How to Transfer an Instagram Account to Another Person

Transferring ownership of an Instagram account involves more than just sharing a password. To do it correctly and securely, you need a clear process that protects both the original owner and the person taking over. This guide walks you through the entire process, from preparing the account for a clean handoff to the final security checks every new owner should perform.

Why Simply Handing Over Your Password Isn’t Enough

You might think handing over the username and password is all it takes, but this shortcut can create major headaches down the road. Without a proper transfer, the original owner’s information remains tied to the account, leaving both parties vulnerable. For years, all logins, recovery attempts, and password resets will default back to the original owner’s email address and phone number.

Imagine this scenario: the new owner gets accidentally logged out and can’t get back in because the "Forgot Password" link goes to an email they don't have. Or worse, the original owner can technically reclaim the account at any time. A clean transfer ensures full control is passed to the new owner, severing old ties and securing the account's future. It protects the original owner from any responsibility for future content and gives the new owner complete and undisputed control.

Preparing the Instagram Account for Transfer

Before you even think about changing the password, there are a few essential steps to prepare the account for a smooth transition. Think of this as a pre-transfer checklist to set the stage for success.

Step 1: Get on a Live Call with the Other Person

This is the most important step of all. Schedule a video call with the new owner so you can share your screen and walk through the transfer in real-time. Instagram’s security system can be sensitive to sudden changes from different IP addresses, locations, and devices. Trying to do this over email or text can easily trigger a security lockdown, locking you both out of the account. A live call allows you to manage the process together, one step at a time, to avoid any red flags.

Step 2: Remove Your Personal Information from The Account

First, untangle your personal life from the Instagram profile. This means reviewing everything that could link the account back to you personally or professionally.

• Disconnect your personal Facebook Account: Head to Settings and privacy > Accounts Center. Here, you’ll see all the profiles linked together under your Meta Account. Tap on "Accounts" and remove the personal Facebook profile that is connected to the Instagram account. This is vital because you don't want to hand over your personal Facebook access.
• Update the contact information: In the profile settings (Edit Profile > Personal information settings), remove your personal phone number and any non-transferable email addresses. We'll add the new owner’s info later, but for now, the goal is to clean house.
• Review the bio and links: Double-check that the bio doesn't mention you personally and that the link in your bio doesn't point to a personal website or a business you are not transferring.

Step 3: Disconnect Third-Party Apps

Over the years, you've probably granted access to countless third-party apps - schedulers, analytics tools, contest apps, and more. Each one of these is a potential security weak point. It's time to revoke their access.

Go to Settings and privacy > Apps and websites. Here you'll see a list of all the apps with active access to your Instagram account. Go through and remove every single one. The new owner can always re-authorize the tools they want to use later under their own control.

Step 4: Discuss Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)

Two-factor authentication is a fantastic security feature, but it’s a major roadblock during an account transfer. The easiest way to handle this is for the original owner to temporarily disable 2FA just before beginning the official transfer process on your live call. Once the new owner has control, their very first action should be to set up 2FA with their own phone number or authenticator app. Not doing so leaves the account extremely vulnerable, so timing is everything.

Step 5: Backup Your Account Data (For the Original Owner)

As the original owner, you might want a record of the content, messages, and information you’ve accumulated. Instagram allows you to download a complete copy of your information.

Go to Your activity > Download your information. You can request a download of everything. It can take up to 48 hours for Instagram to prepare the file, so initiate this process several days before the planned transfer. This gives you a personal archive of your DMs and posts before they belong to someone else.

The Step-by-Step Guide to Transferring Ownership

With all the prep work done, it’s time for the account handover. You and the new owner should be on your scheduled live call for this part. The process happens in three phases.

Phase 1: Changing the Primary Contact Information

This is where ownership officially begins to shift. The goal is to transfer the "keys" to the account - the email address - to the new owner.

