How to Mute Someone on Instagram

Instagram offers a feature called muting that allows you to customize your experience on the app by controlling the content that appears in your feed. It’s particularly useful when you want to take a break from someone’s posts without unfollowing them or when their content no longer aligns with your interests. Below, we cover different ways to mute someone on Instagram, as well as what exactly happens when you decide to mute someone. In addition, we discuss other ways to curate your Instagram experience, and the differences between muting someone, restricting someone, and blocking someone on Instagram.

How to Mute Someone on Instagram

Muting someone on Instagram is a way to customize your feed by limiting the content you see from a particular user. You can mute a user’s posts, stories, and even DM notifications. This feature allows you to curate your Instagram experience without unfollowing or blocking someone.

You have the flexibility to mute a user’s content from their recently posted stories or from their profile page. Additionally, you can mute DM notifications directly from your chat with them.

How to mute someone’s posts on Instagram

There are plenty of reasons to want to mute someone on Instagram. Maybe their content is no longer relevant to your interests, or maybe you simply need a break from seeing their posts in your feed. Whatever the reason, muting someone’s posts on Instagram is an easy process that can help you curate your Instagram feed.

To mute someone on Instagram from their profile: 

1. Open the Instagram app and go to the profile page of the account you want to mute.
2. Tap on the “Following” button below their bio.
3. Select “Mute” from the list of options that appear.
4. Toggle “Posts” to mute their posts. You can also choose to mute their stories and Instagram notes from here.

How to mute someone’s stories on Instagram

Muting someone’s stories is a great way to declutter your feed and avoid content that you’re not interested in. In addition to muting someone’s stories from their profile you can also mute them from their recently posted Instagram story.

To mute someone from Instagram Stories: 

1. At the top of your Instagram feed, open up their story. You can only mute someone this way if they’ve recently posted a Story. If not, you will need to mute them from their profile. 
2. Click the three dots in the upper right corner next to the X. 
3. A list of options will pop up. Select “Mute” and then “Mute story”

You can also choose to mute both stories and posts from their story. If you want to mute only their posts, but keep their stories in your Instagram feed you will need to do so from their profile. 

Your stories will still appear on their feed after you mute someone. If you want to hide your story from certain people you can do that from your Instagram story settings.

How to mute someone’s DMs on Instagram

You can also mute message notifications from individual people’s DMs on Instagram. 

To mute someone’s messages to you: 

1. Open the Instagram app and navigate to your chat with the person you want to mute. 
2. Once you’re in the chat, click on the username of the person at the top of the page. This will bring up their profile information and different options.
3. Click the “Mute” button below their profile photo.
4. You’ll then have the option to toggle whether you want to mute messages, calls, or both from this individual. 

Muting someone’s messages on Instagram does not prevent them from messaging you. In addition they’ll still be able to see your read receipts, activity status, and Instagram Notes.

What Happens When You Mute Someone on Instagram? 

When you choose to mute someone on Instagram, you’re adjusting your feed to prioritize the content that matters most to you. By muting an account, you’re preventing their posts and stories from appearing in your feed. 

However, it’s important to note that muting someone on Instagram doesn’t affect their ability to interact with your content or view your profile. They’ll still be able to see and interact with everything you post, view and respond to your Instagram stories, and send you DMs.  

Here is what happens when you mute someone on Instagram: 

• Posts and stories disappear from your feed: Once you mute someone on Instagram, their posts and stories will no longer appear in your feed. You’ll no longer see their content as you scroll through your feed, helping you focus on the accounts you’re most interested in.
• Their content is still accessible: While their content won’t appear in your feed, you can still access their posts and stories by visiting their profile page. You won’t miss out on any important updates or announcements from the account you’ve muted.
• They can still view and engage with your content: Muting someone on Instagram doesn’t affect their ability to view or engage with your content. They can still see everything you post, and regularly view your stories. In addition, muted Instagram users can still message you, comment on and like your posts, and respond to your stories.
• Muting is a private action: When you mute someone on Instagram, they won’t be notified.

