By default, the content you share on Instagram can be viewed by virtually anyone who has an account on the app. But if you’d rather stay under the radar, there are a few things you can do to hide your Instagram account and prevent your contacts and other people from finding you on the social network. Follow along with this guide, as we detail various methods that will help you stay hidden from prying eyes on Instagram.
Good to know: did you know that you can now download Instagram Reels directly from the app? Here’s how.
Table of Contents
1. Unlink Facebook From Instagram
To make sharing smoother, Instagram allows you to link your Facebook account to the app (and vice versa). However, if you wish to prevent people from finding you on Instagram, we advise against it.
Linking the two accounts means both apps will have access to each other’s friend lists. Whenever a Facebook friend joins Instagram, your profile will show up as a friend suggestion. Since this is something we want to avoid, go ahead and remove your Facebook connection from Instagram.
Open the Instagram app on your device. Tap on your profile icon on the bottom right.
Press the hamburger menu in the upper-right corner of your profile to access Settings.
Select Accounts Center at the very top.
Tap on Accounts in the lower section of the screen.
Press the Remove button next to your Facebook account name.
Instagram will ask you to confirm whether you want to disable connected experiences for your account. Tap on the first option to Remove account.
Reconfirm your choice by pressing the Continue button on the next screen.
Finally, press Yes to remove the account.
You can also unlink your Facebook account from the Instagram web version. On your feed page, click on the More button in the left corner. Select Settings.
On the left side, scroll down and click on the Accounts Center option.
Select Accounts on the left and then click the Remove button next to your Facebook account.
Tip: check how to use Instagram’s latest Blend feature to create a custom Reel feed.
2. Make Your Account Private
Setting your account to private is one of the easiest ways to make your profile less visible. Even if someone does eventually find you, they won’t be able to see your posts unless you give them express permission to do so. Plus, if you opt for a handle/bio that doesn’t feature your real name/nickname and an abstract-type image not showing your face, chances are you won’t receive random follow requests from acquaintances either.
You can activate the privacy mode on mobile by heading to Settings -> Account privacy.
Toggle on the Private account option at the top.
Tap to Switch to private in the pop-up that appears from the bottom.
On PC, go to Settings -> Account privacy and toggle on the Private account option on the right.
3. Remove Your Phone Number from Instagram
Before you go ahead with removing your phone number from Instagram, you should know that it will effectively disable two-factor authentication (2FA) if you have that enabled for your account.
You also need to add a verified email address for this to work, since Instagram does require at least one verified way to contact you in case of emergency. We recommend using one that’s not associated with your real name, so you can keep things ambiguous.
Tip: you can disable 2FA yourself by going to Settings -> Accounts Center -> Password & security -> Two-factor authentication and turning it off from there.
To remove your phone number, go back to Accounts Center in the mobile app and navigate to Personal details.
Tap on Contact info at the top.
Select the phone number in question.
Then tap the button to Delete phone.
Press Delete once again in the pop-up.
Alternatively, tap the Add new contact button to add a new email address.
You can also delete your phone number from the web version of Instagram. Go to Accounts Center -> Personal details -> Contact info.
Delete your number from there.
FYI: here’s how to view someone’s Instagram stories without them knowing about it.
4. Turn Contact Syncing Off
You’ve probably used the contact syncing option yourself back when you were setting up your Instagram account for the first time. However, if you don’t wish that others use the same technique to find you, you should disable it on the device you’re using Instagram on.
Go to Settings -> Accounts Center -> Your information and permissions.
Go to Upload contacts.
Make sure the Connect contacts option is off.
You can also prevent contact syncing via your phone’s settings. If you’re using an Android device, go to Settings -> Apps -> Permissions.
Choose Contacts from the list.
Select Don’t allow on the next screen.
On the other hand, if you’re an iPhone user, go to Settings -> Apps -> Instagram.
Tap on Contacts.
Select None.
5. Prevent Your Friends From Finding You in Similar Accounts
Instagram will suggest similar accounts to its users, so even if someone hasn’t stumbled upon your profile yet, you might show up in their recommendations solely based on the fact that your profile is similar to others they follow.
To prevent this from happening, go to Instagram on your desktop browser. Strangely enough, this option is absent from the mobile app.
Go to your Instagram profile on your PC and hit the Edit Profile button.
Scroll to the bottom and toggle off the option to Show account suggestions on profiles.
Then, click on the blue Submit button.
6. Turn Your Online Status Off
If you want even more privacy, turning your online status off is a step in the right direction.
Go to Settings -> Messages and story replies (under the How others can interact with you).
Select Show activity status.
Toggle off the option on the next screen.
Alternatively, you can do the same from a PC. Just go to Settings -> Messages and story replies and toggle off Show activity status on the right.
Tip: not seeing someone’s Activity Status on Instagram? Here are some additional reasons why that might not be.
7. Block Certain Accounts
Want to make absolutely sure someone can’t find you on the app, no matter what? Block their account if you know their username.
On mobile, simply navigate to their profile and tap on the three-dot menu in the corner of the display.
A pop-up menu will show up from the bottom of the display. Select Block from there.
On your PC, find the three dots next to their Instagram user name and select Block from the pop-up window.
8. Temporarily Deactivate Your Account
The only way to be 100% sure someone will never find you is if you erase your account. But since that’s a bit drastic, you can opt instead to temporarily disable your account and get some peace of mind.
This means your photos, likes, and comments will be hidden until you decide to log back into the app.
You can deactivate your Instagram account from either the mobile app or the web version of Instagram through Accounts Center. For the exact steps, check our dedicated post on the matter.
Once you’re ready to go back, simply log back into Instagram once again with your username and password, and everything will be restored.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I control who messages me on Instagram?
It’s possible to control who you interact with on Instagram via Direct Messages. Go to Settings -> Messages and story replies and set up Message Requests for both people who follow you and those who don’t. This means new Direct messages won’t automatically go to your Instagram Inbox, but will be lodged in a Requests tab from where you can quickly delete them. Also, make sure you tweak the settings for who can add you to group chats, which you’ll find on the same page.
How do I remove an Instagram follower?
Go to your profile and tap on Followers next to your profile picture. The list of accounts that follow you will become visible. Tap on the X button next to the account you want to delete them from your list. Instagram won’t notify that particular account that you’ve removed it.
If I block an account, can the person behind it still contact/follow me via another account?
Unfortunately, yes. For instance, they can make another account and contact you from there. This is why we recommend making your account private, so you can screen any account that wants to follow you and identify any potential shady profiles you don’t want to have in your list.
