You can hide Reels from your feed without blocking people or unfollowing them

Facebook and Instagram both let you reduce how often Reels appear in your feed. You won't see the "Not Interested" option on every Reel, but when it shows up, tapping it tells Meta's system to show you fewer videos like that one. You can also mute Reels from specific people, hide all Reels temporarily, or adjust your feed preferences to prioritize other content types. None of these actions notify the person who posted the Reel, and the person can still see your posts normally.

The most direct method is the three-dot menu on individual Reels. If you want a broader change, you can adjust your Feed Preferences to see more posts and fewer Reels overall. Neither approach removes Reels entirely — Meta doesn't offer a complete block — but both reduce their visibility in your main feed.

Key Takeaways

  • Tap the three-dot menu on a Reel and select "Not Interested" to tell Meta to show you fewer similar videos.
  • Use "Mute [Person's Name]" from the same menu to stop seeing Reels from one specific person without unfollowing them.
  • Go to Settings > Feed Preferences and toggle "Reels" off to reduce Reels in your main feed across both Facebook and Instagram.
  • These actions are invisible to other users and do not affect whether they can see your posts or send you messages.

How to hide individual Reels using the three-dot menu

Open the Reel you want to hide. In the bottom right corner, you'll see three dots stacked vertically. Tap or click that menu. A list of options will appear, including "Not Interested" or "See Less of This." Choose that option. Meta will adjust your feed to show you fewer Reels similar to the one you just marked.

If the three-dot menu doesn't appear on a Reel, it may be from a business account or a Reel that Meta doesn't allow feedback on. In that case, move to the next method. The "Not Interested" feedback works best when you use it consistently — the more you mark, the better Meta learns what you want to see.

How to mute Reels from a specific person

If one person posts Reels you don't want to see, you can mute them without unfollowing. Tap the three-dot menu on any of their Reels and select "Mute [Person's Name]." You'll then see options to mute their posts, Reels, or stories. Choose "Mute Posts and Reels" or just "Mute Reels" depending on what you prefer.

When you mute someone, their content stops appearing in your feed, but they can still message you, see your posts, and comment on your content. You can unmute them anytime by going to their profile, tapping the three-dot menu, and selecting "Unmute." The person will never know you muted them.

How to reduce Reels in your feed using Feed Preferences

On Facebook or Instagram, go to Settings (the gear icon or hamburger menu). Scroll down and tap "Feed Preferences." You'll see a list of content types, including "Reels." Tap "See Less" next to Reels. This tells Meta to prioritize other content — posts from friends, photos, and stories — over Reels in your main feed.

This change applies to your entire feed, not just one person's content. You'll still see some Reels, but they'll appear less frequently. If you change your mind, you can return to Feed Preferences and tap "See More" next to Reels to restore them to their previous level.

The difference between hiding, muting, and unfollowing

Hiding a Reel using "Not Interested" affects only that video and similar ones. Muting a person hides all their content from your feed but keeps the connection intact. Unfollowing removes all their posts from your feed and changes your relationship status. Blocking is the strongest action — it prevents the person from seeing your profile, messaging you, or finding your posts.

For most people who just post too many Reels, muting is the right choice. It's reversible, invisible, and doesn't damage the relationship. Use "Not Interested" for Reels about topics you don't care about. Save unfollowing for people whose content you never want to see again. Reserve blocking for people you want to avoid entirely.

Why Reels keep appearing even after you hide them

Meta's algorithm shows Reels based on what it thinks you'll engage with, not just what you've explicitly hidden. Even if you mark several Reels as "Not Interested," the system may still show you new Reels from different creators or about different topics. This happens because Meta prioritizes engagement — Reels tend to get more clicks and watch time than static posts, so the platform pushes them into feeds.

If you want to see fewer Reels overall, the Feed Preferences method works better than marking individual videos. Toggling "See Less" for Reels tells Meta to deprioritize the entire content type, not just specific videos. You'll still see some Reels, but they'll be less dominant in your feed.

What happens when you hide or mute Reels

When you mark a Reel as "Not Interested," Meta records that feedback but doesn't notify the person who posted it. The person can still see your posts, comment on your content, and message you. Your relationship on the platform doesn't change from their perspective.

If you mute someone's Reels, the same applies — they have no way of knowing. They won't see a notification, and their ability to interact with your content remains unchanged. The only action that notifies someone is blocking, which prevents them from seeing your profile or contacting you at all.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I block all Reels at once?

No, Meta doesn't offer a complete block on Reels. You can reduce them using Feed Preferences, mute specific people, or mark individual Reels as "Not Interested," but some Reels will still appear. If you want to minimize them as much as possible, use Feed Preferences to toggle "See Less" for Reels, then mute people who post them frequently.

Will someone know if I mark their Reel as "Not Interested"?

No. Meta doesn't notify users when someone marks their content as "Not Interested." The person won't see any notification or indication that you hid their Reel. Only you see the effect — fewer similar videos in your feed.

If I mute someone's Reels, can they still see my posts?

Yes. Muting only affects what you see in your feed. The person you muted can still view your profile, see your posts, like your content, and comment on it. They have no way of knowing you muted them.

What's the difference between muting and unfollowing?

Muting hides someone's content from your feed but keeps you following them — they can still see your posts and interact with you. Unfollowing removes their posts from your feed and changes your relationship status, which they may notice if they check their follower list. Muting is less visible and easier to reverse.

Can I hide Reels on both Facebook and Instagram with one setting?

If you have a Meta account that connects both platforms, adjusting Feed Preferences on one may affect both. However, Facebook and Instagram have separate feeds and separate settings. To reduce Reels on both, adjust Feed Preferences on each app individually.