You can disable Reels on Instagram, but the options depend on your device and what you want to hide

Instagram does not offer a single "turn off Reels" button that removes the feature entirely from your account. What you can do is limit how often you see Reels in your feed, prevent Reels from appearing in specific places, or restrict who can see Reels you post. The steps differ between the iPhone app, Android app, and web browser — and some options are stronger than others.

If you want to stop seeing Reels recommendations in your main feed, you can mute the Reels tab or adjust your feed preferences. If you want to prevent Reels from auto-playing when you scroll, you can change your video playback settings. If you post content yourself and want to keep Reels private, you can adjust who sees them before you publish.

Key Takeaways

  • Instagram does not have a master off switch for Reels, but you can hide the Reels tab, mute Reels recommendations, and turn off auto-play.
  • On iPhone and Android, go to Settings, then Preferences, then turn off "Show Reels" to remove Reels from your feed and Explore page.
  • You can disable auto-play for Reels in Settings under Preferences, which stops videos from playing sound and movement as you scroll.
  • When you post a Reel yourself, you can set it to private or limit who sees it before you publish, which is different from hiding Reels others create.
  • Web browser Instagram has fewer controls than the mobile app, so the strongest Reels restrictions work best on iPhone or Android.

How to hide Reels from your feed on iPhone and Android

The most direct way to reduce Reels in your feed is to turn off the "Show Reels" setting. Open Instagram and tap your profile icon in the bottom right corner. Tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) and select Settings and privacy. Tap Preferences, then scroll down and tap Reels. Toggle off "Show Reels" — this removes Reels from your home feed and from the Explore page.

This setting does not delete Reels you have already posted, and it does not prevent you from seeing Reels if you click directly on the Reels tab at the bottom of the app. It only stops Reels from appearing in your main feed and in search results. If you change your mind later, you can turn the setting back on using the same path.

Some users report that after turning off "Show Reels," Reels still appear occasionally in their feed. If this happens, try logging out completely and logging back in. Close the app entirely, wait a few seconds, and reopen it. Instagram sometimes needs a full restart to explore preference changes.

How to turn off auto-play for Reels and other videos

Even if you keep Reels visible in your feed, you can stop them from playing automatically as you scroll. Go to Settings and privacy, then Preferences. Tap Media, then find the "Auto-play" option. You will see three choices: "Always," "Wi-Fi only," or "Never." Select "Never" to disable auto-play for all videos, including Reels.

When auto-play is off, Reels will show a still image with a play button instead of moving and playing sound as you scroll past them. You have to tap the video to watch it. This does not remove Reels from your feed, but it makes them less intrusive and uses less data if you are on a mobile plan with limited bandwidth.

The "Wi-Fi only" option is a middle ground: Reels auto-play when you are connected to Wi-Fi but not when you are using cellular data. This is useful if you want to watch Reels at home but avoid them when you are out.

How to make your own Reels private or limit who sees them

If you post Reels yourself and want to control who sees them, you can set privacy before you publish. When you create a Reel, before you tap Share, look for the "Who can see this?" option. You can set it to "Public" (everyone), "Followers" (only people who follow you), "Close friends" (a list you create), or "Private" (only you). Choose the setting that matches what you want, then tap Share.

You can also change the privacy of a Reel after you post it. Go to the Reel, tap the three dots in the corner, and select "Edit." Tap "Who can see this?" and choose a new setting. Save the change. This is useful if you post something public and later decide you want it seen by fewer people.

Changing a Reel to "Private" does not delete it — it just hides it from your profile and from search. You can still watch it yourself, and you can change it back to public later if you want.

How to mute Reels recommendations from specific accounts

If certain accounts post Reels you do not want to see, you can mute them without unfollowing. When you see a Reel from an account you want to mute, tap the three dots on the video. Select "Mute [account name]" and choose whether to mute their posts, their Reels, or their stories. If you select "Mute Reels," you will not see Reels from that account in your feed, but you will still see their regular posts.

Muting is private — the account owner cannot tell that you muted them. You can unmute at any time by going to that account's profile, tapping the menu icon, and selecting "Unmute." If you mute many accounts' Reels, you will see fewer Reels overall in your feed without turning off the feature entirely.

What you cannot do: the limits of Reel controls

Instagram does not let you disable Reels completely if you want to keep using the app. You cannot remove the Reels tab from the bottom navigation bar, and you cannot prevent all Reels from appearing in your feed even with "Show Reels" turned off — some may still appear in Explore or in the feeds of accounts you follow.

You also cannot control whether other people post Reels. If someone you follow creates a Reel, it will appear in your feed unless you mute that account's Reels or turn off "Show Reels" entirely. There is no way to block Reels from specific people while keeping Reels from other people visible.

On the web version of Instagram, the controls are even more limited. You can mute individual accounts' Reels, but you cannot turn off "Show Reels" or adjust auto-play settings from a browser. For the strongest Reel restrictions, use the iPhone or Android app.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does turning off "Show Reels" delete my Reels?

No. Turning off "Show Reels" only hides Reels from your feed and Explore page. Your posted Reels remain on your account and are still visible to anyone who visits your profile directly. If you turn the setting back on, your Reels will reappear in your feed.

Can I hide Reels from one person without hiding them from everyone?

You can mute one person's Reels specifically, which stops their Reels from appearing in your feed while you still see Reels from other accounts. Go to their Reel, tap the three dots, and select "Mute Reels." This does not affect their other posts or stories.

Why do Reels still appear in my feed after I turned off "Show Reels"?

Instagram sometimes takes time to explore preference changes, or the setting may not have saved correctly. Try logging out completely, closing the app, waiting a few seconds, and logging back in. If Reels still appear, check that the "Show Reels" toggle is actually off by going back to Settings and Preferences.

Does turning off auto-play remove Reels from my feed?

No. Turning off auto-play only stops videos from playing automatically as you scroll. Reels will still appear in your feed, but they will show a still image with a play button instead of moving. You have to tap them to watch.

Can I hide Reels on Instagram web?

Instagram web has limited Reel controls. You can mute individual accounts' Reels, but you cannot turn off "Show Reels" or change auto-play settings from a browser. For full control, use the iPhone or Android app.