How to Stop Auto Following on Instagram

Last Updated: October 25, 2022

Have you noticed that you're suddenly following a bunch of random Instagram accounts? This usually happens when spammers get control of your account. To prevent your Instagram account from automatically following others, you'll need to make sure nobody can access your account but you. This wikiHow teaches you how to stop automatically following Instagram accounts by removing access to connected apps and updating your password.

Things You Should Know

If you notice auto-following on your Instagram account, you'll need to change your login information.
Updating your password and removing access to connected apps will keep your account safe.
You can update your password on your mobile device or computer.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Managing Connected Apps

1
Go to https://instagram.com and sign in. Before changing your password, make sure no unauthorized apps have permanent access to your account. You'll need to complete these steps in a web browser, but you can do so on a computer, phone, or tablet.^{[1]
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2
Click your profile icon
or picture. You'll see this in the top right corner of the page.

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3
Click the settings icon. You'll see the gear icon next to "Edit Profile" in the middle of the page when it opens.
4
Click Apps and Websites. You'll see this in the menu on the left side of the page under "Change Password."
5
Click Remove under suspicious apps or websites you want to remove from Instagram. You'll see two tabs: "Active" and "Expired." On the Active tab, remove any apps or websites that have access to your Instagram account that you don't recognize.
- For example, you can link your Instagram and TikTok account, so you'll see that here. If you've used a bot in the past to get followers, you'll see that here as well.^{[2]
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- Now that you've disabled unauthorized accounts, continue on to change your password in the mobile app or in a web browser.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Changing Your Password in the Mobile App

1
Open Instagram. The app icon is a camera inside a square that’s a gradient from yellow to purple. You can find this on your home screen, in the app drawer, or by searching.
- If you don't know the password, you can read about resetting a forgotten Instagram password.
2
Tap the profile icon
(Android) or your profile picture (iOS). You'll see this in the bottom right corner of your screen.
3
Tap the ☰ menu. You'll see this in the top right corner of your screen.
4
Tap Settings. You'll see this at the bottom of the menu.
5
Tap Security. This is next to the icon of a shield with a checkmark inside it, under "Privacy."
6
Tap Password. This is usually the first listing in the menu next to the icon of a key.
7
Enter your current password. To change your password, you need to enter the current one correctly in the "Current password" text field.
8
Enter your new password twice. You'll need to enter your password and confirm it correctly before you can continue. If you misspell your password between the two entries, you'll need to re-enter it again before you can proceed.
- Make sure your new password is at least 8 characters long and contains a combination of letters, numbers, and symbols.
9
Tap the checkmark
. You'll see this in the upper right corner of your screen. You can only press this if your current password is correct and your new passwords match.
- You'll get an email confirmation that you've changed your password.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Changing Your Password on a Computer

1
Go to https://instagram.com and sign in. You can change your password on a Windows or Mac desktop as well as the mobile browser.
2
Click your profile icon
or picture. You'll see this in the top right corner of the page.
3
Click the settings icon. You'll see the gear icon in the middle of the page when it opens.
4
Click Change Password. This is usually the first listing on the menu.
5
Enter your current password. To successfully change your password, you need to enter your current one correctly in the "Current password" text field.
6
Enter your new password twice. You'll need to enter your password and confirm it correctly before you can continue. If you misspell your password between the two entries, you'll need to re-enter it again before you can proceed.
- Make sure your new password is at least 8 characters long and contains a combination of letters, numbers, and symbols.
7
Click Change Password. You can only click this if your current password is correct and the new passwords match.
- You'll get an email confirmation that you've changed your password.