You can disable comments on individual posts or turn them off for all future posts
Instagram lets you block comments in two ways: you can turn off comments on a post you have already published, or you can disable them before you post something new. The setting is straightforward — it takes about 30 seconds — but where you find it depends on whether the post already exists.
Disabling comments is useful when you want to share something without inviting feedback, when a post is attracting unwanted replies, or when you straightforward do not want to moderate a conversation. You keep full control: you can turn comments back on at any time, and people who already commented will still see their own replies.
Key Takeaways
- You can disable comments on an existing post by tapping the three dots above it, selecting "Turn off commenting", and confirming your choice.
- To disable comments before you post, tap "Advanced Settings" in the compose screen and toggle off "Allow Commenting".
- Disabling comments does not delete existing replies — people who already commented will still see what they wrote.
- You can turn comments back on at any time using the same menu, and new comments will be allowed when ready.
- This setting works the same way on both the Instagram app for phones and the web version on a computer.
How to turn off comments on a post you have already shared
Open Instagram and find the post where you want to disable comments. This can be a post on your own profile or anywhere else on the app. Tap the three dots in the upper right corner of the post — they appear above the photo or video, next to the timestamp.
A menu will pop up with several options. Look for "Turn off commenting" and tap it. Instagram will ask you to confirm — tap "Turn off commenting" again in the confirmation box. That is all. Comments are now disabled on that post.
If you change your mind later, follow the same steps and you will see "Turn on commenting" instead. Tap it to allow comments again. Any comments that were posted before you disabled them will still be visible.
How to disable comments before you post
When you are composing a new post, after you have selected your photo or video and added any captions or filters, look for "Advanced Settings" near the bottom of the compose screen. Tap it to expand the options.
You will see a toggle next to "Allow Commenting". It is turned on by default — the toggle will be blue or green. Tap it once to turn it off. The toggle will change color to gray, which means comments are now disabled for this post. Finish composing and share your post as normal.
This method prevents comments from the moment the post goes live. No one will be able to comment, and the comment box will not appear on the post at all.
What happens to existing comments when you disable them
If you disable comments on a post that already has replies, those comments stay visible. People who wrote them can still see what they said, and anyone viewing your profile can still read those comments. Disabling comments only stops new ones from being added — it does not erase the old ones.
If you want to remove specific comments without disabling comments entirely, you can delete individual replies by tapping the three dots on that comment and selecting "Delete". This gives you more control if only certain comments are a problem.
Disabling comments on Reels and Stories
The process is slightly different for Reels and Stories because they have their own comment settings. For a Reel, tap the three dots on the Reel itself, then select "Turn off commenting". For Stories, tap the three dots when you are composing the Story, then look for "Hide Like and Comment Counts" or "Allow Replies" depending on your Instagram version — toggling these off will disable comments.
Stories are more limited than regular posts: you can hide comments from your followers, but close friends or people you follow can still message you about the Story directly. If you want to prevent all interaction, you can post to Close Friends only instead, which restricts who sees the Story in the first place.
Why you might want to disable comments
Some posts attract comments you do not want to manage. A photo of a personal milestone, a political statement, or a controversial topic might draw replies that are off-topic, rude, or time-consuming to moderate. Disabling comments lets you share without opening that door.
You might also disable comments to control the conversation around sensitive topics, to prevent spam bots from flooding a post, or straightforward because you prefer to share without inviting discussion. There is no penalty for disabling comments — it does not affect how many people see your post or how Instagram's algorithm treats it.
Using comment filters instead of disabling comments entirely
If you want to allow comments but filter out certain words or phrases, Instagram has a separate tool for that. Go to Settings, then Privacy, then Comments. You can add words, phrases, or hashtags that you want Instagram to automatically hide. Comments containing those words will be hidden from your posts, but the person who wrote them will not know they were filtered.
This is useful if you want to keep comments on but avoid seeing specific slurs, spam, or unwanted topics. You can also restrict comments from accounts you do not follow, or from accounts that do not follow you, without turning comments off entirely.
Frequently Asked Questions
If I disable comments, will people know I turned them off?
Yes. When someone tries to comment on a post with comments disabled, they will see a message saying "Comments are turned off for this post" instead of the normal comment box. They will know you disabled them, but they will not receive a notification about it.
Can I disable comments for all my posts at once?
No. You have to disable comments on each post individually, or disable them before you post something new. There is no setting to turn off comments on your entire profile at once. However, you can use the comment filter tool to hide comments containing certain words across all your posts.
What if someone is harassing me in the comments?
You can delete individual comments by tapping the three dots on that comment and selecting "Delete". You can also block the person entirely by tapping the three dots on their comment, selecting their username, and choosing "Block". Blocking prevents them from seeing your posts and messaging you. Disabling all comments is another option if the harassment is widespread.
Do disabled comments affect my engagement or reach?
No. Instagram's algorithm does not penalize posts with comments disabled. Your post will still appear in feeds and search results the same way. Disabling comments might actually reduce engagement numbers because people cannot comment, but it does not change how many people see the post.
Can I disable comments on old posts from years ago?
Yes. You can disable comments on any post you have published, no matter how old it is. Find the post on your profile, tap the three dots, and select "Turn off commenting". This works the same way whether the post is from last week or several years ago.