You can't permanently delete Instagram's suggested reels, but you can reduce them
Instagram doesn't offer a button to turn off suggested reels entirely. The platform uses them to keep you watching, and that's by design. What you can do is tell Instagram which reels you don't want to see, which trains its algorithm to show you fewer of them over time. You can also mute specific accounts, hide reels from certain creators, and adjust your feed settings to prioritize content from people you follow.
The methods below work best when you use them consistently. If you mark reels as "not interested" every time you see one you don't want, Instagram gradually learns your preferences. But if you stop doing it, the suggestions will creep back in.
Key Takeaways
- Tap the three dots on any reel and select "Not interested" to tell Instagram you don't want to see similar content from that creator.
- Use the "See less" option to reduce reels from a specific account without unfollowing them.
- Switch your feed to "Favorites" view to see only posts from accounts you've marked as favorites, which removes most suggested content.
- Mute accounts entirely so their posts and reels stop appearing in your feed while you remain following them.
- Adjust your feed settings to prioritize "Following" over "Home" to see fewer algorithmic suggestions.
Mark individual reels as "not interested"
This is the most direct way to train Instagram's algorithm. When you see a reel you don't want, tap the three dots in the bottom right corner of the video. A menu will appear with several options.
Select "Not interested". Instagram will remove that reel from your feed immediately and use it as a signal to show you fewer reels from that creator or in that category going forward. Do this every time you see a suggested reel you don't want. Over weeks, you'll notice fewer of those types appearing.
This method takes patience because Instagram doesn't change your feed overnight. But it's the most effective way to personalize what you see without leaving the app entirely.
Use "See less" to reduce one account's reels
If a specific account keeps showing up in your suggestions but you don't want to unfollow them, tap the three dots on their reel and select "See less". This tells Instagram to reduce how often that account's content appears in your feed.
You can use "See less" multiple times on the same account if their reels keep reappearing. Each time you select it, Instagram lowers the priority of that creator's content. Unlike unfollowing, "See less" keeps you following the account — you just won't see as much from them.
Mute accounts to hide their reels without unfollowing
Muting is different from "See less". When you mute an account, their posts and reels stop appearing in your feed entirely, but you remain following them. They won't know you've muted them, and you can still visit their profile if you want to.
To mute an account, go to their profile, tap the three dots in the top right, and select "Mute". A menu will appear asking what you want to mute — choose "Posts and reels" or "Reels" only, depending on what you want to hide. You can mute as many accounts as you need to.
Muting is useful when you follow someone for their main content but don't want to see their reels, or when you want to take a break from an account without the awkwardness of unfollowing.
Switch to "Favorites" view to see only chosen accounts
Instagram's "Favorites" feature lets you create a list of accounts whose content you always want to see. When you view your feed in Favorites mode, Instagram shows you only posts and reels from those accounts, filtering out all suggested content.
To set this up, go to your profile, tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines), and select "Favorites". Then tap "Add accounts" and choose the people and creators you want to see. Once you've added them, you can switch between your regular feed and your Favorites feed by tapping the heart icon at the top of your feed.
This is the most aggressive way to cut out suggestions. Your Favorites feed will contain almost no algorithmic content — only posts and reels from accounts you've explicitly chosen. The trade-off is that you see less variety, but you have complete control over what appears.
Adjust your feed settings to prioritize "Following"
Instagram offers a feed setting that lets you choose between "Home" (the default, which includes suggestions) and "Following" (which shows only posts from accounts you follow, in chronological order).
To change this, tap the Instagram logo at the top left of your feed. A menu will appear with "Home" and "Following" options. Select "Following". Your feed will now show only content from people you follow, with far fewer suggested reels mixed in.
The "Following" view doesn't eliminate suggestions entirely, but it reduces them significantly. You'll see posts and reels in the order they were posted, which many people find less overwhelming than the algorithmic feed.
Unfollow or block accounts that repeatedly suggest unwanted content
If an account's reels keep appearing in your suggestions even after you've marked them "not interested" multiple times, unfollowing or blocking may be necessary. Unfollowing removes their content from your feed but keeps you able to visit their profile. Blocking prevents them from seeing your profile and removes their content entirely.
To unfollow, go to their profile and tap "Following" (it will change to "Follow"). To block, tap the three dots on their profile and select "Block". Blocking is more aggressive and should be reserved for accounts whose content you genuinely don't want to see at all.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Instagram keep showing me suggested reels even after I mark them "not interested"?
Instagram's algorithm takes time to learn your preferences, and it constantly tests new content to see what you might like. Marking reels as "not interested" works, but you need to do it consistently. If you stop marking them, suggestions will increase again. Also, Instagram may show you similar content from different creators, so you'll need to mark those as "not interested" too.
Can I turn off reels completely?
No, Instagram doesn't offer a way to disable reels entirely. However, you can minimize them by using the "Following" feed view, creating a Favorites list, or muting accounts that post reels frequently. These methods won't eliminate reels, but they'll reduce how many you see.
If I mute someone, will they know?
No. When you mute an account, they have no way of knowing. You remain following them, and they can still see your posts and stories. Muting is invisible to the other person.
Does using "See less" unfollow the account?
No. "See less" reduces how often you see their content, but you stay following them. They'll continue to appear in your feed occasionally, just less frequently than before.
What's the difference between "not interested" and "see less"?
"Not interested" tells Instagram you don't want to see content like that reel — it affects the algorithm broadly. "See less" targets a specific account and reduces their content in your feed while keeping you following them. Use "not interested" for content types you dislike and "see less" for accounts you want to follow but see less often.