Turn Off Read Receipts Instagram: Account‑Wide Guide 2026

Introduction

To turn off read receipts on Instagram account‑wide, you only need to toggle one setting. This single switch stops the “Seen” label from appearing when you read any direct message. Once disabled, nobody will know whether you have opened their messages, freeing you from the pressure to reply immediately.

This guide walks you through the exact steps for iPhone, Android, and the web version of Instagram. It also explains the one trade‑off you should know before making the change. For an overview of all the ways to control your read status, including per‑chat controls and the airplane mode trick, see our main guide on how to turn off seen on Instagram . If you only want to hide your reading activity from one specific person, our per‑chat seen control guide covers that method.

Steps to Turn Off Read Receipts on iPhone

Open the Instagram app and tap your profile icon in the bottom‑right corner.
Tap the three‑line menu (hamburger icon) in the top‑right corner of your profile page.
Scroll down and tap Messages and story replies, located under the “How others can interact with you” section.
Tap Show read receipts.
Toggle the Read receipts switch to the off position. The toggle will turn grey when disabled.

The change applies instantly. From that moment forward, no one in any Instagram DM conversation will see a “Seen” notification when you read their messages. You can verify this by asking a trusted friend to check after you read their message.

Steps to Turn Off Read Receipts on Android

The process is nearly identical on Android devices:

Open Instagram and tap your profile picture in the bottom‑right corner.
Tap the three‑line menu in the top‑right corner of your profile.
Scroll to Messages and story replies and tap it.
Tap Show read receipts.
Toggle the Read receipts option to off.

As with the iPhone version, the change is immediate and applies to all conversations. You do not need to restart the app or your device.

Steps to Turn Off Read Receipts on the Web

Instagram also allows you to turn off read receipts from a desktop browser:

Go to instagram.com and sign in.
Click More in the bottom‑left sidebar.
Select Settings.
Navigate to Messages and story replies.
Locate Show read receipts and click it.
Toggle the setting to off.

The web version mirrors the mobile app’s functionality. If you make this change on your computer, it syncs to your mobile device automatically.

The One Trade‑Off You Should Know

When you turn off read receipts on Instagram, the setting works both ways. You stop sending “Seen” notifications to others, but you also lose the ability to see when others have read your messages. Instagram designed this reciprocity to maintain a level playing field. If you frequently use the “Seen” status to gauge whether your friends or colleagues have viewed your urgent messages, you may find this trade‑off inconvenient.

For a deeper comparison of the two separate privacy settings that affect your DMs, our Activity Status vs. Read Receipts guide explains what each toggle actually controls.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will the other person know I turned off read receipts?
Instagram does not send a notification when you disable this setting. However, the other person may eventually notice that the “Seen” label no longer appears when you read their messages.

Can I turn it back on later?
Yes. Follow the same steps and toggle the switch back to the on position. The change is reversible at any time.

Does this also hide my activity status?
No. The green dot and “last seen” time are controlled by a separate Activity Status setting. You must turn that off independently.