How-To

How to Hide Your Posts on Instagram

By Brian Burgess

Published April 6, 2023

A bit of privacy on Instagram can help you regain some control over what you share online. Learn how to hide your posts on Instagram in this guide.

Do you have published posts that you rather someone not see? An excellent option for that would be the ability to hide your posts on Instagram.

Unfortunately, Instagram doesn’t have a specific feature to hide certain posts. Instead, all your followers can see anything you post on Instagram. However, there are some workarounds you can use to limit the visibility of your posts.

You can hide posts from viewing in a few ways, such as blocking a user, hiding Stories from certain people, or making your account private. To hide your posts on Instagram, follow the steps below.

How to Block a User to Hide Your Instagram Posts

One straightforward and effective method to hide your Instagram posts is to block a user. Of course, this will stop them from the ability to see your entire account.

To block someone on Instagram:

1. Launch the Instagram app on your phone or tablet and sign in if you aren’t already.
2. Navigate to the profile page you want to block and tap the three-dot menu button.
3. When the menu appears, tap the Block option.
4. When the verification message appears, tap Block “Username” and then select the Block button.

Note: You can also block additional accounts the user may have created if you want to ensure all instances of the user’s options to view your post are hidden. If you wish to unblock them in the future, go to the same menu and select the Unblock option.

How to Hide Your Instagram Stories

If you are a fan of the Stories feature on Instagram, you can choose people you don’t want to see the content. This is a great way to hide your stories from the onlookers you don’t want.

To hide your Instagram Stories:

1. Launch the Instagram app on your phone and tap your profile icon at the bottom.
2. Tap the menu button on your profile page.
3. Select the Settings option when the menu appears.
4. Choose the Privacy option from the menu that appears.
5. Tap Story from the Privacy menu.
6. On the Story menu, tap the Hide story from option.
7. Now, on the “Hide Story from” screen, select the people you want to hide your Stories from.
8. Instagram will automatically implement and save your settings without you having to select a separate button. When finished, tap the Done button, and you are all set.

Make Your Instagram Account Private

Another option you can use to hide your posts on Instagram is to make your account private. Only the followers you approve can view your posts and other content on your profile when you make your Instagram account private.

Luckily, making your Instagram account private is straightforward and requires toggling a switch on or off.

To make your Instagram account private:

1. Open Instagram and sign in.
2. Click your profile icon at the bottom.
3. On the profile page, tap the menu button in the top right corner.
4. Tap the Settings option when the menu appears.
5. Tap the Privacy option from the Settings menu.
6. Under the Account privacy section, toggle on the Private account setting to make your account private.
7. A verification message will appear. It explains what happens when you set your account to private. If you agree, tap the Switch to private button.

With your account set to Private, only those followers you allow to follow your profile can see your posts.

Staying Private on Instagram

While Instagram doesn’t have a button or toggle switch to hide select posts from followers, you can use one of the above workarounds to achieve a similar result. Using one of those options can restrict someone from viewing individual or all of your posts on the social network.

To get the most from your Instagram experience, become a verified user and make Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) easier. Also, you might be including your location with posts. For more privacy, learn about disabling your location on Instagram.

If your Instagram app is running slow or having other performance issues, clear the Instagram cache to improve the app experience. If you don’t have your phone available, learn how to view Instagram content on your computer. And if you have been on Instagram for years, you can check out how to download a copy of your Instagram data.