Instagram Account Hacked? Recovery Steps for Business Pages

A business Instagram page with years of posts and followers can be taken over in minutes. Attackers change the email and phone, then run fake giveaways or crypto posts. If your Instagram account is hacked, follow these steps in order.

Immediately

1. Check your email for a message from Instagram ([email protected]) about an email/phone change. It usually includes a "secure your account" or "revert this change" link
2. Open instagram.com/hacked (or "Need more help?" on the login screen) and choose "My account was hacked"
3. Follow the prompts; Instagram may send a code to your original email/phone
4. For accounts with photos of you, Instagram may ask for a video selfie to confirm identity

If that doesn't work

• Try the recovery flow from the phone and Wi-Fi network you normally use; it helps verification
• If your account is linked to a Facebook Page or Meta Business Suite/Accounts Center, try recovery there
• Advertisers can sometimes reach Meta support through the Business Help Center
• Ask followers to report the account as hacked if it's posting scams

Warn your audience

Post on your other channels (Facebook, WhatsApp status, website) that the account is compromised and you won't ask for payments via DM.

After you're back in

1. Change password to a unique, strong one (use a password manager)
2. Turn on two-factor authentication with an authenticator app, not SMS only. See 2FA for business accounts
3. Check Accounts Center → Password and security → Where you're logged in; remove unknown devices
4. Remove unknown email/phone from the profile
5. Review connected apps and remove ones you don't recognise
6. Check whether ads were run from your ad account and dispute unauthorised charges
7. Download your backup codes and store them safely

Prevent it

• Ignore "copyright violation" or "verification badge" DMs; they're phishing. See Instagram copyright reports
• Don't share login with agencies; give them access via Meta Business Suite roles
• Use a dedicated business email for social accounts

FAQs

How long does recovery take?

Sometimes minutes with the email revert link; video verification can take a few days.

Can I pay someone to recover it?

Avoid "recovery services". Many are scams. Use official Meta routes only.