When a team member leaves, a contractor finishes a project, or an agency relationship ends, one of the first things you should do is remove their access to your Instagram account. This is a straightforward process when access was properly granted through Meta Business Manager — but it can be more complicated if access was shared through a login or granted informally.
This guide explains how to remove access from an Instagram account under all common scenarios, and what additional steps to take to make sure your account is fully secure after you complete the removal.
Why It Matters
Instagram accounts can be misused in seconds. A disgruntled former employee or contractor with lingering access could post inappropriate content, delete past posts, change your bio, or DM your followers. Even with the best intentions, having former collaborators in your account creates an unnecessary risk.
Proper access removal is not about distrust — it is about maintaining control. Meta Business Manager makes it possible to grant access without sharing passwords and to revoke it just as easily. If you have been managing access correctly through Business Manager, removal is a two-minute task.
What You Need Before You Start
You need Admin access to the Meta Business Manager account where your Instagram is managed. If you gave access through a direct Instagram login (sharing your username and password), the process is different — you will need to change your password and review any connected third-party apps. This guide covers both scenarios.
Step-by-Step Guide
Method 1: Removing Access in Meta Business Manager
This is the correct method when access was granted professionally through Business Manager.
Step 1: Log Into Meta Business Manager
Go to business.facebook.com and log in with the Facebook account that has Admin access to your Business Manager.
Step 2: Open Business Settings
Click the gear icon in the left sidebar to go to Business Settings.
Step 3: Go to Instagram Accounts
In the left sidebar under Accounts, click Instagram accounts. Select the Instagram account you want to manage.
Step 4: Find the Person to Remove
A panel will open on the right showing all people who have access to this Instagram account. Locate the person whose access you want to remove.
Step 5: Remove Their Access
Click on their name or the edit icon next to them. Select Remove access or click the X icon next to their name. Confirm the removal when prompted.
The removal is immediate. The person will no longer see the Instagram account in their Business Manager and will not be able to manage it.
Step 6: Check Partner Access
If you work with an agency that was added as a Partner Business Manager (rather than individual people), you may need to remove the partner-level access separately. Go to Business Settings → Partners, find the agency's Business Manager, and remove the Instagram account from their access, or remove the partnership entirely if the relationship has ended.
Method 2: Removing Access When Passwords Were Shared
If you granted access by sharing your Instagram username and password, you cannot "remove" access through a settings menu — instead, you need to take several security steps.
Step 1: Change Your Instagram Password Immediately
Go to Instagram → Settings and privacy → Security → Password. Choose a new, strong password that the former user does not know. This immediately invalidates any sessions they had open.
Step 2: Review Active Sessions and Log Out All Devices
Go to Settings and privacy → Security → Where you're logged in. Review all active sessions and log out of any you do not recognize or that are no longer needed.
Step 3: Review Linked Third-Party Apps
Go to Settings and privacy → Security → Apps and websites. Review any third-party apps that are connected to your Instagram account. Revoke access from any apps you did not personally authorize or that the former user may have connected.
Step 4: Enable Two-Factor Authentication
If you have not already done so, enable two-factor authentication on your Instagram account. This ensures that even if someone has your password, they cannot log in without a second verification step. Go to Settings and privacy → Security → Two-factor authentication.
Common Issues and How to Fix Them
The person's name does not appear in the Business Manager access list. They may have been added as part of a Partner Business Manager rather than as an individual. Check Business Settings → Partners for any agencies or partner businesses with access to your Instagram account.
I cannot log into Business Manager to remove access. Make sure you are logging in with the correct Facebook account that has Admin access. If your own access has been removed by mistake, contact Facebook support to recover it.
After changing my password, the person is still posting on my account. This could mean they had an active session that was not invalidated, or they are using a connected third-party app that still has access. Follow Steps 2 and 3 of Method 2 above to log out all devices and revoke third-party app access.
I removed access but the person says they can still see the account. Ask them to refresh or restart the Business Manager. Permission changes are usually instant but can occasionally take a few minutes to fully propagate.
Tips to Get the Most Out of Access Management
Always use Business Manager for access control. Sharing passwords is always a mistake — no matter how trusted the person is. Business Manager access is cleaner, auditable, and revocable without changing your password.
Set a reminder to audit access after any team change. Every time someone leaves your team or a project ends, block time to review Business Manager and revoke any access that is no longer needed.
Keep your own Facebook and Instagram accounts secure. Your Meta Business Manager is only as secure as the personal Facebook account you use to log into it. Use a strong, unique password and two-factor authentication on that account too.
Document access grants and removals. Keep a simple log with the name, the date access was granted, the role they had, and the date access was removed. This record is useful for security audits and helps you catch anything that was missed during offboarding.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will the person know when their access is removed?
No. Meta does not send a notification when someone's Business Manager access is revoked. The person will simply find that they can no longer see or manage the Instagram account the next time they log in.
Will removing access delete any content they posted?
No. Any posts, stories, comments, or messages created by the removed user while they had access will remain on the account. Removing access only prevents future activity — it does not undo past actions.
Can the removed person recover access on their own?
No. Once access is removed in Business Manager, the person cannot restore it themselves. They would need a current admin to add them back.
What if the person who needs to be removed is the only admin in Business Manager?
If the sole Business Manager admin is someone you can no longer contact, this is a serious problem. Contact Meta Business Support directly through business.facebook.com/support to report the issue and begin the recovery process. This situation highlights why you should always have a second admin in Business Manager.