Meta’s Threads app is astounding users, but a clause in its privacy policy has worried many of them. It states that one can only delete their Threads profile by deleting their Instagram account, but what if you want to eliminate the latest trend? This guide will help you to know how to delete or deactivate your Threads account without affecting your Instagram profile.
Threads is going rapidly and gained over 50 million users in the first 24 hours of its existence. We have now started noticing screenshots of Threads posts on other social platforms, just like snaps from Twitter have been a staple on the internet. It’s safe to say that Threads is a Twitter competitor now.
Users love Threads, and the initial experience has been great so far. Twitter’s possibly worst decision of imposing a daily rate limit was the best headstart for Meta’s latest application.
Can You Delete Threads Account Without Deleting Instagram Account?
Meta explains in the Supplemental Privacy Policy of the Threads app that “You may deactivate your Threads profile at any time, but your Threads profile can only be deleted by deleting your Instagram account.” This means that if someone wants to get rid of their Threads account, they can’t delete it unless they want to get their Instagram account deleted too.
This has raised concerns among many Threads users as they weren’t informed about this while signing up. Meta further explains that the Threads profile is a part of the user’s Instagram account. The data is synchronized among both Meta apps and they work in co-existence. One can’t exist without the other.
If you were wondering to delete your Threads account, we’d recommend that you shouldn’t do it as it’ll compromise your Instagram profile too. However, Instagram CEO Adam Mosseri has responded to user concerns after a big backlash and confirmed that deleting Threads separately will be possible later.
When Will Threads Allow Users To Delete Accounts Separately?
On July 7th, Instagram head Adam Mosseri stated how Threads account deletion would work in the days going forward. He revealed that Meta is “looking into a way to delete your Threads account separately.” However, no date was specified for the much-anticipated change.
Mosseri also stated that Threads users can deactivate their accounts if they wish to hide their profile and content from other users. They can also set their profile to private or delete individual posts that they don’t want on their profile. None of this would affect their Instagram account.
When Meta rolls out the change allowing users to delete their Threads account separately, we will keep you posted. If you want to get rid of Threads already but want to stay on Instagram, we’d suggest you wait for some days, and then you can do as you wish. Until then, try having a fun time on Threads.
How To Deactivate Your Threads Profile?
Meta doesn’t allow you to delete your Threads account separately but you can deactivate it without deactivating Instagram. If you are not too fond of Threads and decided to bid adieu, follow these steps to deactivate your Threads account:
- Launch the Threads app and ensure that you’re signed in.
- Now tap on the profile icon from the bottom right corner.
- Next, tap on the two horizontal bars in the top right corner.
- Next, tap on “Account” under Settings.
- After that, tap on “Deactivate profile.”
- Choose the “Deactivate Threads profile” option next.
- Finally, confirm your choice and close the app.
That’s it. Your Threads account will stay deactivated for as long as you want to avoid the platform. This will hide your profile and posts from the general eye. Luckily, your Instagram account will stay active, and you can use it without any worries.
What Happens When You Deactivate Your Threads Account?
When you deactivate your Threads account, your profile, posts, and reposts will be hidden from other users. Your followers won’t be able to find your account through the search bar, and they can’t see any of your updates on the app either. It’s very similar to what happens when you deactivate your Instagram account.
The good thing is that deactivating your Threads profile does not deactivate your Instagram. Meta has confirmed this in its Supplemental Privacy Policy. However, if you delete your Threads account, your Instagram gets deleted too, and vice versa. Users are calling for a change in this stipulation.
How to Reactivate Your Threads Account?
Deactivating your Threads account is only a temporary action you can reverse at any time. It’s very simple to reactivate your Threads profile. All you have to do is launch the app and sign in using your Instagram account credentials.
When you do this, your Threads account will be reactivated automatically. You don’t have to perform any additional steps. You can then use the platform as you did before going away. This is a nice solution for anyone taking a temporary break from the text-based social networking app.
Threads also provide a “Take a break” feature to its users.
You can use it if you think you’re too hooked on the app and want to take some time off but don’t want to go through the hassle of deactivating and reactivating your account.
How To Make Your Threads Profile Private?
If you don’t want to go off Threads but want to hide your content from some users, a wiser option would be to turn your profile to “Private.” Follow these steps to make your Threads account private:
- Launch Threads and make sure you are signed in.
- Now tap the profile icon present in the bottom right corner.
- On your profile page, tap on “Edit Profile.”
- Finally, turn the Private profile toggle switch on.
That’s it. This will turn your profile private. Only your followers can see your threads. Everything that happens to a private Instagram profile will be implemented into your Threads account. However, the privacy status of your IG account will not change automatically.
If you ever want to switch to a public account, return to your profile, tap the “Edit Profile” button, and turn off the Private profile toggle switch. It’s as simple as that.
Frequently Asked Questions:
A: If you want to delete your Threads account, you must do that from your linked Instagram account. Go to your account settings and choose the “Delete my account” option. After that, follow the on-screen prompts. However, you must know that doing so will also delete your Instagram account alongside your Threads profile.
A: It’s impossible to delete your Threads account without deleting your Instagram account. However, Meta has confirmed that the option to delete your Threads profile separately will be available soon. You can deactivate your Threads account, take a break, or uninstall the app if you don’t want to use the new social media app.
A: Yes, it’s possible to deactivate your Threads account, and it won’t affect your Instagram profile. You can use Instagram while your Threads account is deactivated. To do that, go to your profile on Threads and tap the two horizontal bars at the top. Now go to Account under Settings and then select Deactivate Profile. Go through the on-screen instructions and confirm your selection.
A: If you delete your Threads account, your Instagram account will also be deleted. Your profile, posts, comments, likes, and every other data will be wiped off from both platforms and you won’t be able to recover it after a certain period. You have 30 days to take back your decision when you submit the request to delete your Instagram account.
Final Words
Threads is growing rapidly, and users love Twitter’s newest yet biggest competitor. However, some fans have already given up on it and returned to where they came from, be it Instagram or Twitter. The problem is that Meta doesn’t allow users to delete their Threads account separately.
It’s clearly stated in the Supplemental Privacy Policy. The good thing is that it will change soon after a mass backlash as users called for Threads and Instagram to operate separately. IG head Adam Mosseri stated that Meta is looking into a solution.
Let’s hope they deliver it soon. That’s all for this guide. Feel free to use the comment box if you have any queries, doubts, or suggestions about anything mentioned here.
This is Saquib, a technology and social media expert with over 10 years of experience in the industry. With a passion for staying up-to-date on the latest developments and trends in the tech and social media world and as a writer, I have been creating informative and engaging content that is easy for readers to understand and enjoy, also published in several leading tech and social media publications and is a regular speaker at industry events. In addition to my writing and speaking engagements, I also work as a consultant, helping businesses grow with the ever-changing tech and social media niche.
