Ever opened a DM on Instagram only to immediately regret it because the other person saw the “Seen” tag — and now expects a reply right away? You’re not alone.
Whether you’re overwhelmed with work, need time to think before replying, or simply crave a little digital breathing room, that tiny “Seen” marker can feel like a trap. The good news? As of 2024–2025, Instagram introduced a feature that lets you turn off read receipts — giving you back control over when others know you’ve read their messages.
This guide walks you through everything you need to know — step by step — to hide your “Seen” status on Instagram DMs. Even if you’re brand new to Instagram privacy settings, you’ll find this easy to follow.
Let’s begin.
What Are Read Receipts?
Read receipts are the “Seen” or “Read” labels that appear under a DM after you open it. This helps the sender know that you’ve viewed the message. Originally, this was meant to make communication clear and transparent — useful in friendly chats or business exchanges.
“Seen” creates pressure because it makes people feel expected to reply instantly, obligated to respond even when they don’t want to, and unable to maintain simple privacy and boundaries.
For many people (full-time workers, parents, students, busy professionals), having the option to read without being “seen” offers valuable mental relief and more control over their digital space.
How to Turn Off Instagram Read Receipts — Step by Step
As of late 2023 and early 2024, Instagram rolled out a feature that lets users disable read receipts in DMs.
Here’s how to use it:
Option 1: Disable Read Receipts for All Chats (Global Setting)
Use this if you want privacy across all your DMs — no one will know when you’ve read a message.
- Open the Instagram app (on iPhone or Android).
- Tap your profile icon (usually bottom right).
- Tap the hamburger menu (three horizontal lines) in the top-right corner.
- Go to Settings & privacy → Messages and Story replies.
- Look for “Show Read Receipts” (or similar wording) and toggle it off.
Once you do this, no one will see the “Seen” marker for any message you open.
Option 2: Disable Read Receipts for Specific Chats Only
Prefer to stay hidden only in certain conversations? You can turn off read receipts per chat.
- Tap the DM (messages) icon (paper-plane icon) on Instagram.
- Open the chat in which you want privacy.
- Tap the name of the person (or group) at the top of the chat.
- Go to Privacy & safety (or similar) settings inside the chat.
- Toggle off Read Receipts for that conversation.
This way, the “Seen” indicator remains off for that chat — but other chats behave normally (unless you turn them off too).
What Happens When Read Receipts Are Off
Turning off read receipts on Instagram has a few important effects (and some trade-offs).
Advantages
- The sender won’t know if you read their message. The message will stay on “Sent” status.
- More freedom: You can read messages in your own time — no pressure to reply instantly.
- Greater privacy: Helps manage boundaries, especially with acquaintances, colleagues, or casual contacts.
Disadvantages
- You also won’t see when others read your messages. Read receipts are mutual.
- The “Active Now” or “Online Status” may still be visible — hiding read receipts doesn’t hide your online presence.
- Certain special chat modes (e.g., vanish mode) might still override read-receipt settings. According to some sources, read receipts may still appear or behave differently in vanish mode.
What If the Toggle Isn’t Visible Yet — Workarounds You Can Try
Because features roll out gradually, some users might not see the “Read receipts” toggle. If that’s the case for you, these workarounds help mimic the effect of hiding “Seen”:
Method 1: Airplane Mode (Offline Reading)
- Make sure your DMs are loaded in Instagram (open the app first).
- Turn on Airplane Mode (disable Wi-Fi and mobile data).
- Go to the DM and read the message.
- Completely close Instagram (force-close / swipe it away) before turning your internet back on.
Because you were offline when reading, Instagram couldn’t send the read receipt — so the sender won’t see “Seen.” This method works well for one-time privacy needs but can be cumbersome if you check messages often.
Method 2: Use “Restrict” + Read Message → Then Unrestrict (Temporary privacy)
Another trick:
- Use the Restrict feature on the user’s profile. This means future messages from them go to a “Message Requests” folder.
