Let’s face it, we’ve all been there.
You’re scrolling through your feed when you come across that one person’s posts who just won’t stop posting about their latest vacation/ relationship status/ what they had for lunch.
After a few minutes of suffering, you realize that the only way to save your sanity is to mute them. But how?
Luckily, we’re here to help. In this article, we’ll walk you through the steps necessary to mute somebody on Instagram.
So next time you find yourself bombarded with unwanted content, you’ll know exactly what to do — mute the user’s posts, hide story, mute their whole Instagram profile!
How Does Muting Work on Instagram?
Prior to this nifty little update, the only way to get rid of someone’s posts was to unfollow them.
But that meant you’d also lose access to any content they posted that you actually wanted to see (especially if the user’s profile was set to private).
Plus, they could see that you have unfollowed them and, depending on the particular user, that could lead to some awkwardness down the road. Not ideal.
Luckily, the mute option comes to the rescue by allowing you to get rid of someone’s posts without them ever knowing.
When you mute someone on Instagram, their posts will no longer show up in your feed. But unlike unfollowing, they won’t know you have muted their content, and as they say, what they don’t know won’t hurt them.
Muting vs Blocking
Another option to get rid of someone’s posts is to block them. When you block someone on Instagram, they can’t see any of your content, and you can’t see any of theirs.
So why would you ever want to mute posts instead of blocking them? First, it’s less aggressive. If you block someone, it’s a pretty big deal, and they’re likely to find out.
But if you just mute them, it’s not a big deal, and they’ll never know. Second, blocking someone completely cuts off all communication, which isn’t always what you want.
For example, let’s say you have a family member who is constantly posting political memes that you don’t agree with. You don’t want to see their posts, but you also don’t want to completely cut them out of your life.
In that case, the mute option is the perfect solution. Third, if you mute a user’s profile, Instagram gives you the option to still see their content if you change your mind.
Why You Should Use the Mute Option
Muting someone can have many advantages.
We all need a breather sometimes, and if someone continuously posts content that annoys or stresses you out, muting them can give you the break you need.
You don’t have to worry about them constantly being in your face, and you can still check up on them every once in a while if you want.
Muting can also help keep the peace.
If there’s someone in your life who you don’t get along with very well, muting them can help reduce the amount of conflict you experience.
You don’t have to see their posts and they don’t have to see yours, so there’s less of a chance for things to get heated.
Muting Profiles on the Instagram App
Instagram lets you mute people in several different ways, so you can get the exact level of muting that you want.
You can mute someone’s posts, mute someone’s story, or mute both their posts and their stories. Keep reading for detailed instructions on how to mute someone on Instagram in each of these different ways.
How to Mute Posts on Instagram
- Open up the user’s profile you want to mute.
- Tap on the Following tab under their profile picture.
- Select Mute option from the drop down menu.
- Tap to toggle the Posts bar active.
- Their posts should now be hidden from your feed!
How to Unmute Posts
Unmuting posts is super easy! Just follow the initial steps above and when you get to the final menu tap Unmute.
How to Mute Someone’s Stories
- Open the story of the person you want to mute.
- Tap the three dots in the top right corner.
- Select Mute option from the menu.
- Tap to toggle the Stories bar active.
- Their stories will no longer appear in your feed!
How to Unmute Stories
Unmuting Instagram stories is super easy! Just follow the initial steps above and when you get to the final menu tap Unmute.
How to Mute Messages from an Instagram Account
- Open your Instagram app.
- Tap the inbox icon in the top right corner.
- Tap the conversation you want to mute.
- Tap the three dot menu in the top right corner.
- Select Mute option from the menu.
- Their messages will now be muted!
How to Unmute messages
Unmuting messages is super easy! Just follow the same steps as above and when you get to the final menu tap Unmute.
Instagram Muting Function FAQ
Like with any social media update, there are bound to be some questions about the new mute feature on Instagram. Here are answers to some of the most commonly asked questions.
How Do I Know if I Have Been Muted?
If you think someone has muted you, the best way to tell is to ask them directly. Other than that, there really is no way to tell if someone has muted you on Instagram.
You may notice a drop in engagement on your posts from someone who you think may have muted you, but it could also be because they’re no longer interested in your content, so it’s best not to jump to conclusions.
Does the Other Person Know I Muted Them?
Keeping it fair, Instagram doesn’t notify the other person when you mute them. So if you’re worried about someone finding out, don’t be! They’ll never know.
Can Muted People Still See My Posts?
Yes, muted people can still see your posts. Just because you muted someone doesn’t mean they’re completely blocked out of your life on Instagram.
If you have a private profile, only your followers can see your posts, regardless of whether or not you’ve muted them.
Can Muted People Still Send Me Messages?
Yes, even if you have muted their messages specifically, it doesn’t stop them from sending you a message. You just won’t get notifications when they do.
That message will stay in your inbox until you decide to open them, but the glaring red bubble won’t be annoying you every time you open the app.
Final Thoughts
Muting people on Instagram can definitely help to declutter your life, but it’s not a perfect solution.
It’s still possible for muted users to contact you and see what you’re up to, so use this tool wisely. And if someone is really getting on your nerves, you can always block them entirely instead of just muting someone’s story.
In any case, the variety of muting options should give you full control over what you see in your feed, and that’s really all we can ask for.
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