What to know

  • You can sign up on Threads only using your Instagram account and to unlink them, you’ll need to delete your Threads profile separately.
  • You can delete your Threads profile by going to Threads > profile tab > 2-lines icon > Account > Deactivate or delete profile > Delete profile. 
  • You can also remove the Threads badge from your Instagram profile to unlink it partially. For this, go to Instagram > account picture > Edit profile and turn off the Show Threads badge toggle. 
  • Check out the post below to learn more.

It’s been a while since Meta released Threads – an app that targets Twitter’s space with text-based posts and access to public conversations and threads. Setting up Threads is as simple as downloading the app and logging in with your Instagram account.

But should you? Within days of joining the platform, users realized that there is one major caveat when joining Threads – once you set it up, you can’t delete it without also waving goodbye to your Instagram account. This has now changed in a recent update as Threads has started rolling out the Delete profile option that lets you delete your Threads profile without leaving Instagram. 

Can you unlink Threads from your Instagram profile?

Yes and no. Your Threads profile is fundamentally linked to your Instagram account, meaning you can only create a profile on Threads from an existing Instagram account. When a Threads profile is created, your Instagram account will feature a Threads badge as part of your Instagram bio which anyone can tap on to view your Threads profile. 

You can, however, hide this badge from your Instagram account to minimize the visibility of your Threads profile. One thing to note is that hiding the Threads badge on Instagram doesn’t hide the Instagram button on your Threads profile. Anyone who can see your Threads profile can access your Instagram account by tapping on the Instagram button inside your profile on Threads. 

Besides being able to hide the Threads badge, another way to unlink Threads from Instagram is by deleting the Threads profile separately. While not previously possible, a recent update (as of November 14, 2023) to Threads introduced the Delete profile option on the Threads app. This option lets you delete your Threads profile without leaving Instagram, meaning you can continue using Instagram without your Threads profile. 

You cannot, however, keep your Threads profile when you delete the associated Instagram account. So, content on both your Threads profile and Instagram profile will be deleted when you delete the Instagram account. 

How to remove the Threads badge on your Instagram profile?

Once you set up Threads, your Instagram profile bio will receive a Threads badge to let others know that you’re on the Threads app. Any Instagram user can simply tap on this badge to get to your Threads profile. But if you don’t want to have this badge pinned on your profile, you can remove it from your profile easily. 

You can remove the Threads badge from your Instagram bio by going to Instagram > account picture > Edit profile and turning off the Show Threads badge toggle.

You can check out this detailed guide to learn the step-by-step instructions to remove the Threads badge from Instagram. 

The Threads badge can be hidden or unhidden from your Instagram profile at any time, so you can bring it back for others to see whenever you wish to. 

How to deactivate your Threads profile

You can temporarily remove your Threads profile’s presence from Instagram by deactivating it. When you deactivate your Threads profile, all of your posts and interactions will no longer be visible on Threads until reactivated. This action won’t delete your Threads data or affect your Instagram account in any way. 

To deactivate your Threads profile, go to Threads > profile tab > 2-lines icon > Account > Deactivate or delete profile and tap on Deactivate profile. You will then need to confirm this action by tapping on Deactivate in the prompt that appears on the screen. 

How to delete your Threads profile without leaving Instagram

Threads allows you to delete your Threads account without affecting your Instagram account in any way. You can delete your Threads profile by going to Threads > profile tab > 2-lines icon > Account > Deactivate or delete profile and tapping on Delete profile. To confirm this action, enter your Instagram password and then tap on Delete Threads profile.

You can check out the guide below to learn the step-by-step instructions to delete your Threads profile.

▶︎ How to Delete Your Threads Profile Without Deleting Instagram 

FAQs

Can I delete Threads without deleting Instagram?

Yes, you can delete a Threads profile without deleting your Instagram account. Although Threads is fundamentally linked to your Instagram account, Threads offers a way to delete your Threads profile without exiting Instagram. 

Can you have a Threads account without Instagram?

No. For the moment, you can only create a profile on Threads using your existing Instagram account. So when you create a Threads profile, it will always be associated with the Instagram account you used to create it. You can, however, sign up for a Threads account using a secondary Instagram account and keep your main Instagram account unassociated from this Threads profile. 

Can you hide or unhide your Threads badge from Instagram?

Yes. Instagram makes it easy for you to hide your Threads badge from your account at any time. At the same time, you can also unhide the badge later whenever you want your Threads profile to be visible again inside your Instagram account. 

That’s all you need to know about unlinking Threads from Instagram.