What link history is and why you might want to turn it off
Instagram tracks the links you click within the app — both links in posts, Stories, and messages. This history helps Instagram show you ads based on what you've looked at, and it also means Instagram knows which external websites you visit from their platform. Turning off link history stops Instagram from storing this record and using it to target ads toward you.
The setting is called Off-Facebook Activity on Instagram, and it works across Instagram and Facebook together. When you turn it off, Instagram stops collecting data about links you click, but it does not erase the history that was already collected before you made the change.
This is different from clearing your browsing history in your phone's web browser. Instagram's link tracking happens inside the app itself, so turning off link history in Instagram is a separate step from clearing your phone's browser history.
Key Takeaways
- Link history on Instagram tracks which external websites you visit through the app and uses that data to show you targeted ads.
- The setting to turn this off is called Off-Facebook Activity and is found in your Instagram account settings under Privacy.
- Turning off link history stops future tracking but does not delete the history Instagram already collected.
- This setting affects both Instagram and Facebook if you have both accounts linked to the same login.
How to turn off link history on Instagram (iPhone)
Open Instagram and tap the menu icon — three horizontal lines — in the bottom right corner. Tap Settings and privacy, then tap Settings.
Scroll down and tap Apps and websites. You will see a section called Off-Facebook Activity. Tap Clear history if you want to erase the links you have already clicked, then tap Turn off. Instagram will ask you to confirm. Tap Turn off again.
After you turn it off, Instagram will no longer track which links you click. The setting stays off until you manually turn it back on.
How to turn off link history on Instagram (Android)
Open Instagram and tap the menu icon — three horizontal lines — in the bottom right corner. Tap Settings and privacy, then tap Settings.
Scroll down and tap Apps and websites. Under Off-Facebook Activity, tap Clear history if you want to erase past clicks, then tap Turn off. Confirm by tapping Turn off again when Instagram asks.
The steps are the same on Android as on iPhone because Instagram uses the same menu structure across both platforms.
What happens when you turn off link history
Once you turn off link history, Instagram stops recording which external websites you visit through the app. This means the links you click in posts, Stories, Reels, and messages will no longer be tracked for ad targeting purposes.
However, turning off link history does not prevent Instagram from collecting other data about you — such as what posts you like, which accounts you follow, or how long you spend on the app. Those behaviors still feed into Instagram's ad system. Link history is one piece of the larger data picture Instagram uses.
If you turn off link history and then later change your mind, you can turn it back on by going to the same menu and tapping Turn on instead of Turn off.
The difference between clearing history and turning it off
Clearing history and turning off link history are two separate actions. Clearing history deletes the record of links you have already clicked. Turning off link history stops Instagram from tracking future clicks.
If you only clear history without turning it off, Instagram will start collecting link data again when ready. If you only turn it off without clearing history, the old data remains on Instagram's servers. For the most privacy, do both: clear the existing history first, then turn off future tracking.
You can also clear your history without turning off the setting if you want Instagram to continue tracking but want to erase what it already knows about your past clicks.
Link history and ad targeting across Instagram and Facebook
If you have both an Instagram account and a Facebook account linked to the same login, turning off link history on Instagram also affects Facebook. The Off-Facebook Activity setting works across both platforms because they share the same parent company and data systems.
This means that when you turn off link history on Instagram, Facebook will also stop tracking the links you click within the Facebook app. The reverse is also true — if you turn off link history in Facebook's settings, it affects Instagram as well.
If you have separate logins for Instagram and Facebook, each account has its own link history setting, and you will need to turn off link history in both places if you want to stop tracking on both platforms.
Other privacy settings to consider alongside link history
Turning off link history is one step toward more privacy on Instagram, but there are other settings worth reviewing. You can make your account private so only people you approve can see your posts, limit who can message you, and turn off activity status so others cannot see when you were last online.
You can also control which apps have permission to access your Instagram account. Go to Settings and privacy, tap Apps and websites, and look for Active apps and websites to see which third-party services are connected to your account. Remove any you no longer use.
Instagram also offers a setting to limit the data it collects about your location. In Settings and privacy, tap Privacy, then look for location-related options depending on your phone's operating system.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does turning off link history delete links I already clicked?
No, turning off link history only stops future tracking. To delete the links you have already clicked, you must tap Clear history before turning off the setting. Clearing history and turning off tracking are two separate steps.
Will turning off link history stop Instagram from showing me ads?
No, Instagram will still show you ads based on other behavior — the posts you like, the accounts you follow, and the time you spend on the app. Turning off link history only removes one source of data that feeds into ad targeting.
Can I turn off link history for just one app if I have Instagram and Facebook?
No, the Off-Facebook Activity setting controls tracking across both Instagram and Facebook together. If you turn it off on one, it turns off on both. If you have separate logins for each platform, you can control them independently.
What if I turn off link history and then want to turn it back on?
You can turn link history back on at any time by going to Settings and privacy, tapping Apps and websites, and tapping Turn on under Off-Facebook Activity. Instagram will resume tracking your clicks when ready.
Does turning off link history affect my ability to use Instagram normally?
No, turning off link history does not change how Instagram works or limit any features. You can still click links, share posts, and use the app exactly as before — Instagram straightforward stops recording which external websites you visit.