Imagine this – you open your Instagram app, scroll through your DMs, and suddenly notice something strange. Instead of a friend’s name, you see “Instagram User.” No profile picture, no details, just a blank mystery.
If this has ever happened to you, don’t worry – you’re not alone! Many Instagram users come across this and wonder what it means. Did the person block you? Did they deactivate/delete their account? Or is it just a weird Instagram glitch?
In this article, I’ll break it down in simple terms so you know exactly why this happens and what you can do about it. Let’s get started!
Why Does It Say “Instagram User” in Your DMs?
Instagram usually shows the person’s profile as “Instagram User” when the user has either deactivated or deleted their account. Instead of showing their name, Instagram replaces it with this generic term in your chat. Let’s explore this more in detail.
1) Deactivated Accounts:
If someone temporarily deactivates their account, their profile, posts, likes, and comments will be completely hidden on Instagram until the account is reactivated. Their data will be kept safely and won’t be deleted.
If you have had any conversations with the deactivated account in the past, you’ll see them as “Instagram user” in your DMs.
You can see all your previous messages in the chat. However, any new message you send them will remain undelivered until the account is reactivated. Also, if you try searching for them, you can’t find their profile.
If they re-activate their account by logging back in, their profile will return back to normal in your DM. You’ll then see their actual name instead of “Instagram user”.
2) Deleted Accounts:
If someone deletes their account permanently, Instagram will completely remove their data after 30 days of deletion request.
If you have messaged them before their account deletion, you can still see your old chat history if you haven’t deleted them. However, their deleted profile will be labeled as “Instagram user” in your DM.
3) Disabled Accounts:
If an account doesn’t follow community standards, Instagram may disable the account. So, if Instagram bans someone’s account, you’ll see them as “Instagram user” if you have messaged them earlier.
Does Instagram User Mean Blocked?
If someone blocks you, Instagram doesn’t label them as “Instagram user”. I have personally tested this using two different accounts.
So, when it says “Instagram user”, the account is either deactivated or permanently deleted. It doesn’t mean you’re blocked.
