Recovery
Recover an Instagram Account After the Phone Number Was Changed by a Hacker
A hacker swapped the phone number on your account? Use the hacked-account support flow and identity verification to regain access without it.
Swapping your phone number lets an attacker capture SMS two-factor codes and block your texts-based recovery. The way around it is to stop relying on the phone entirely and prove your identity directly through Instagram’s hacked-account flow.
If your situation is actually …
- They changed the email as well → Email changed by a hacker →
Recover past a changed phone
Stage 1 · Stabilize
Secure your other contacts
- Make sure your recovery email account is yours and locked down.It’s the channel Instagram uses to send recovery instructions.
Stage 2 · Diagnose
Enter the hacked-account flow
- Use "Need more help?" → "My account was hacked" and indicate the phone number was changed.Where: Instagram login → Need more help?
Stage 3 · Reclaim
Verify identity
- Complete the video selfie or ID step and supply a contact you control.Where: Instagram identity verification
Stage 4 · Harden
Move off SMS two-factor
- Switch two-factor to an authenticator app, add a current phone, and save backup codes offline.SIM-swap and number changes are exactly why authenticator apps are safer than SMS.Where: Settings → Accounts Center → Password and security → Two-factor authentication
If this flow does not restore access: Report the account as hacked →
Frequently asked questions
Delvia
Access issues are easier to prevent when roles, owners, and responsibilities are recorded clearly
Most access problems trace back to the same gap — no clear record of who has access, what role they hold, and what should happen when that changes. Delvia helps you keep that record so problems are visible before they become incidents.