Frequently Asked Questions

Instagram has the power to disable accounts for many reasons often, its automated systems mistakenly flag authentic content as spam. Some of the common triggers are using third-party applications, overdoing numerous actions (such as exceptional un-following or following frequency) in small time frame, violating community guidelines or any unusual login activity. And, if lots of users report your account (even without any justification), Instagram might disable it to look into the matter. And if you believe Instagram has made a mistake disabling your account, there is an appeal process through the “Appeal” button in the app.

Yes, it’s possible. If your Instagram was hacked and the hacker replaced the email, you must go to Instagram’s “My account was hacked” page (or recovery form) and send a proof of identity — this should include photo identification. If you’re still logged in somewhere (such as on another device), change your password right away and make sure to enable two-factor authentication, so no one else is able to get in. In complicated cases, people sometimes use instagram recovery services or social media recovery agencies. The quicker you act, the better your odds of recovering control.

If the email and phone associated with your Instagram are no longer accessible, you should use Instagram’s support form. They might require you to prove your identity (for example, through a selfie video) to validate account ownership. If your Instagram account is connected to Facebook, you may also be able to log in through Facebook and change your contact info there. You can also make a request through Instagram’s Help Center. Without a connection to Facebook or identity verification, recovery may be hopeless.

If you deleted your Instagram account manually, there is a 30-days window period to restore it. You’ll be able to log back in during this time, and Instagram will reactivate your account. Once you have permanently deleted your Instagram account, your photos, followers and its data will be permanently removed after 30 days. Opt for deactivation rather than deletion if you’d like to use the instagram again at a later date. If the deletion has already been completed, you would need to create a new account from scratch.

Yes, an account permanently banned from TikTok can sometimes be unbanned by filing an appeal. You can appeal within the TikTok app (by tapping “Appeal” when you see the ban notice) or through email. In your appeal, make a clear case for why you think the ban was a mistake and share any evidence maybe a screenshot or video link that backs up your claims. But success depends upon TikTok’s review and the basis for a ban.

Bad news is, Instagram doesn’t reissue usernames of inactive or dead profiles in most cases and there is no guaranteed process for requesting them. According to Instagram’s Help Center if the username is taken even from an inactive account you can’t claim it. The normal advice is to alter your username of choice (add underscore, numbers or abbreviation) until you find a similar looking handle that’s available. Furthermore, you cannot report inactivity unless the account is impersonating you or your business. For users seeking help navigating this process, our service provides guidance on making an Instagram username claim

You can find the availability of username online with an Username checker. These sites comb across several social networks at the same time to save you from having to visit each one separately. For example, NameChecker. org scans over 200 sites to see whether a username is available or taken. The Username Checker from Social Rails lets you check availability across important social networks like Instagram, TikTok, Twitter (X), and so on. Tucktools also has a fast, free username checker that searches many of the highly used sites.

Just type in the username you want to use and these tools will show you if it’s available on various social media platforms or not. This greatly simplifies the task of maintaining a consistent username across all your social media accounts.

To request Instagram verification (the blue check), visit Settings → Account → Request Verification in the app. You had to provide Instagram with the following: your full name, a government-issued I.D. (for individuals) or business documents (for brands), and an explanation for why you deserved to be verified. Your account must be “authentic, unique, complete and notable”.

On TikTok, you can request a verified badge by navigating to your profile → Settings & Privacy → Account → Verification → “Start” and then follow the prompts to send in a verification request. To be eligible, your account must also be active (logged in during the last six months), authentic (a real person, business or entity with a complete profile), should have high engagement, frequent posting and having credible media coverage. There’s no cost for verification.

Yes, you can hire social media support services to manage your social media profiles for you. They can generate content, post consistently, interact with your audience, run ads and expand your reach. Most companies do not handle this themselves and outsource to professionals or agencies. But be sure to trust the person or company you’re working with, check their track record, ask for a portfolio and establish concrete deliverables, goals and pricing ahead of time before giving them access to your accounts. Moreover, don't give them your passwords instead go with admin or editor roles.