You can hide Instagram Reels from your feed, but you cannot fully disable them across the platform
Instagram does not offer a setting that removes Reels entirely from your account or prevents them from appearing anywhere on the platform. However, you can reduce how often they show up in your feed, mute individual creators' Reels, and prevent your own posts from being turned into Reels automatically. The steps differ depending on whether you use Instagram on a phone or computer, and whether you want to control what you see or what you post.
If your goal is to stop seeing Reels in your main feed, the most direct approach is to tell Instagram you are not interested in that content type. If you want to prevent yourself from accidentally posting Reels, you can change your default upload settings. Both take less than a minute to set up.
Key Takeaways
- You can hide Reels from your feed by tapping "Not interested" on individual Reels, which trains Instagram to show you fewer of them over time.
- Muting a creator's Reels stops their Reels from appearing in your feed without unfollowing them or notifying them.
- You can turn off automatic Reels creation by changing your default post type in settings so Instagram does not suggest turning photos or videos into Reels.
- The Explore page and Reels tab will still show Reels content even if you hide them from your main feed.
- These settings sync across your phone and computer, but Instagram may still recommend Reels based on your activity.
Hide Reels from your main feed
On your phone, open Instagram and go to your feed. When a Reel appears, tap the three dots in the bottom right corner of the post. Select "Not interested" from the menu. Repeat this for multiple Reels to train the algorithm to show you fewer Reels overall. This does not block the creator or remove the Reel from Instagram — it only tells your account that you do not want to see similar content.
On a computer, the process is similar. Hover over a Reel in your feed and click the three dots icon. Choose "Not interested" from the dropdown. The effect is the same: Instagram learns your preference and adjusts what appears in your feed going forward. This method works best if you do it consistently, because Instagram weighs recent feedback more heavily than older feedback.
Be aware that this approach reduces Reels in your main feed but does not remove them from the Explore page or the dedicated Reels tab. If you want to avoid Reels entirely, you will need to avoid those sections of the app.
Mute Reels from specific creators
If certain people post Reels you do not want to see, you can mute their Reels without unfollowing them. On your phone, tap the three dots on one of their Reels and select "Mute [creator's name]'s Reels." On a computer, hover over the Reel, click the three dots, and choose the mute option. The creator will not be notified, and you will still see their regular posts and Stories.
You can mute Reels from as many creators as you want. To manage your muted list, go to Settings, then Privacy, then Muted. You will see separate sections for muted accounts, muted Stories, and muted Reels. Tap any creator's name to unmute their Reels at any time.
Turn off automatic Reels suggestions when you post
When you upload a video or photo to Instagram, the app sometimes suggests turning it into a Reel. You can disable this suggestion by changing your default post type. On your phone, open Settings, go to Account, then Default Post Type. Choose "Feed" instead of "Reels." This tells Instagram to post your content to your feed by default rather than suggesting the Reels format.
This setting does not prevent you from posting Reels if you choose to — it only removes the automatic suggestion. You can still manually create a Reel by selecting the Reels option when you upload. On a computer, this setting is not available, so you will need to use your phone to change it.
What you cannot do
Instagram does not allow you to completely disable Reels as a feature. You cannot remove the Reels tab from the bottom navigation, hide all Reels from the Explore page, or prevent Reels from appearing in your feed permanently. Even if you mark many Reels as "Not interested," Instagram may still show you Reels based on your overall activity, watch history, and accounts you follow.
If you post Reels to your account, there is no way to delete them from the Reels tab without deleting the post entirely. Archiving a Reel hides it from your profile but does not remove it from the Reels tab or your followers' feeds if they have already seen it.
Why Instagram keeps showing you Reels
Instagram prioritizes Reels in your feed because they generate more engagement and watch time than static posts or carousels. The company has stated that Reels are a core part of the platform's future, so the algorithm is designed to surface them even when you do not follow many creators who post them. Telling Instagram you are not interested in specific Reels helps, but it does not override the platform's overall strategy to promote video content.
If you want to see fewer Reels, the most effective long-term approach is to engage with other content types instead. Like, comment on, and save carousel posts and static photos. Follow creators who post primarily in those formats. Over time, Instagram will adjust your feed to match your actual behavior, not just your stated preferences.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does muting someone's Reels affect what they see from me?
No. Muting a creator's Reels is private — they cannot see that you muted them, and it does not change what they see from your account. They will still see your posts and Stories if they follow you.
If I mark a Reel as "Not interested," will that creator know?
No. Marking content as "Not interested" is private feedback to Instagram's algorithm. The creator receives no notification, and it does not affect your relationship with them or what they see from you.
Can I hide the Reels tab from the bottom of my screen?
No. The Reels tab is a permanent part of Instagram's navigation and cannot be removed or hidden. You can simply avoid tapping it if you do not want to see Reels content.
Will these settings work on both my phone and computer?
Most settings sync across devices, but some features like changing your default post type are only available on mobile. Your "Not interested" feedback and muted creators list will appear on both your phone and computer.
What happens to Reels I posted if I change my default post type?
Changing your default post type does not affect Reels you have already posted. They remain on your profile and in the Reels tab. The setting only changes what format Instagram suggests for your next upload.