• Action 1 (Original Owner): Change the Email Address. Go into the Accounts Center > Personal details > Contact info. Remove your old email and add the new owner’s email address.
• Action 2 (New Owner): Confirm the New Email. Instagram will send a confirmation link to the new owner’s email inbox. They need to find that email immediately and click the confirmation link to verify that they have access to that address.
• Action 3 (New Owner): Test Your Control. To make sure the email has been successfully switched, the new owner should now go to the Instagram login page, enter the account's username, and click the "Forgot password?" link. The new owner should receive the reset link in their email inbox. This confirms the handover of control worked.

Phase 2: Securing the Account

Now that the new owner controls the account's primary email, it's time to lock it down and remove all of the original owner's access points.

• Action 4 (New Owner): Set a New Password. Using the link from the previous step, the new owner should create a new, strong password.
• Action 5 (New Owner): Add Your Phone Number. Navigate back to Accounts Center > Personal details > Contact info. Add your phone number and remove the original owner's number. You’ll need to verify it with a code sent via SMS.
• Action 6 (New Owner): Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA). This step is not optional. Go to Settings and privacy > Accounts Center > Password and security > Two-factor authentication. Turn it on. We strongly recommend using an authenticator app (like Google Authenticator or Authy) as it's more secure than SMS, but either one is better than nothing. Do this immediately.

Phase 3: Finalizing the Handover

The last step is to ensure that the original owner no longer has any lingering access to the account.

• Action 7 (Original Owner): Log Out of All Sessions. While still on the call, the original owner should go to Settings and privacy > Accounts Center > Password and security > Where you're logged in. Here you will see a list of every device currently logged into the account. At the bottom, there is an option to "Select devices to log out." Use it to log out of everywhere. This revokes access from your phone, your desktop computer, and any other devices.
• Action 8 (New Owner): Review Login Activity. As a final check, the new owner should refresh their view of the "Where you're logged in" page and confirm that only their current device is showing as active.

Congratulations! The transfer is complete and secure.

After the Transfer: A Checklist for the New Owner

Owning the account is just the beginning. Now it's time to truly make it yours. Here are a few final steps for the new owner:

• Conduct an account audit. Go through old posts, Reels, and archived Stories. Does the existing content align with your new brand direction? If not, start archiving anything that feels off-brand. This helps present a consistent message from day one.
• Update all branding elements. Change the profile picture, update the bio to reflect the new ownership and mission, and change the website link in your bio.
• Announce the change (optional). We highly recommend making a post or a series of Stories announcing the change in ownership. Be transparent about what followers can expect moving forward. This helps manage expectations and can prevent a sudden drop in followers who might be confused by a sudden shift in content.
• Establish a new content strategy. Jumpstart the new era with a clear plan. Start consistently posting new content that aligns with your vision and engages your audience.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I sell my Instagram account?

Selling, buying, or transferring an account is against Instagram's Terms of Service. However, people transfer accounts all the time for legitimate reasons, such as when selling an entire online business where the Instagram handle is a key asset, or when handing off leadership within an organization. Our guide is focused on the technical steps to securely perform this transfer, ensuring both parties are protected regardless of the reason.

What happens to my Direct Messages (DMs)?

The new owner will gain full and complete access to the entire history of the account’s Direct Messages. There is no way to separate them. This is an important privacy point for the original owner to consider. Before the transfer, use Instagram’s "Download Your Information" feature if you need to keep a personal record of any conversations.

What about a linked Facebook Page or Instagram Shop?

Business assets like a connected Facebook Page, Instagram Shop, or ad permissions are managed through Meta Business Suite. Transferring these requires a different process. Typically, the new owner must be added as an admin with full control of these assets within the Business Suite before the Instagram transfer takes place. This can be complex, so it's best to consult Meta's Business Help Center documentation for the exact steps.

Final Thoughts

Transferring an Instagram account correctly comes down to a secure, step-by-step process. By preparing the account, communicating clearly during a live handoff, and immediately securing it with new credentials, you can ensure a clean break that protects both the person leaving and the one taking over.

Once you've successfully secured the new account, the real work begins: managing it effectively. This is where we built Postbase to help. With our platform, you can visually plan your new content strategy on a simple calendar, schedule your posts (including Reels and video content) without any fuss, and manage all your DMs and comments from a single inbox, ensuring you stay connected with your new community right from the start.