How to disable read receipts on Instagram
You can turn off read receipts on Instagram so that when someone sends you a direct message, they won't see the moment you read it. Instead of a timestamp showing exactly when you opened their message, they'll only know you've seen it if you reply. This setting works across all your Instagram direct messages at once — you can't turn it off for just one person.
The steps differ slightly depending on whether you use Instagram on your phone or computer, but both take less than a minute. Once you disable read receipts, the change takes effect immediately on all your conversations.
Key Takeaways
- Turning off read receipts hides the timestamp that shows when you opened a message, but people can still see if you've read it once you reply.
- On your phone, go to Settings and privacy, then Messages, then toggle off "Read receipts" — the exact location depends on whether you use iPhone or Android.
- On a computer, you'll find the same setting under Settings and privacy, then Messages in the left sidebar.
- This setting applies to all your direct messages at once; Instagram doesn't let you hide read receipts from specific people only.
- Even with read receipts off, people will know you've seen their message if you respond or if they see you active on Instagram afterward.
Turn off read receipts on iPhone
Open Instagram and tap your profile picture in the bottom right corner. Then tap the three horizontal lines (called a menu icon) in the top right, and select "Settings and privacy."
Scroll down and tap "Messages." You'll see a toggle next to "Read receipts" — tap it to turn the setting off. The toggle will no longer be highlighted in blue, which means read receipts are now disabled. Close the settings menu and you're done.
Turn off read receipts on Android
Open Instagram and tap your profile picture in the bottom right corner. Tap the three horizontal lines in the top right and select "Settings and privacy."
Scroll down to "Messages" and tap it. Find "Read receipts" and tap the toggle to turn it off. When the toggle is no longer blue, the setting is disabled. You can now close settings and return to your inbox.
Turn off read receipts on a computer or web browser
Go to Instagram.com and log in if you're not already signed in. Click your profile picture in the bottom left corner of the screen, then click "Settings and privacy."
Click "Messages" in the left sidebar. You'll see a toggle next to "Read receipts" — click it to turn off the feature. The toggle will turn gray when it's disabled. Close the settings window when you're finished, and the change will apply to all your messages immediately.
What happens when you turn off read receipts
When read receipts are off, people who message you won't see the exact time you read their message. Instead of seeing "Seen 2:34 PM," they'll just see that you've read it without a timestamp. This gives you more privacy and means people won't expect an immediate response based on when you opened the app.
Keep in mind that turning off read receipts doesn't hide everything. If you reply to someone's message, they'll know you read it because you responded. Also, if someone sees you active on Instagram (posting, liking photos, or updating your story) after they sent you a message, they'll know you've been using the app even if you haven't read their message yet.
Turn read receipts back on if you change your mind
If you decide later that you want read receipts on again, follow the same steps you used to turn them off. Go to Settings and privacy, then Messages, and toggle "Read receipts" back on. The toggle will turn blue again when it's enabled.
You can switch this setting on and off as many times as you want. There's no limit to how often you can change it, and Instagram won't notify anyone when you turn it on or off. The change takes effect right away for all your conversations.
How read receipts work with activity status
Read receipts and activity status are two separate settings on Instagram. Turning off read receipts only hides the timestamp on your messages — it doesn't hide the green dot that shows you're currently online. Someone can still see that you're active on Instagram even if they can't see exactly when you read their message.
If you want to hide both when you read messages and when you're online, you'll need to turn off the activity status setting separately. Go to Settings and privacy, find "Activity status," and toggle it off. This prevents anyone from seeing the green dot next to your name or knowing when you were last active on the app.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I turn off read receipts for just one person?
No. Instagram's read receipt setting applies to all your direct messages at once. You can't hide read receipts from specific people while keeping them on for others. If you want to avoid showing read receipts to one person, you'll need to turn the setting off for everyone.
Will people know I read their message if read receipts are off?
They'll know you've read it once you reply, but they won't see the exact time. If you respond to their message, they'll understand you've seen it. However, if you read their message and don't respond, they won't know for certain that you've read it unless they see you active elsewhere on Instagram.
Does turning off read receipts hide when I'm active on Instagram?
No. The read receipts setting only hides the timestamp on messages. Your activity status (the green dot that shows you're online) is controlled by a separate setting. If you want to hide your activity status too, go to Settings and privacy, then find "Activity status" and toggle it off.
What if someone has their read receipts off — will I see when they read my messages?
No. If someone has read receipts disabled, you won't see a timestamp showing when they read your message. You'll only see that they've read it without knowing exactly when. This works both ways — their setting doesn't affect what you see, and your setting doesn't affect what they see.
Can I turn read receipts back on for just certain conversations?
No. Like turning them off, turning read receipts back on applies to all your messages at once. Instagram doesn't offer per-conversation control for this setting. Once you re-enable read receipts, everyone will see timestamps on all your messages going forward.