How To Disconnect Contacts From Instagram
Instagram utilizes a particular metric to generate suggestions for users to follow, which involves analyzing your contacts on the platform. If you have granted Instagram access to your contacts, it can identify and suggest connections from your contact list. However, not everyone appreciates this feature, and if you accidentally allow Instagram to sync your contacts, you have the option to remove all synced contacts and disable the contact syncing feature.
In this guide, we will outline the steps for disconnecting contacts from Instagram on Android and iPhone devices. Additionally, we will explain how to delete contacts that have already been synced on Instagram. We will also address frequently asked questions related to contact syncing on Instagram.
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How To Disconnect Contacts From Instagram
During the signup process for Instagram, you may have granted the app permission to access your contacts. By doing so, Instagram suggests your contacts as potential connections and people you might want to follow on the platform.
These recommendations can become bothersome, especially if you have no interest in connecting with your contacts on Instagram. Additionally, since Instagram is owned by Meta (formerly Facebook), granting access to your contacts indirectly allows Facebook to access your contact information. Thus, it’s not uncommon to receive friend suggestions on Facebook from individuals in your contact list.
To regain control over your personal information, such as your contacts, you can disconnect your contacts from Instagram using the following steps:
- Open the Instagram app on your iPhone or Android device.
- Tap on your profile icon at the bottom to access your profile page.
- Tap the menu icon at the top and select “Settings” from the available options.
- Choose “Account,” then select “Contacts Syncing.”
- Toggle off the “Connect Contacts” option.
- Finally, click on the “Disconnect” option.
By following these steps, Instagram will no longer have access to your contacts, including any contacts you add in the future. However, please note that the previously synced contacts will still remain visible on Instagram unless you choose to delete them.
How To Delete Synced Contacts From Instagram
Deleting synced contacts from Instagram requires more time compared to simply disconnecting them. It may take up to 90 days for Instagram to remove all of your synced contacts completely, and during this period, you may still encounter your contacts being suggested to you.
To delete synced contacts, follow these steps:
- Access Instagram on your computer.
- Click on your profile picture located at the top.
- Click on “Profile.”
- Choose the “Edit profile” option.
- Click on “Manage contacts.”
- Tap on “Delete all,” then confirm the action by clicking the “Delete” option once again.
It’s important to note that you cannot delete synced contacts individually. Therefore, the best approach is to delete all of them at once. To prevent your contacts from appearing as friend suggestions on Instagram, make sure you do not grant Instagram access to your contacts in the first place. This way, your contacts will not be included in the suggested connections on Instagram.
Conclusion
During the setup process of Instagram, users are prompted to grant access to their contacts. By granting permission, you allow Instagram to synchronize and identify contacts who are also on the platform. If you wish to revoke this access, it is recommended to disconnect your contacts from Instagram and delete any synced contacts. The steps to achieve this are outlined in this guide.
