram asks for a video selfie, record it yourself in the app. It is used to confirm that you are the real owner.
Step 3: Lock the account down once you're back in
- Change your password and log out of devices you don't recognise
- Turn on two-factor authentication, ideally with an authenticator app
- Check that the email and phone number are yours again
- Remove apps and websites you didn't authorise
- Tell your followers if the attacker posted or sent messages
How to tell a real Instagram email from a fake one
Instagram lists the emails it sent in the last 14 days in your settings, under Recent emails. If a message isn't there, treat it as phishing. Instagram also says it never contacts you about account security through Direct Messages.
When to ask for help
Ask for help if the security email never arrived, the reversal link no longer works, the video selfie was rejected more than once, or the account matters for your income.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get my Instagram back if the hacker changed both the email and the phone number?
Often, yes. The official hacked-account page and the video selfie check exist for exactly this situation. How it goes depends on the account and on what was changed.
Should I pay someone who says they can recover it quickly?
No. Anyone who asks for your password, codes or upfront payment in crypto or gift cards is very likely a scammer. Legitimate help uses only Instagram's own processes.
How long does Instagram take?
There is no fixed time. The reversal link in the security email works straight away; checks such as a video selfie take longer.
Official sources
The platforms' own help and policy pages. We are not affiliated with them.
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