Handing an Instagram account to someone new sounds simple—swap the login and you’re done. Not quite. One piece is the username, password, and 2FA. The other is everything behind the scenes: Meta Business permissions, ad billing, and the assets that actually keep the brand running.

If you rush it, you risk lockouts, broken ads, and a very public mess. But if you follow a clean, secure process, you can transfer control without losing reach, data, or sleep.

So yes—InstaDeal shows you how to transfer an Instagram account step by step, the right way. Personal or business. Fast, safe, and with zero drama. Ready?

Interesting Facts

1- You can transfer control without sharing the password: add the Instagram profile as an asset in Meta Business Suite and grant the buyer (or partner) permissions.

2- Verification doesn’t transfer. Meta’s rules say you can’t move a verified badge to another account (or “pass it on” with a sale). New owner? They must qualify on their own.

3- Meta is cracking down on black-market transfers. In 2025, Meta filed U.S. lawsuits against people selling Instagram usernames and “reinstatement” services.

How To Transfer an Instagram Account: Decide What You’re Actually Transferring

There are Two layers exist regarding “ownership” on Instagram:

• Login ownership (the Instagram account itself). This is the username, password, email/phone, and 2FA that control sign-in and recovery. Changing these hands is what most people mean by “transfer.”

• Business ownership (Meta assets). If the account operates as a brand, the real control often lives in Meta Business Suite/Business Manager: that’s where the Instagram account is added as an asset and people/partners get permissions for content, messages, ads, and insights. You assign or remove access there, not inside Instagram “page roles.”

Why this matters. Pick the wrong lens and you either risk lockouts (login layer) or you miss the levers that actually run the brand (asset layer). Get the distinction right now and the rest of the transfer becomes far less messy.

Prep Work Before You Transfer an Instagram Account

A smooth transfer starts before anyone touches the password.

1) Switch to a Professional Profile Before Transferring an Instagram AccountIf it’s a brand, switch to a Professional account so you get full analytics, messaging, and asset controls. Scrub personal details: bio, contact buttons, saved addresses, and any private links. Then sanity-check that the Facebook Page you want tied to this IG is the right one—and actually used. Link or relink as needed.

2) Lock down security in Accounts Center.
Head to Accounts Center and review Password & security: ensure a strong password, confirm two-factor authentication (prefer an authenticator app), and verify trusted devices. If multiple devices are enrolled in 2FA, prune anything you don’t control.

3) Sanitize access: apps, tools, and sessions.
Audit third-party connections (schedulers, giveaway tools, CRM integrations). Revoke anything you don’t recognize or still need only on the seller’s side. Then review active sessions and sign out of stale ones to prevent surprise logins mid-transfer.

4) Link to the Right Facebook Page Before an Instagram Account TransferIn Meta Business Suite, make sure the Instagram account is added as an asset to the correct business portfolio. That’s the foundation for assigning permissions to people/partners and for handing over ads, inbox, and insights without sharing the password.

5) Export Key Media and Docs Before You Transfer an Instagram AccountBefore any handover, kick off a full export so you have a clean snapshot.

• Go to Accounts Center → Your information & permissions → Export/Download your information → Create export.

• Choose your Instagram profile, set Date range: All time, pick Format: HTML or JSON, and set Media quality: High.

• Choose Download to device (or transfer to another service), then Create export. You’ll get an email; the file stays available for about 4 days in Available downloads.

• For end-to-end encrypted DMs, export separately: Your Activity → Download End-to-end Encrypted Data → Next, then authenticate and follow the prompts.

Original Email 101: Why It Matters When You Transfer an Instagram Account

On Instagram, your original email is the root key. It’s where password resets land, where security alerts go, and the address Meta treats as your identity checkpoint.

Why it matters during a transfer

• Password resets & lockouts. If anything goes sideways, the reset link hits that email first. If the seller still controls it, they can pull the account back—or stall recovery. Not great.

• Security alerts & phishing checks. Instagram logs every official message you receive in Settings → Accounts Center → Password & security → Recent emails, so the primary email is the reference point for spotting real vs fake.

• Data exports arrive there. Your “Download your information” file is prepared and the link is sent to the account’s email; it’s your proof-of-record before roles change.

• Recovery if you can’t log in. Lose access to the email/phone on file? There’s a specific flow, but it’s slower and riskier than just having the right email updated ahead of time.

How to check what is the Original email?

Once you’ve downloaded the data; proceed to: Login & Account Creation >>>Sign up Information >>> Check the Email.

It indicates if the given email is the original (creator) email.

It’s essential to secure the original email. If you don’t have the original email, there’s a chance you could lose your account. Sometimes, you can’t avoid it when the previous owner is too attached to their inbox. In order to minimize risk, use a new email address that is not already registered with Instagram.

You can use https://proton.me/mail to make a new email. It’s typically well curated on Instagram and can replace an old email effectively.

