Yes, you can turn off read receipts, but only for direct messages
Instagram lets you hide whether you've read a message in your DMs — the little "Seen" indicator that appears after someone sends you a direct message. You can turn this off in your privacy settings so people won't know when you've opened their messages. The catch: this setting applies to all your DMs at once. You can't hide it from one person and show it to another.
The feature exists because some people find read receipts stressful. If someone sees you've read their message but you haven't replied, they might assume you're ignoring them. Turning off read receipts removes that signal, though it doesn't stop them from noticing if you take a long time to respond.
Key Takeaways
- You can disable read receipts in Instagram's privacy settings under "Messages" — the setting is called "Show Activity Status".
- Turning off read receipts hides the "Seen" indicator from everyone, not just specific people.
- Disabling read receipts also hides your activity status (whether you're currently online), which some people find useful for privacy.
- The person messaging you will still see when you reply, just not when you first read their message.
- Instagram Stories and regular posts have separate privacy controls — turning off read receipts for DMs does not affect those.
How to turn off read receipts on Instagram
Open Instagram and tap your profile icon in the bottom right corner. Go to Settings and Privacy, then select Privacy. Scroll down to Messages and tap Show Activity Status. Toggle it off.
Once you turn this off, the "Seen" indicator disappears from your direct messages. People will no longer see the exact time you read their message. However, they'll still see when you send a reply, and they can still tell you're active on Instagram if you're posting or interacting with Stories.
What happens when you turn off read receipts
Disabling read receipts does two things at once. First, it hides the "Seen" timestamp from your DMs. Second, it removes your activity status — the green dot that shows you're currently online. Some people turn off read receipts specifically for this second effect, because they want to browse Instagram without appearing available to chat.
The person messaging you will still know you exist and can still message you. They just won't see proof that you've opened their message or that you're currently using the app. If you reply to them later, they'll see your response when ready.
The difference between read receipts and activity status
Read receipts and activity status are linked in Instagram's settings, but they do different things. A read receipt is the "Seen" indicator that appears after someone sends you a message — it shows the exact time you opened it. Activity status is the green dot next to your name that shows whether you're currently on Instagram.
Some messaging apps let you turn these off separately, but Instagram bundles them together. If you disable Show Activity Status, both disappear. You can't hide that you're online while still showing read receipts, or vice versa.
What you can't control with read receipts
Turning off read receipts doesn't hide your activity from Instagram itself — the company still tracks when you open messages for its own purposes. It only hides that information from other users. Instagram also doesn't let you disable read receipts for group chats separately from one-on-one messages.
If someone screenshots your message or conversation, they'll have proof you were there regardless of your read receipt settings. And if you reply to someone, they'll see your response when ready — there's no way to hide that you've been active without straightforward not using the app.
Why someone might want to turn off read receipts
The most common reason is to reduce pressure to respond when ready. If someone can see you've read their message, they might expect a quick reply. Without that indicator, you can take your time without appearing rude or dismissive.
Some people also turn off read receipts because they find the constant visibility exhausting. Being able to see exactly when someone read your message can create anxiety — you might wonder why they haven't replied yet, or worry that you said something wrong. Removing that information removes that source of stress for both sides.
Others disable it for privacy reasons. They don't want people to know when they're using Instagram, even if those people can still message them. This is especially common for people who want to keep their social media use private from family members or coworkers.
How to turn read receipts back on
Go back to Settings and Privacy, then Privacy, then Messages. Tap Show Activity Status and toggle it back on. The "Seen" indicator will reappear in your DMs, and people will be able to see when you're online again.
You can turn this setting on and off as many times as you want. There's no penalty for changing it, and Instagram doesn't notify other people when you do.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I turn off read receipts for just one person?
No. Instagram's read receipt setting applies to all your direct messages at once. If you want to hide your activity from one specific person, you would need to turn off read receipts for everyone, or straightforward avoid opening their messages when you don't want to respond.
If I turn off read receipts, can people still see my Stories?
Yes. Disabling read receipts for DMs doesn't affect your Story privacy settings. People can still see your Stories and know that you've viewed theirs, depending on your Story privacy settings. Those are controlled separately in your privacy settings.
Does turning off read receipts hide me from Instagram's algorithm?
No. Instagram still tracks your activity internally for its algorithm and advertising purposes. Disabling read receipts only hides your activity from other users, not from Instagram itself.
What if someone messages me while I have read receipts turned off?
They'll send the message normally. When you open it, they won't see a "Seen" indicator. If you reply, they'll see your response right away. Everything works the same as usual — they just won't have proof you've read their message.
Can I see other people's read receipts if they turn theirs off?
No. If someone disables their read receipts, you won't see the "Seen" indicator on messages you send them. You'll only see it if they've turned read receipts on.