How to Hide Likes on Instagram: Simple Steps for Privacy
Are you tired of feeling like you have to constantly compete for likes on Instagram? Do you want to take a step back from the pressure of social media? Fortunately, there is a solution. By hiding your likes on Instagram, you can take control of your online presence and reduce the stress that comes with the pursuit of likes.
In this article, we will guide you through the simple steps to hide your likes on Instagram. We will also explore the benefits of doing so and answer common questions about this feature. Whether you’re looking to enhance your privacy or simply reduce social pressure, hiding your likes on Instagram is a great place to start.

How to Hide Likes on Instagram
If you’re concerned about your privacy on Instagram, hiding your likes can be a simple and effective way to enhance it. By doing so, you can reduce social pressure and promote mental health, while also keeping your activity on the platform private. Here’s how to remove likes on Instagram and keep them hidden:
Step-by-Step Guide to Hiding Likes on Instagram
Step | Instruction |
---|---|
1 | Open the Instagram app on your mobile device |
2 | Click on your profile icon in the bottom right corner |
3 | Click on the three horizontal lines in the top right corner |
4 | Select “Settings” at the bottom of the menu |
5 | Scroll down and click on “Privacy” |
6 | Select “Posts” from the list of options |
7 | Toggle off the “Allow others to see your likes” button |
By following these simple steps, you can easily remove likes on Instagram and hide them from your followers.
Disabling Likes on Instagram
If you want to go one step further, you can also disable likes on your Instagram account altogether. To do this, you’ll need to contact Instagram’s help center and request that they remove the likes feature from your account. This is a more extreme measure, but it can provide the ultimate level of privacy for your account.
Whether you choose to conceal your likes or disable them altogether, taking these steps can go a long way in enhancing your privacy on Instagram and promoting a healthier relationship with social media.
Concealing Likes on Instagram
If you’re looking for ways to keep your Instagram activity private, you might want to consider concealing your likes. There are different options available, depending on how much control you want over your likes visibility.
Disabling likes altogether
If you want to take the most radical approach, you can disable all likes on your Instagram account. This simply means that, from now on, no one will be able to see if you’ve liked any posts – including you. It’s an all-or-nothing approach and can be useful if you want to make your Instagram account more private.
To disable likes, you’ll need to navigate to your profile settings and find the “Privacy” tab. From there, scroll down until you see “Posts” and select “Hide Likes and View Counts”. This will prevent anyone, including yourself, from seeing the number of likes on your posts.
Concealing likes from certain followers
If you’d like to keep your likes visible to everyone, but still want to hide them from certain followers, you can use Instagram’s “Close Friends” feature. This feature allows you to create a list of followers that can see your private stories, but not your public ones – including your likes.
To use this feature, you’ll need to create a “Close Friends” list, which you can do from the “Settings” menu. Once your list is created, you can add followers to it by navigating to their profile and selecting “Add to Close Friends”. From now on, only these followers will be able to see your likes.
If you want to exclude certain followers from seeing your likes, you can simply remove them from your “Close Friends” list.

Benefits of Hiding Likes on Instagram
There are several benefits to hiding likes on Instagram, some of which may not be immediately obvious. By hiding likes, you can:
- Reduce social pressure: Hiding likes can help alleviate the pressure to get a certain number of likes or maintain a certain level of popularity on the platform. It also creates a more level playing field, as everyone’s posts are judged on their own merits rather than the number of likes they receive.
- Promote mental health: Studies have shown that social media can have a negative impact on mental health, with users feeling anxiety, depression, and FOMO (fear of missing out) as a result of the constant stream of curated content. Hiding likes can help reduce these negative feelings and create a more positive social media experience.
- Encourage authenticity: With likes hidden, users may be more likely to post authentically and without fear of judgment. This can lead to a more diverse and interesting range of content on the platform.
Overall, hiding likes on Instagram can make the platform a more positive and inclusive space, while also promoting mental health and authenticity.
What Happens When You Hide Likes on Instagram
When you hide likes on Instagram, your followers will no longer see the number of likes on your posts. This means that their focus will shift towards the content you post, rather than the number of likes it receives. However, you will still be able to see your own likes on your post, but they will not be visible to others.
Additionally, hiding likes may affect your engagement, as some users may be less likely to interact with a post if they are unable to see how many likes it has received. However, this can also have a positive effect by encouraging users to engage based on their personal interest in the post, rather than simply following the crowd.
