Did you get an Instagram password reset email this week? If yes, it might have been the real thing.
Recently, many Instagram users were surprised to find password reset emails in their inboxes even though they had not asked for one. This unexpected surge of messages sparked widespread concern that the platform might have suffered a data breach or compromise. However, Instagram has now issued clear guidance to help users understand what happened and how to respond safely.
According to Instagram’s latest update, receiving a reset email does not mean that your account has been hacked. The company says that a technical issue allowed a third party to trigger password reset messages, but emphasized that there was no breach of its systems and that user accounts remain secure. The problem has since been fixed. Users who received these emails can ignore them if they did not initiate the request.
To help users distinguish legitimate emails from scams, Instagram’s clarification explains how to identify real security messages. Official password reset notifications typically come from addresses ending in @mail.instagram.com. Because display names can be spoofed, checking the full sender address in the email header is an important step in verifying authenticity before taking any action.
Or more simply, if you didn’t request a password reset, delete the email.
As a precaution, Instagram recommends that users enable multi-factor authentication, use strong and unique passwords, and regularly review their account security settings. These practices help protect against unauthorized access regardless of whether the trigger for a reset email was a mistake, a bug, or an external attempt to compromise an account.