To unlink Facebook and Instagram, open Instagram Settings and tap Accounts Center at the top. Go to Accounts (under “Connected experiences” or “Profiles”), select the Facebook account, and choose Remove. This stops cross-posting and shared logins. It does not delete either account — each keeps its own posts, followers and password.
Facebook and Instagram are both owned by Meta, and for years the two have been stitched together through a shared panel called the Accounts Center. Linking is convenient — one login, automatic cross-posting — but plenty of people want their Instagram to stand on its own: for privacy, to stop posts leaking to Facebook friends, or simply to declutter. As of 2026 the unlink process lives entirely in Accounts Center, and this guide walks through it on mobile and web, plus the honest limits of what unlinking actually achieves.
Before you unlink: give Instagram its own login
The one real risk is locking yourself out. If you have only ever tapped “Continue with Facebook” to get into Instagram, removing the link could leave you without a way in. Prevent that first:
- Confirm your Instagram account has its own username and password. If not, set a password now — see how to change your Instagram password.
- Add a recovery email address or phone number under Settings > Accounts Center > Personal details.
- Turn on two-factor authentication for good measure.
With an independent login in place, unlinking is completely safe.
Unlink using the Instagram app
- Open Instagram, go to your profile, and tap the menu (☰) then Settings and activity.
- Near the top, tap Accounts Center.
- Tap Accounts (sometimes shown under Connected experiences or as your list of profiles).
- Select the Facebook account you want to detach.
- Tap Remove from Accounts Center and confirm.
Once removed, Instagram and Facebook operate as separate accounts again. You will be told whether removing the connection also turns off any shared features like cross-posting or a single login.
Unlink using the Facebook app or the web
The Accounts Center is the same no matter which door you enter through:
- In the Facebook app, tap the menu, then Settings & privacy > Settings.
- Open Accounts Center at the top.
- Choose Accounts, tap the Instagram profile, and select Remove.
- On desktop, go to accountscenter.facebook.com (or the Accounts Center link in either site’s settings) and remove the account there.
What unlinking changes — and what it doesn’t
| After you unlink | What happens |
|---|---|
| Cross-posting to Facebook | Stops — Instagram posts/Stories no longer auto-share |
| Shared “one login” | Ends — each app needs its own sign-in |
| Your Instagram account | Untouched — posts, followers, DMs all stay |
| Your Facebook account | Untouched — nothing is deleted |
| Meta owning both platforms | Unchanged — see the honesty note below |
| Re-linking later | Allowed anytime from either app |
Why people unlink the two accounts
People reach for the unlink button for a handful of very reasonable reasons, and it helps to know which one is yours before you start:
- Privacy separation. You would rather your Instagram and Facebook worlds not bleed into each other — different friends, different tone, different audiences. Unlinking stops the “suggested for you” bridges that connect the two.
- Stopping accidental cross-posts. If your Instagram Stories or posts keep appearing on Facebook without you meaning them to, breaking the link is the clean fix.
- Handing off an account. Maybe a business Instagram is moving to a colleague, or a shared Facebook Page is being reorganised, and the linked login no longer makes sense.
- Decluttering after a break-up of accounts. Old links you set up years ago can be tidied away.
Whatever the reason, the mechanics are the same, and none of them require deleting anything. It is also worth knowing that linking is not all-or-nothing: within Accounts Center you can keep some shared features on while turning others off. If your only irritation is cross-posting, you may be able to switch off the sharing toggle and leave a shared login in place, or vice versa. Removing the account entirely is the cleanest break, but skim the connected-experiences options first in case a lighter change is all you actually want.
What happens to content you already cross-posted
A common worry is that unlinking will yank back everything you ever shared across the two apps. It will not. Posts and Stories that already cross-posted to Facebook stay on Facebook as their own separate items, and your Instagram originals stay on Instagram — unlinking simply stops future automatic sharing. If you want to remove a specific piece of content that crossed over, you have to delete it on that platform yourself; there is no button that retroactively unshares. This is actually reassuring: you will not accidentally wipe a year of Facebook posts by detaching your Instagram. It also means that if your goal is to scrub past cross-posts, unlinking is only half the job, and you should plan to tidy each platform separately.
Managing two accounts once they are separate
After unlinking, the two apps behave like the independent services they used to be. You will log into each one on its own, manage notifications separately, and — importantly — set privacy on each platform individually. That is a small amount of extra effort in exchange for cleaner boundaries. It is a good moment to review the privacy basics on both sides: who can see your posts, who can message you, and what shows up in search. On the Instagram side, our companion guides on deactivating an account and setting a strong password round out the housekeeping.
The honest limit: unlinking is not a privacy wall
It is worth being straight about this, because the StealthGram promise is honesty. Removing the accounts from a shared Accounts Center stops the visible connections — cross-posting, shared logins, suggested “people you may know” bridges. What it does not do is sever Meta itself: the same company still runs both platforms, and broader data and advertising links are governed by your ad-preference and activity settings, not by the Accounts Center toggle alone. If your goal is tighter privacy overall, pair unlinking with a review of your ad preferences and off-Facebook activity, and read our Instagram safety and privacy guide for the wider picture.
A note on “unlink for you” scams
Because Accounts Center menus move around, some people search for shortcuts and land on third-party services promising to “unlink your accounts” or “disconnect Meta” for you. Never hand your login to one. Unlinking is a two-minute job you do yourself inside the official apps, and any site that asks for your Instagram or Facebook password to do it is harvesting credentials. The only safe place to manage these connections is Meta’s own Accounts Center. Our own privacy tools are client-side and never ask you to log in — that is the standard to hold every tool to.
Quick recap
Unlinking Facebook and Instagram happens in the shared Accounts Center: open it from either app, go to Accounts, select the account, and Remove. Set an independent Instagram login first so you cannot get locked out. Unlinking stops cross-posting and shared sign-ins without deleting anything, and you can re-link whenever you like. Menus shift over time, so wording may vary on your version — and Meta may change this in future updates. If you are cleaning house more broadly, our guides on deactivating an Instagram account and clearing the Instagram cache are useful next reads.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I unlink Facebook and Instagram?
Both apps now share the Meta Accounts Center. Open Instagram Settings, tap "Accounts Center" at the top, then Accounts (or "Connected experiences" > Accounts), select the Facebook account and choose Remove. You can reach the same panel from the Facebook app.
Will unlinking delete my Facebook or Instagram account?
No. Unlinking only separates the two accounts. Each one keeps its own posts, followers and login. Deleting or deactivating either account is a completely separate action you have to choose yourself.
Does unlinking stop cross-posting to Facebook?
Yes. Once the accounts are removed from the same Accounts Center, Instagram posts and Stories will no longer auto-share to Facebook, and you will manage each app on its own.
Will I still be able to log into Instagram if I unlink Facebook?
Yes, as long as your Instagram account also has its own username and password (and ideally an email or phone). If you only ever logged in "with Facebook", set an Instagram password first so you do not lock yourself out.
Does unlinking stop Meta from sharing data between the apps?
It reduces linkage but is not a full privacy wall. Meta still owns both platforms. Removing accounts from Accounts Center stops shared logins and cross-posting, but for ad and data controls you should also review your ad-preference and activity settings.
Can I re-link them later?
Yes. You can add the accounts back into the same Accounts Center at any time from either app's settings. Nothing about unlinking is permanent.