- Read the message there — “Seen” is usually not triggered.
- If desired, you can unrestrict them later — chat remains, but the sender doesn’t know when you read it.
This method gives selective privacy with fewer steps than Airplane Mode, but it works only if you’re okay with moving the person to restricted mode.
Tips to Improve Your DM Privacy (Beyond Read Receipts)
If you want to use Instagram on your terms with minimal pressure, consider combining read-receipt controls with these habits:
- Turn off Activity Status: This hides when you’re online or last active — so people can’t guess you’ve read their DM based on your activity.
- Mute chats or notifications: If you get many messages, muting helps avoid constant pings that urge you to reply.
- Set a “DM time” window: Check your DMs once or twice a day (e.g. evening), instead of reacting immediately — keeps stress low.
- Organize your chats: Archive or clear old conversations so new, important DMs don’t get lost in the noise.
Will the other person get a notification if I turn off read receipts?
No, Instagram does not send any alert when you disable read receipts. The other person has no official way of knowing; they will simply notice their messages remain on “Delivered” even after you have opened and read them, providing you with complete privacy.
Can someone tell me that I’ve deliberately disabled read receipts?
Not for certain. While they will observe that messages stay on “Delivered,” they cannot confirm you’ve changed the setting. You might simply not have opened the chat, leaving the reason for the missing “Seen” tag ambiguous and protecting your choice.
What is the most effective way to read a message without triggering the ‘Seen’ notification?
The most reliable method is using the official toggle in Settings to disable read receipts. If that feature is unavailable, a common workaround is to read messages in Airplane Mode, which prevents the app from sending the read receipt to the sender.
If I turn off read receipts, can I still see when others have read my messages?
No, you cannot. This is the primary trade-off of the feature. Read receipts are a mutual setting, so disabling them for your account also removes your ability to see the “Seen” status from other people on the messages you send to them.
Does disabling read receipts also hide my ‘Active Now’ or ‘Last Active’ status?
No, these are separate privacy controls. Your online and last active status is managed by a different setting called “Activity Status.” To become fully invisible, you must disable both read receipts and your activity status within Instagram’s privacy settings independently.
Get the Blue Tick on Instagram
Conclusion
Sometimes, we all just want a little private time — even on social media. The “Seen” tag on Instagram DMs can feel like a chain that forces you to reply immediately, even when you don’t want to.
Luckily, as of 2026, Instagram gives us the choice to disable read receipts — either globally or per chat. With a quick toggle inside Settings → Messages & Story Replies, you can read DMs on your own time. If the option hasn’t reached you yet, simple tricks like Airplane Mode or the Restrict feature can still help.
Use these tools to take back control of your time, reduce stress, and enjoy Instagram on your terms.
FAQs — Common Questions About Turning Off Read Receipts
Q: Can I always turn off read receipts on Instagram?
A: Yes — if the feature is available in your region/app version. Instagram started rolling it out globally in late 2023 / 2024.
Q: What if I don’t see the “Read Receipts” toggle?
A: It might not have rolled out to you yet. If so, you can use workarounds like Airplane Mode or restricting the user to read messages privately.
Q: Will I still see when others read my messages if I turn off read receipts?
A: No — turning off read receipts is mutual. If you disable it, you also lose the ability to see others’ read status.
Q: Does this affect story views or vanish mode messages?
A: Read receipt settings only apply to DMs. Viewing stories or using vanish mode might follow different rules. Some vanish-mode messages may still show as read.
Q: I have the setting turned off, but I saw a “Seen” appear. Why did this happen?
A: This is rare but can happen due to a few reasons:
- Vanish Mode: This mode often bypasses the setting and forces read receipts on.
- App Glitch: A temporary bug or slow connection might cause it to appear briefly.
- Instagram Update: The app’s features are constantly evolving, so the behavior in specific situations might change.