Personal Profile Path: How To Transfer an Instagram Account With Just the Login

1) Create a short overlap window.
Agree on a 24–48 hour handover period where both parties are responsive. It’s enough time to swap credentials and confirm everything works without leaving security gaps.

2) Swap the contact points first (not the password).
In Accounts Center → Personal details → Contact info, add a temporary handover email and set it as primary; add the buyer’s phone as secondary for now. This ensures reset links and security alerts don’t route to the old owner mid-transfer.

3) Turn on strong 2FA and add the buyer’s device.
Enable Two-Factor Authentication with an authenticator app (preferred over SMS). Generate backup codes and share them only during the overlap. Have the buyer add their authenticator, verify a code works, then regenerate backup codes so each side has the right set.

4) Now rotate the password—once.
From the login screen or settings, change the password and share it securely with the buyer. If anything breaks, use Forgot password to test recovery to the temporary primary email you set.

5) Confirm access from the buyer’s side.
Buyer logs in using the new password + authenticator code, then tries a backup code to confirm recovery works from their device. If success, proceed.

6) Cut lingering sessions and saved logins.
Open Login Activity and log out devices you don’t recognize or no longer need. Then remove saved login info on any shared devices so the account doesn’t auto-sign-in for the old owner.

8) Finalize the contact info.
Switch the primary email from the temporary handover address to the buyer’s permanent email; set their phone as primary if desired. Trigger one last password-reset test to confirm the link lands in the buyer’s inbox.

9) Remove the seller’s 2FA device and codes.
Once the buyer confirms stable access, the seller deletes their authenticator entry and discards any backup codes. The buyer regenerates fresh codes for themselves only.

Business Path: How To Transfer an Instagram Account via Meta Business Suite

You’re not just handing over a login—you’re handing over assets.

1) Verify who “owns” the Instagram asset today.
Open Meta Business Suite → Settings → Accounts → Instagram accounts. If the profile sits under the seller’s Business Portfolio, note it. If it’s under the wrong portfolio, you’ll need to move it (details below).

2) Link to the right Facebook Page (or relink).
For brand features (inbox, cross-posting, ads), the IG account should be connected to the correct Facebook Page. From the Instagram app: Edit profile → Public business information → Page → Connect/Change. facebook.com

3) Add the Instagram account as an asset in the buyer’s portfolio (or move it).

• If the IG isn’t yet an asset: in the buyer’s Business Suite, go Settings → Accounts → Instagram accounts → Add and authenticate.

• If the IG is owned by another portfolio: the practical route is to claim the connected Facebook Page in the destination portfolio; Meta will prompt that the linked Instagram will come with it. You’ll confirm by logging into the IG account and completing MFA. This is the cleanest “move” flow in 2025.

• If removal is required first: disconnect the IG from any linked Page, then Remove it from the source portfolio before adding it to the destination.

4) Assign people and partners (don’t share passwords).
Inside the buyer’s portfolio, grant access via People (internal team) and Partners (agencies). Assign the Instagram asset with the right permissions—Content, Messages, Ads, Insights—and only Admin where necessary. This is faster, revocable, and audit-friendly.

5) Bring the connected pieces with you.
A brand IG rarely stands alone. Confirm the new portfolio also has:

• The Facebook Page the IG is linked to,

• The Ad Account used for promotions,

• Pixel/Conversions API destinations,

• Any Catalog/Shop used for tagging products,

• Domains used for conversions and brand links.
  Assign access to people/partners for each. (Meta’s asset assignment UI lives in the same Settings area.)

6) Switch ad billing and payment methods.
Go to Ads Manager → Payment settings and add the buyer’s payment method; set it as primary, and remove the seller’s card when spend stabilizes. If campaigns must keep running, add the new method first, confirm charges, then retire the old one.

7) Final hygiene check.

• Confirm the Page↔IG link works (post or schedule a test).

• Make sure everyone who needs access appears under People/Partners with the correct permissions—no more, no less.

• If the old business still shows up anywhere, have them remove themselves from the portfolio once you confirm stability.

FAQs: Quick Answers About How To Transfer an Instagram Account

Can you legally sell or transfer an Instagram account?

Not under Instagram’s Terms. Buying, selling, or transferring an account/username is prohibited and Meta is actively suing black-market sellers in 2025. If you’re handing off a business, do it via asset access (Business Suite), not an “account sale.”

Does a verified badge transfer to the new owner?

No. Verification can’t be transferred or “passed along” to another account.

Will changing a verified account’s username risk the badge?

Yes, name changes can affect verification status.

Can I hand over control without sharing the password?

Yes. Add the Instagram profile as an asset in Meta Business Suite and grant the buyer/partner permissions (Content, Messages, Ads, Insights).

What’s the fastest way to see who’s still logged in?

Use Login Activity to view devices and remotely log out anything you don’t recognize.

I “unlinked” Instagram from Facebook, so they’re separate now… right?

Not fully. The platforms share infrastructure, and practical ties remain for things like Pages, ads, and data.