Why did my Instagram photo disappear?

In a nutshell: Instagram users can temporarily deactivate their profiles, causing photos and likes to disappear. To retrieve lost pictures, open the Instagram app, open the menu tray, click on "Settings

Jeff Whelpley is the editor / author responsible for this content.
Jun 6, 2024

Introduction

Instagram users can temporarily deactivate their profiles if they need to. Deactivation hides their photos, likes, and comments until they log back in. Sometimes, you may lose your pictures without an apparent reason. Here’s what to do if you find yourself in such a situation.

Open The “Instagram” Application

Open the “Instagram” application on your phone. If you’re a frequent Instagram user, the application automatically opens your account using your details. If not, enter your details to log into your account.

Why did my Instagram photo disappear? (Step 1)

Open The Menu Tray

Once you log into the Instagram application, click the three horizontal lines at the top right.

Why did my Instagram photo disappear? (Step 2)

Click “Settings”

Clicking the three icons reveals the menu. The menu lets you view your insights, archives, orders, and payments. Tap on the “Settings” option.

Why did my Instagram photo disappear? (Step 3)

Click the “Search Bar”

The settings menu provides options for your notifications, supervision, and privacy. Click the “Search” label in the search bar below the “Settings” title.

Why did my Instagram photo disappear? (Step 4)

Type “Download Your Information”

Type “Download Your Information” in the search bar. Tap the “Download Your Information” option that appears in the results.

Why did my Instagram photo disappear? (Step 5)

Click “Request a Download”

When you search “Download Your Information,” a new screen loads, allowing you to request a copy of your information. When your data is ready, you have four days to download it. Click “Request a Download” on the new page.

Why did my Instagram photo disappear? (Step 6)

Click “Select Types of Information”

Instagram allows you to download complete or specific types of information. If you’d like data from multiple profiles, you can select the type of information you want for each. Click “Select Types of Information.”

Why did my Instagram photo disappear? (Step 7)

Select “Content”

The next screen provides a selection of specific types of downloadable information. Select “Content” and click “Next.”

Why did my Instagram photo disappear? (Step 8)

Select File Options

You can set the quality and format of your file information. Customize the date range for the information to be included in your download.

Why did my Instagram photo disappear? (Step 9)

Click “Submit Request”

Once you make the necessary alterations, click “Submit Request.” Instagram then sends a file to your email address containing your lost photos. Download the file, and your photos will appear again on Instagram.

Why did my Instagram photo disappear? (Step 10)

Contact Support

If you still can’t find your lost photos, Contact Instagram support. Search “Instagram Support” on your browser and click the “Instagram Help Center” link.

Why did my Instagram photo disappear? (Step 11)

Conclusion

Losing your Instagram photo can be shocking, but you mustn’t be scared. The platform provides a reliable way to retrieve your data. If you need help completing the process, the platform’s technical support team can help.

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Jeff truly believes that all customers deserve good service. He’s been building tools, inventing phone tree hacks and helping customers since before his days at GetHuman. He's also a Google GDE and involved in the Angular community.
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GetHuman has been working for over 10 years on sourcing information about big organizations like Instagram in order to help customers resolve customer service issues faster. We started with contact information and fastest ways to reach a human at big companies. Particularly ones with slow or complicated IVR or phone menu systems. Or companies that have self-serve help forums instead of a customer service department. From there, we realized that consumers still needed more detailed help solving the most common problems, so we expanded to this set of guides, which grows every day. And if you spot any issues with our Why did my Instagram photo disappear? guide, please let us know by sending us feedback. We want to be as helpful as possible. If you appreciated this guide, please share it with your favorite people. Our free information and tools is powered by you, the customer. The more people that use it, the better it gets.

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