Ultimately, hiding likes on Instagram can promote a healthier and more authentic social media experience. It can reduce the pressure of constantly striving for more likes and allow users to focus on simply sharing content they enjoy without being distracted by the numbers.
Other Ways to Enhance Privacy on Instagram
Besides hiding likes on Instagram, there are several other ways to enhance privacy and control over your account. Here are some additional tips:
Adjust Notification Settings
By adjusting your notification settings, you can control what types of interactions trigger a notification and who can see when you are active on Instagram. To access notification settings, go to your profile, click the three horizontal lines in the top right corner, and select Settings. From there, you can customize your notification preferences.
Limit Data Sharing
Instagram collects a significant amount of data about its users, including location information and search history. While this data can be used to provide a better user experience, you may want to limit the amount of data that Instagram collects and shares. To do this, go to your profile, click the three horizontal lines in the top right corner, and select Settings. From there, you can review and adjust your data sharing preferences.
Review Tagged Photos
Tagged photos on Instagram can be a potential privacy concern, as they can reveal your location and the people you associate with. You can review and remove tagged photos by going to your profile, clicking the person icon in the bottom right corner, and selecting Tagged. From there, you can untag yourself from any photos that you do not want associated with your account.
Manage Interactions
Instagram allows you to control who can see and interact with your posts and stories. To adjust your interaction settings, go to your profile, click the three horizontal lines in the top right corner, and select Settings. From there, you can customize who can see your posts, who can comment on them, and who can reply to your stories.
Use Two-Factor Authentication
Two-factor authentication is an extra layer of security that helps protect your account from unauthorized access. To enable two-factor authentication on Instagram, go to your profile, click the three horizontal lines in the top right corner, and select Settings. From there, click Security and then Two-Factor Authentication. Follow the prompts to set up two-factor authentication using your preferred method.
Common Questions About Hiding Likes on Instagram
If you’re considering hiding your likes on Instagram, you may have a few questions about how it works and what to expect. Here are some of the most common questions people have:
Can I Hide Likes from Certain Followers on Instagram?
No, you can’t hide your likes from specific followers on Instagram. When you hide your likes, they become hidden to everyone who views your posts. Keep in mind that any likes you receive on public posts will still be visible to everyone, regardless of your likes visibility settings.
Will My Likes still Be Visible to Me When I Hide Them on Instagram?
Yes, you’ll still be able to see your own likes on Instagram when you hide them. The change only affects what others see on your posts.
Can I Remove Likes from Instagram Posts That Are Already Published?
Yes, you can hide or remove likes from Instagram posts that are already published. Simply follow the same steps for hiding likes on a new post, and the change will be applied retroactively.
Will Hiding Likes on Instagram Affect My Engagement or Algorithm Ranking?
It’s unclear whether hiding likes on Instagram will directly affect your engagement or algorithm ranking. Instagram has stated that the change is intended to create a safer and more comfortable environment for users, but it’s possible that likes may still play a role in the platform’s algorithm and user engagement metrics behind the scenes.
Can I Still See How Many Likes I Get on Instagram When I Hide Them?
Yes, you can still see how many likes you get on Instagram even if you choose to hide them from others. The change only affects what other users can see on your posts.
Can I Disable Likes on Instagram Altogether?
No, you can’t disable likes on Instagram altogether. However, you can choose to hide your likes counts from others, as we’ve explained in this article.
FAQ
Here are some frequently asked questions about hiding likes on Instagram:
Can I hide my likes from certain followers on Instagram?
Unfortunately, you can’t hide your likes from specific followers on Instagram. If you choose to hide your likes, they will be hidden from everyone who views your posts.
Do my likes still count when I hide them on Instagram?
Yes, your likes will still be counted by Instagram’s algorithm even if you choose to hide them from your followers.
Will I be able to see my own likes if I hide them?
Yes, you will still be able to see your own likes on Instagram even if you choose to hide them from others.
Can I remove likes on Instagram for just one post?
Yes, you can remove the likes for individual posts on Instagram by accessing the post settings and selecting the option to hide the like count.
Why would I want to hide my likes on Instagram?
Hiding your likes on Instagram can help reduce social pressure and improve your mental health by removing the emphasis on popularity and engagement. It can also promote a more authentic and genuine connection with your audience.