You can hide Reels from your Instagram feed without deleting your account or changing your password
Instagram does not offer a single setting that turns off Reels entirely, but you can remove them from your main feed and reduce how often they appear. The steps differ slightly depending on whether you use Instagram on your phone or a computer. On a phone, you hide Reels through your feed preferences. On a computer, the option is less visible but still available in your settings menu.
The process takes about two minutes and does not affect your account security or your ability to post. Your followers will still see your posts normally. Reels you have already posted remain on your profile unless you delete them separately.
Key Takeaways
- You can hide Reels from your main feed by adjusting your feed preferences in Instagram settings, which takes less than two minutes.
- On iPhone or Android, tap your profile icon, then Settings and Privacy, then Feeds, then turn off the Reels toggle.
- On a computer, go to Settings, then Feeds, and uncheck the box next to Reels to remove them from your home feed.
- Hiding Reels from your feed does not delete Reels you have already posted or prevent you from watching them if you search for them.
- If you change your mind later, you can turn Reels back on using the same menu in under one minute.
How to hide Reels on iPhone
Open Instagram and tap your profile icon in the bottom right corner. This takes you to your profile page. From there, tap the three horizontal lines (called a menu icon) in the top right, then tap Settings and Privacy.
Once you are in Settings and Privacy, scroll down and tap Feeds. You will see a toggle next to Reels. Tap the toggle to turn it off. The toggle will change color from blue to gray, which means Reels are now hidden from your main feed. Close the menu by tapping outside of it or swiping down.
How to hide Reels on Android
The steps on Android are identical to iPhone. Open Instagram and tap your profile icon in the bottom right. Tap the three horizontal lines, then Settings and Privacy. Scroll down to Feeds and tap it. Find the toggle next to Reels and tap it to turn it off.
On some Android phones, the toggle may appear slightly different visually, but it works the same way. When the toggle is off, Reels will no longer appear in your main feed.
How to hide Reels on a computer or web browser
Go to Instagram.com and log in if you are not already logged in. Click your profile icon in the bottom left corner of the screen. Click Settings, then click Feeds from the menu on the left side.
You will see a checkbox next to Reels. If the box is checked, Reels are currently visible in your feed. Click the checkbox to uncheck it. Once unchecked, Reels will be removed from your home feed. You can close this menu and return to your feed.
What happens after you hide Reels
After you hide Reels, they will no longer appear when you scroll through your main feed. Posts from accounts you follow will still appear normally. Stories, photos, and videos will continue to show up as usual.
If you have posted Reels yourself, they remain on your profile. Other people can still find them by visiting your profile directly. Hiding Reels from your feed is a personal preference that only affects what you see — it does not change what other people see when they visit your account.
What you cannot do by hiding Reels
Hiding Reels from your feed does not prevent Instagram from recommending Reels to you in other places, such as the Explore page or the Reels tab. If you want to avoid Reels entirely, you would need to avoid those sections of the app.
You also cannot hide Reels from specific people or accounts. The setting applies to your entire feed. If you want to stop seeing Reels from one particular account, you can mute that account instead, which hides all their posts from your feed.
How to turn Reels back on
If you change your mind and want to see Reels again, the process is the same as hiding them. On your phone, go to Settings and Privacy, then Feeds, and tap the Reels toggle to turn it back on. On a computer, go to Settings, then Feeds, and check the box next to Reels.
Reels will reappear in your feed within a few minutes. You can turn them on and off as many times as you want without any penalty or restriction.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will hiding Reels delete the ones I already posted?
No. Hiding Reels from your feed only removes them from your view of other people's feeds. Your own Reels stay on your profile. Other people can still see them if they visit your profile or if they follow you and have Reels turned on.
Can I hide Reels from just one person or account?
No, the Reels setting applies to your entire feed. However, you can mute a specific account, which hides all their posts and Reels from your feed without unfollowing them. To mute someone, visit their profile, tap the three dots, and select Mute.
Will Instagram recommend Reels to me in other places if I hide them from my feed?
Yes. Hiding Reels from your main feed does not affect the Explore page, the Reels tab, or recommendations elsewhere in the app. If you want to avoid Reels completely, you will need to avoid those sections.
Does hiding Reels affect my account settings or privacy?
No. Hiding Reels is purely a feed preference that changes what you see. It does not change your password, privacy settings, or how other people can interact with your account.
What if the Reels toggle does not appear in my Feeds settings?
This can happen if you are using an older version of Instagram. Update the app from your phone's app store and try again. If the toggle still does not appear, your account may not have access to this feature yet, though Instagram is rolling it out to most users.