Have you found yourself no longer using the Threads app from Instagram? Don‘t worry, you‘re not alone. Many people have downloaded Threads only to realize later on that yet another messaging platform isn‘t really needed in their life.
If you feel it‘s time to delete your Threads account, this straightforward guide will walk you through how to properly deactivate Threads or remove your connected Instagram account permanently. I‘ll provide easy-to-follow steps for both options below.
First, let me quickly explain the relationship between Threads and Instagram so you know exactly what deleting Threads means.
How Threads Links to Your Instagram Account
Threads launched in 2019 as a complementary messaging app to Instagram for communicating with your "close friends." When you create a Threads account, it automatically connects to your existing Instagram profile and syncs over data like your:
- Username
- Profile photo
- List of Instagram followers
- Other information from your account
This means your Threads account and Instagram account are directly linked. Having one requires having the other as well.
So if you delete your Instagram account, you also lose access to Threads. And if you permanently delete just your Threads account, your Instagram goes too.
The only way to remove Threads but keep Instagram is to "deactivate" your Threads account. This hides your Threads profile without actually deleting anything.
Now that you understand the relationship at play here, let‘s go through how to remove Threads while keeping your handy Instagram access.
When to Consider Deleting Your Threads Account
Before you actually delete, let‘s talk about why you might want to delete your Threads account in the first place. There are a few common reasons:
- You simply don‘t use it anymore. If you‘ve stopped messaging people on Threads, it makes sense to cut down on app clutter.
- Privacy and security concerns. You may feel uncomfortable having yet another messaging platform tied to Facebook/Meta given ongoing data privacy issues. Removing Threads limits data access from that family of apps.
- Too many chat apps. Between iMessage, WhatsApp, Messenger, and SMS texting, another platform can feel totally unnecessary.
According to Experian‘s 2022 Consumer App Report, the average US consumer uses about 110 apps per month on their phone. However, they only really engage with about 9 of those apps regularly.
So if Threads isn‘t making your top 9 cut, chances are you won‘t miss it! Now let‘s get you to the point of deleting your Threads app for good.
Step-By-Step: How to Deactivate Your Threads Account
Deactivating your account keeps your messages, friends, and all data intact in case you ever want to use Threads again. Follow these simple steps:
- Open up the Threads app on your phone.
- Tap on your profile picture in the bottom right corner.
- Hit the 🖱️ menu button in the top right corner.
- Select "Account" from the menu.
- Choose "Deactivate account."
- Confirm you want to deactivate your Threads account.
Once you deactivate, your profile will disappear from the app. But don‘t worry, all your conversations and connections will still be there if you ever log back in!
To reactivate a deactivated Threads account:
- Just open up Threads again.
- Log into your account with your credentials. Easy!
Tip: You can only deactivate a Threads account once per week. So be 100% sure before going through with it again soon thereafter.
Now let‘s talk about the more extreme route – fully deleting your account.
How to Permanently Delete Your Threads + Instagram
If you are COMPLETELY done with Threads and Instagram altogether, you can fully delete both profiles permanently:
Note: This will erase your accounts and all data beyond recovery.
- Open the Instagram app on your phone.
- Go to your profile and tap the menu icon.
- Choose "Settings">”Account">”Delete Account”
- Select “Permanently delete my account"
- Confirm the reason you are deleting this account.
Once you complete the steps above, your Threads and Instagram accounts will be gone for eternity with no way of ever getting them back. So I recommend exhausting other options before resorting to this!
More Threads Account Management Tips
If you don‘t necessarily want to deactivate or delete right now, here are helpful suggestions:
- Limit Threads notifications if they are overwhelming.
- Set a daily time limit on your Threads usage to avoid wasting hours.
- Use Threads only on Wi-Fi to reduce data usage and battery drain.
- Organize your close friends list so your top contacts appear first.
Getting more deliberate about how and when you access Threads can dramatically improve your experience. Give that a shot before closing your account entirely!
Why It‘s Smart to Delete Old Social Accounts
Beyond Threads and Instagram, it‘s generally wise digital hygiene to delete or deactivate accounts on platforms you simply don‘t use anymore, such as:
- Old Twitter accounts
- Inactive Snapchat profiles
- Dusty Youtube channels
- Outdated Facebook profiles
- And more
According to social media expert Leslie Kitchin:
"Keeping a bunch of abandoned social media accounts floating around is a privacy and security vulnerability. Reduce your digital exposure by actively consolidating and removing dead profiles across the internet."
So do yourself a favor and do some digital spring cleaning!
Let‘s Recap – Threads Account Removal in 5 Easy Steps
To summarize exactly how to delete your Threads account, follow this simple checklist:
| Goal | Steps to Take |
| Deactivate Threads | 1. Open Threads 2. Go to profile > menu 3. Select "Account" 4. Choose "Deactivate account" 5. Confirm deactivation |
| Delete Threads + Instagram | 1. Open Instagram 2. Go to profile > menu 3. Tap "Settings" > "Account" 4. Choose "Delete Account" 5. Confirm permanent deletion |
Refer to these simple steps if you need a quick refresher.
And if you still have any other questions, check out the FAQ below.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: If I deactivate my Threads account, will all my old messages be erased?
A: Nope! Deactivating hides your account from public view but saves your conversations, connections, etc. When you log back in, everything will reappear just as you left it.
Q: Can I permanently delete my Threads account only without losing Instagram?
A: Unfortunately, no. Because Threads links directly to Instagram accounts, you cannot fully delete one without deleting the other permanently.
Q: What happens if I permanently delete my Instagram account?
A: Since Threads connects to Instagram for login and profile data, deleting your Instagram also erases your Threads account instantly. And this cannot be undone or recovered!
Q: Can I delete my Threads account from a tablet or computer?
A: Threads is a smartphone-only app at the moment with no desktop access. So you will need to open either the Threads or Instagram app on your mobile device to delete your connected accounts.
Q: If I reinstall the Threads app, will my old account still appear?
A: Yes. As long as you never deactivated or deleted your Threads account, it will automatically appear when you reinstall the app and log in with your credentials.
I hope these FAQs cleared up any remaining questions! Let me know in the comments if you need any other Threads account management advice.
Final Thoughts
While Threads aims to expand the messaging capabilities of Instagram, juggling too many chat apps can feel totally overwhelming. If you believe removing Threads will help simplify your digital communication, use this guide to properly deactivate or delete your account.
Just be careful before deleting Instagram outright along with Threads. And consider tidying up other unused social media profiles while you‘re at it!
Now put these steps into action to drop Threads from your app collection once and for all. You‘ve got this!
