You can hide Reels from your feed without blocking people or deleting your account
Facebook and Instagram both let you reduce or remove Reels from what you see, though the tools work differently on each platform. On Facebook, you can tell the algorithm to show you fewer Reels, mute Reels from specific people, or hide individual Reels as they appear. On Instagram, the options are more limited — you can mute Reels from accounts you follow, but you cannot turn off the feature entirely. Neither option requires you to block anyone or change your privacy settings.
The distinction matters because "blocking Reels" usually means one of three things: stopping them from appearing in your main feed, preventing a specific person's Reels from showing up, or hiding a single Reel you have already seen. Each has a different path, and some are easier than others depending on which app you use.
Key Takeaways
- On Facebook, you can tell the algorithm to show fewer Reels by clicking the three dots on any Reel and selecting "See fewer reels" — this trains your feed over time.
- To stop Reels from one specific person, open their profile, tap the three dots next to their name, and choose "Mute" or "Mute posts and reels".
- On Instagram, muting Reels from accounts you follow uses the same mute feature, but you cannot disable Reels entirely from the Explore page or Reels tab.
- Hiding a single Reel as it appears in your feed does not change what you see in the future — it only removes that one post from view.
How to reduce Reels in your Facebook feed
The simplest way to see fewer Reels on Facebook is to use the feedback tool built into the feed itself. When a Reel appears in your feed, hover over it or tap and hold it, then look for the three dots (the menu icon) in the top right corner of the post. Tap those dots and select "See fewer reels". Facebook will not remove Reels entirely, but it will gradually show you fewer of them as you repeat this action.
This method works because Facebook's algorithm learns from your choices. The more times you select "See fewer reels", the more the system adjusts your feed. However, the change is gradual — you may still see Reels mixed in with other content. If you want a faster result, muting Reels from specific accounts (see the next section) is more direct.
You can also adjust your feed preferences in Facebook's settings. Go to Settings and Privacy, then Settings, then Feeds. Look for options related to content type or Reels. The exact wording and available options change as Facebook updates the app, so the menu may look slightly different depending on when you last updated.
How to mute Reels from a specific person on Facebook or Instagram
If one person's Reels are cluttering your feed, you can mute that account without unfriending or blocking them. On Facebook, go to their profile, tap the three dots next to their name (or next to the "Friends" button), and select "Mute". A menu will appear with options to mute posts, stories, or both. Select the option that includes posts and Reels.
On Instagram, the process is nearly identical. Go to the account's profile, tap the three dots in the top right, and select "Mute". You will see checkboxes for "Posts" and "Stories" — check both to hide their Reels as well, since Reels are treated as posts in Instagram's mute system. The person will not be notified that you muted them, and you can unmute them at any time by returning to their profile.
Muting is different from unfriending or blocking. The person remains your friend or follower, they can still see your posts (unless your account is private and they are not following you), and they have no way to know you muted them. You straightforward will not see their posts, stories, or Reels in your feed.
How to hide a single Reel without changing your feed settings
Sometimes you just want a specific Reel to disappear from your feed without adjusting your overall preferences. On both Facebook and Instagram, tap the three dots on that Reel and select "Hide post" or "Remove from feed". The Reel will vanish when ready, but this does not affect what you see in the future — it only removes that one post.
This option is useful when a Reel is off-topic, upsetting, or straightforward not what you want to see right now, but you do not want to mute the entire account or change your feed settings. You can hide as many individual posts as you want without any long-term effect on your feed algorithm.
Why you cannot turn off Reels entirely on Instagram
Instagram does not offer a way to disable Reels completely. You can mute Reels from accounts you follow, and you can hide individual Reels, but the Reels tab will always exist on your profile, and Reels will continue to appear in your Explore page and main feed. Meta (Instagram's parent company) treats Reels as a core feature of the platform, similar to how it treats Stories.
If you want to avoid Reels on Instagram, your options are limited to muting specific accounts and hiding individual posts. Some users also report that using Instagram less frequently, or spending less time on the Explore page, naturally reduces Reel exposure because the algorithm learns from your behavior.
What happens when you report a Reel instead of hiding it
If a Reel violates Facebook or Instagram's community standards — for example, it contains harassment, misinformation, or explicit content — you can report it instead of just hiding it. Tap the three dots and select "Report post" or "Report". You will be asked why you are reporting it, and your report goes to Meta's moderation team, not to the person who posted it.
Reporting is different from hiding. When you report a post, you are telling Meta that it may break the rules. When you hide a post, you are just removing it from your own view. Reports are reviewed by humans and automated systems, and Meta may remove the post, warn the account, or take no action depending on what they find. The person who posted may or may not be notified, depending on the outcome.
Frequently Asked Questions
If I mute someone's Reels, can they tell I did it?
No. Muting is invisible to the other person. They cannot see that you muted them, and there is no notification sent to them. You remain friends or followers, and they can still see your posts unless your account is private and they are not following you.
Will hiding a Reel stop that person from posting Reels to my feed?
No. Hiding a single Reel only removes that one post from your view. To stop seeing Reels from that person in the future, you need to mute their account. Hiding individual posts does not change what you see next time they post.
Can I turn off Reels on Facebook but keep them on Instagram?
Yes. Facebook and Instagram have separate settings, even though they are owned by the same company. You can reduce Reels on Facebook by selecting "See fewer reels" while still seeing them on Instagram, or vice versa. Your choices on one app do not affect the other.
What if I want to see Reels again after telling Facebook to show me fewer?
You can reverse the preference by selecting "See more reels" when a Reel appears in your feed. You can also unmute any accounts you muted, which will restore their posts and Reels to your feed. There is no permanent setting that locks you out of seeing Reels.
Does reporting a Reel remove it from my feed?
Not when ready. Reporting sends the post to Meta's review team, but it stays in your feed while they investigate. If you want it gone from your view right now, hide the post first, then report it if you believe it breaks the rules.