Instagram learns what you watch and shows you more of it
Instagram's Reels algorithm tracks which videos you pause on, like, share, and watch all the way through. The more you interact with a type of content, the more similar videos Instagram will send to your feed. You cannot turn off this tracking entirely — it is how the platform works — but you can tell Instagram to show you less of specific topics, creators, or types of content, and you can reset your recommendations to start fresh.
The tools are in your account settings and in the Reels feed itself. They work best when you use them regularly, because Instagram weights your recent actions more heavily than your old ones. If you watched cooking videos for a month and then switched to fitness content, your recommendations will shift within a few days.
Key Takeaways
- You can tell Instagram to show you less of a specific video, creator, or topic by using the "Not interested" option on individual Reels.
- Instagram's algorithm learns from what you watch, like, and share, so your Reels feed will change based on your recent activity.
- Clearing your search history and watch history does not reset Reels recommendations, but changing what you interact with does.
- If you want a completely fresh start, you can temporarily pause your activity data collection in your privacy settings, though Instagram will resume tracking once you turn it back on.
How to tell Instagram you do not want to see a specific Reel
Open any Reel you do not want to see again. On the right side of the screen, you will see a row of icons — a heart, a comment bubble, a share arrow, and a three-dot menu. Tap the three dots.
A menu will appear with options including "Not interested", "Save", "Share to", and "Report". Tap "Not interested". Instagram will remove that video from your feed and use it as a signal to show you fewer videos like it. You can do this as many times as you want, and it works when ready — the next time you refresh your Reels feed, that video will not reappear.
This is the fastest way to steer your recommendations away from content you do not enjoy. If you find yourself seeing a lot of videos about a topic you want to avoid, use "Not interested" on several of them in a row. Instagram will pick up the pattern.
How to see less from a specific creator
If a particular account keeps showing up in your Reels and you want to see their content less often, tap the three-dot menu on one of their videos and select "See less from this creator". This tells Instagram to deprioritize that account's videos in your feed without unfollowing them or blocking them.
You can still see their videos if you visit their profile directly, and they will not know you selected this option. It is different from unfollowing, which removes all their posts from your feed. "See less from this creator" just turns down the volume on their Reels recommendations.
How to control what topics Instagram recommends
Go to your profile and tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) in the top right. Scroll down and tap "Settings and privacy", then tap "Settings". Scroll to "Ads and data" and tap "Ad preferences".
Under "Ad preferences", tap "Interests and data". You will see a list of topics and interests that Instagram has assigned to you based on your activity — things like "Fitness and wellness", "Food and drink", "Entertainment", or "Technology". Tap any topic to see it, and tap the X next to it to remove it from your profile. Removing a topic will reduce how often Instagram shows you content related to it in Reels and other feeds.
This list is not complete — Instagram tracks interests it does not display — but removing the ones you see will have an effect. The changes take a few hours to show up in your recommendations.
How to reset your Reels recommendations from scratch
There is no single "reset" button for Reels, but you can create a fresh start by changing your activity. The most direct method is to pause your activity data collection temporarily. Go to Settings and privacy, then Settings, then scroll to "How you use Instagram" and tap "Your activity". Tap "Pause all activity" at the top.
When you pause all activity, Instagram stops recording what you watch, like, and share. Your Reels recommendations will not change during this time, but once you resume activity, Instagram will begin learning from your new interactions instead of your old ones. Resume activity after a few days, and your recommendations will start shifting based on what you do next.
A faster approach is straightforward to interact with different content for a week or two. Watch Reels on topics you actually want to see, like and share them, and avoid clicking on content you do not want. Instagram will adjust your recommendations within days. This method works because the algorithm weights recent activity more heavily than old activity.
What clearing your search and watch history does and does not do
Instagram lets you clear your search history and your watch history separately. Go to Settings and privacy, then Settings, then scroll to "How you use Instagram" and tap "Clear search history" or "Clear watch history".
Clearing these does not reset your Reels recommendations. Instagram still has a record of what you have watched and liked — clearing the history just removes it from your own view. The algorithm continues to use your past behavior to recommend content. If you want to actually change your recommendations, use the "Not interested" option on individual videos or remove interests from your Ad preferences instead.
Why Instagram keeps recommending content you do not want
Instagram's algorithm is designed to keep you watching, which means it sometimes recommends content that is engaging even if it is not what you asked for. A video that makes you angry or upset still counts as engagement — you watched it, you may have paused on it, you might have commented. The algorithm cannot tell the difference between "I loved this" and "I hated this" if both result in you spending time on the video.
This is why using "Not interested" matters. It is the only way to tell Instagram that engagement does not mean you want more. If you find yourself repeatedly seeing content you dislike, it usually means you have engaged with similar content in the past, even if you did not mean to. The solution is to actively tell Instagram to show you less, and then to interact with content you actually want to see.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Instagram know if I watch a Reel without liking it?
Yes. Instagram tracks whether you pause on a video, how long you watch it, whether you scroll past it quickly, and whether you replay it. Liking is just one signal among many. If you watch a video all the way through, Instagram counts that as engagement even if you never tap the heart.
If I block someone, will their Reels stop showing up?
Blocking prevents someone from seeing your profile and messaging you, but it does not automatically change your Reels recommendations. If you want to see less from someone, use "See less from this creator" instead. Blocking is for privacy and safety, not for feed management.
Can I tell Instagram to show me only Reels from accounts I follow?
No. Instagram does not have a setting to limit Reels to only your followers. The algorithm is designed to show you content from accounts you do not follow, because that is how Instagram finds new creators for you. You can reduce recommendations from unfollowed accounts by using "Not interested" frequently, but you cannot turn off the feature entirely.
Will using "Not interested" affect what ads I see?
Not directly. "Not interested" on a Reel tells Instagram to adjust your content recommendations, not your ad targeting. Your ads are based on your interests, search history, and browsing behavior across the web. Removing interests from your Ad preferences will affect ads, but using "Not interested" on Reels will not.
How long does it take for changes to my recommendations to show up?
Changes usually appear within a few hours to a day. If you use "Not interested" on several videos in a row, you may see a shift in your next Reels session. Larger changes — like removing an interest category — can take up to 24 hours to fully take effect.