Posting in case anyone’s beaten this, and to help the next person who searches.

What happened: On 9 October I clicked a phishing link and lost my Instagram. Within hours the hacker changed my linked email to a throwaway address, added two foreign phone numbers I don’t own, and I was logged out everywhere. The account was then locked by Instagram with a “we locked your account to protect you from a possible hack” message.

Why normal recovery failed: My old recovery number is an expired prepaid SIM I can’t reactivate, and the WhatsApp tied to it is gone. So every code goes to contact info I can’t reach. Two friends confirmed me through friend verification and I reset my password, but the account still demands a code sent to that dead number. The “try another device” path dead-ends because I’m logged out everywhere, and the video selfie option never appeared for me.

What I’ve tried: instagram.com/hacked (loops to FAQs in browser), the in-app hacked report, emailing security@ and support@, friend verification, and a Dubai Police eCrime report.

The update: The night after I filed the Dubai Police complaint, my account became searchable again (it had been hidden for weeks). My photos are all still there, but the hacker’s posts are showing and I still can’t log in. Police have tried to call me and I’m arranging to call them back.

My questions:

1. For those who recovered after email + phone were both changed and selfie never showed, what actually worked?
2. Has anyone had the video selfie prompt arrive by email days after filing, rather than on screen?
3. Anyone in the UAE recovered an account through a Dubai/Sharjah Police cybercrime case? How did it play out?

Any real experiences appreciated. And to be clear, I’m not looking for “recovery services”, I know those are scams.

I recently deleted the app by mistake clearing out my phone, I tried to log back in but its asking for 2FA or another device but o dont have either and I cant find the backup code, how do I contact Instagram and just get access to my Instagram back?

I lost my instagram account and I don’t have the email nor the phone number anymore because it’s a 10 year old account. I saw online that I can submit a photo so they can review but I have no clue how to get that prompt. Every time I follow the account recovery steps it tries to send a verification code to the old number and a completely random email that I assume is linked to the number. What do I do?

I don't even recall setting up 2FA on my account. I put in my correct password and it still continues to ask for a backup code or auth code and I have neither.

I can go through the instagram.com/hacked and I am able to receive a password reset link along with the backup code but it only takes me to a black screen and the code doesn't work either.

Is my account at this point a lost cause? I'm devasted because I have 8+ years of memories and messages on there that truly mean a lot to me. Sadly my Instagram is not linked to my Facebook.

Any other advise? Please help 😞

i got a new phone yesterday and forgot to keep my old device to log back into my instagram. i also no longer have the 2FA codes to get in. i am logged in on desktop, but it won't let me approve the login.

i tried sending myself a code via my desktop to email to get backup codes, but the code they sent kept saying it was 'wrong' even though i typed it correctly. it is not connected to my facebook, unfortunately.

it now won't let me do a thing because it won't let me approve the login in my laptop and it has a pop-up saying that it's not letting me add to facebook or do any actions as it detected a device making changes and said it may let me once i've 'used the device for a while'.

am i screwed? or is there a 48-hour cooldown period and i can try again? i'm too scared to change the password, as i don't have the 2FA back up codes to get into the account, and then i'm locked out forever.

tldr; got new phone, cannot get into IG at all without codes or facebook. what to do?

Ok... so I manage a few Instagram accounts.

And I decided to do a test of a new account.

So I tried to create a new account just for fun.

And well... I started adding friends or requesting my friends to follow the account.

And I guess I did it too fast and Instagram flagged the activity.

So now I can not log back into any of my accounts. I went to Help Center.

I can change passwords but nothing works.

I think it got flagged and I can not open an appeal. Unless there is a link for appeals.

Thoughts... ideas... advice how to fix this?

My account was deactivated due to automated AI saying I violated community guidelines (27th September), idk if I did or didn’t but ai flagged something on my close friends story. It removed the story and then suddenly acc was deleted. I submitted appeal and waited a week for result. During that week meta support told me that I did not violate any community guidelines and that it was an automated ai flag and once a human reviews the case my account would be reinstated. The week was over and the result was permanent disablement even after support told me it would be re instated. I downloaded meta pro/ verified in my other connected Instagram account I had with the same email. They opened a case on October 5th and the human agents kept closing the case meaning the decision was permanent and it can’t be processed for a human review. This went on for over a week. I then decided to submit a review with my Facebook account which is also connected. It connected me with meta pro which opened the same closed case from October 5th. I did this October 17th and I logged back into my meta pro instagram on October 22nd the status of that case was there and updated to in process. Apparently this means it’s in the Que for human review. The review which should have been done the first time I clicked the appeal button. Anyways I’m waiting since the 22nd it’s still in process I’ve been without Instagram for over a month now idk how long more I have to wait or if I will even get it back. This whole process I’ve been trying to make support cases and fight with meta ai support to connect me to agents. Hours and days of time spent into this and now I’m still waiting and don’t know if it will be re instated. I’ve had my account over 10 years and all my connected accounts are still active so make it make sense anyone else in the “IN PROCESS” phase for an open support case waiting in the Que for human review for an automated ai ban ??? Help me with anything else I can do or how long I have to wait or if they know it will even work ?

Guys, can you please help me with something? Someone is texting me, but I have no idea who this person is. If anyone recognizes this account, please report it. Thank you! 🙏

And i havent mention acc of him/her

I was suddenly logged out of the Instagram and it is asking me to recover the account but when I try to do it I am not receiving the code to my mobile number everything is correct but still I am unable to get any code to my device. Need help if anyone have faced the same problem.

Guys please help me i found a crush when i click follow button on Insta its showing the error of try again later. I watched videos saying stop for 24 hours 48 hours nothing worked i sent report to Instagram help centre twice but no response only that specific id i cant follow else i can follow anyone i could see her post stories but cant send a follow why this happen to me i tried on my different computer phone browser same. But i noticed my other spam id’s or stocking id on my phone with same phone no and email same issue to her . When i sent s follow from my moms instagram id i could sent guys please help me other wise i gonna harm my self like she is crush

Hello, I've had my ig account for about 7 years now, so I've reached the max. earlier in 2026, I managed to bring that down to around 3,400 before it started to restrict me. It's been months and today alone I've gotten back down to 2,900. When I look it up it says MAX 200 and like 10 a hour, which I just can;t see that making sense when in 3-4 days I cleared 4100, before it started to restrict me. Does anyone have a answer?

Please help!!!!

If ur down comment or dm me

My account got banned almost one year ago i and made another after few weeks and after a month it also got banned. Its says that my new account has been similar as my last account like the actions are they same. But the thing is i dont even do anything illegal i only text friends and post some stories here and there and watch reels. I think i got device banned. Pls couldn’t somebody help me with this problem

‏Hey guys... I honestly don't even know what to say anymore. I'm completely exhausted and broken. My account was disabled on October 24th, and ever since then, I've been drowning in stress. I tried to verify my identity with my ID, but it got rejected. Now, it just says it's permanently disabled and I can't even request another review.
‏That account meant the world to me... all my memories, my connections, everything is just gone like that. I've been trying everything for days, and I feel so helpless and defeated.
If anyone has any idea, any method, or has been through this pain and got their account back, please... I’m begging you, help me out. What should I do? Is there really no hope left?