How to Unmute Someone on Instagram

Muting some reduces their content on your Instagram feed. However, there may be times where you want to start seeing their posts and stories again. You can unmute someone on Instagram by following essentially the same steps you took to mute them to begin with.

To unmute someone on Instagram from their profile page, follow these steps:

1. Go to the profile page of the account you want to unmute.
2. Tap on the “Following” button below their bio.
3. Toggle off the mute buttons for posts, stories, or notes as desired.

You can unmute someone’s messages on Instagram from your inbox.

1. Open your Instagram messages with the person you want to unmute.
2. Click on their username at the top of the page.
3. Select the “Mute” button.
4. Untoggle the “Mute” button for either messages or calls.

How to Know if Someone Muted You on Instagram

Instagram doesn’t tell you if someone has muted, blocked, or restricted you on the platform. If you suspect that someone has muted you on Instagram, there are a few signs to look out for. However, it’s important to note that these signs are not definitive proof, and there could be other reasons for the changes in their behavior.

One of the most common signs is a decrease in engagement with your posts. If someone who used to like or comment on your posts regularly suddenly stops doing so, it could be because they have muted you. Similarly, if you notice that they consistently viewed your stories but suddenly stop, they may have muted your stories.

However, it’s important to remember that this may not always be the case. The algorithm might just not be making your posts or stories appear on their feed, or they might not regularly look at other people’s stories, or maybe they just don’t use social media much.

Muting vs. Restrict vs. Blocking on Instagram

Instagram provides several safeguards for you to choose who and what is allowed on your Instagram feed. Muting is one way, where you stop seeing the muted person’s content, but there is also restricting and blocking someone on Instagram.

What is restricting someone on Instagram?

When you restrict someone on Instagram, you’re restricting their access to your profile. 

This feature is different from muting, which only affects the visibility of a user’s posts and stories on your feed. Restricting someone on Instagram has a more significant impact on how they can interact with you and your content.

Here is what happens when you restrict someone on Instagram: 

• Direct messages go to the DM Request inbox: When you restrict someone, their direct messages will no longer appear in your regular inbox. Instead, they will be sent to your “DM Requests.” You won’t receive a notification when they send you a message, and they won’t be able to see if you have read their message or not.
• Comments are hidden from everyone except the restricted user and you: Any comments left by the restricted user on your Instagram posts will be hidden from everyone except you and them. You’ll need to tap “See Comment” to view their comment and choose whether to approve it, delete it, or ignore it.
• Your active status is hidden from them: When you restrict someone, your Instagram active status will be hidden from them. They won’t be able to see when you were last active on the app or if you are currently online.
• They won’t be notified: The restricted user won’t be notified that you have restricted them on Instagram. They’ll still be able to see your posts and stories, but their interactions with you will be hidden.

What is blocking someone on Instagram? 

Unlike muting and restricting, when you block someone, you are cutting off nearly all access to your profile and content. This means that they will no longer be able to see your profile, posts, stories, or any other activity on your account.

• Removal of likes and comments: Blocking someone removes their likes and comments on your Instagram posts. This effectively erases their engagement history with your content. However, unblocking them will not restore these, as they are permanently removed from your posts.
• Inability to mention or tag your username: A blocked user loses the ability to mention or tag your username in their posts or comments. Even if they know your username, they will not be able to reference you in any way. If you decide to change your username, they will not be able to mention or tag you unless they know your new one.
• Messaging restrictions: Once someone is blocked, both sides lose the ability to exchange DMs. While you won’t be able to send messages to the blocked user, you can still access and view any previous conversations you had with them. 
• Instagram group chats: If you are part of an Instagram group chat that includes the blocked user, you will be asked if you want to remain in the group. If you choose to stay, the blocked user can still interact with you within that chat.

Gretchen Oestreicher , 23 April 2024