How to switch off Take a breather by reading Instagram receipts.
Table of Contents
Introduction
You can give the sender some breathing room by turning off Instagram’s read receipts, which lets them know that you’ve read their message. Turning off read receipts helps relieve the stress of continually feeling online and available, whether your goal is to avoid responding to anyone at all or just to save time.
Although it’s not immediately clear how to do it, disabling read receipts on Instagram is simple. Therefore, we’ll walk you through a few simple steps to turn off read receipts for both individual accounts and all of your contacts on mobile devices. It’s important to note that you can only accomplish this using the Instagram app on iOS or Android, but the process is the same for both.
See our advice on how to use Instagram’s dark mode on iOS and Android to give your eyes a rest while you’re doom-scrolling right before bed when you’re adjusting your Instagram settings.
1. Go to your profile settings.
On iOS or Android, launch the Instagram app, then choose the Profile symbol (a circle with a person in it) at the bottom of the screen. The three lines icon, which should be next to the plus icon, should then be selected in the upper right corner of the screen.
2. Select Message Settings.
The Settings and Activity screen appears when you select the three lines. Scroll down to “Messages and Story Replies” in the section titled “How Others Can Interact With You.”
3. Turn off the read receipt feature.
Select “Show Read Receipts” from the section titled “Who Can See That You’re Online.” One option that appears is a toggle that allows you to turn “Read Receipts” on or off. Turn it off so that the circle is white and seated to the left instead of black, as it is above. If you disable this, nobody on Instagram will be able to see when you’ve seen their messages.
How to disable individual contacts’ Instagram read receipts
- Choose the icon for the paper airplane or messaging.
- Choose the chat name from your messages list after choosing a conversation.
- Visit Safety and Privacy.
- Turn off the “Read Receipts” feature.
Detailed instructions for disabling Instagram read receipts for specific contacts
1. Access your chat list.
Click the paper-plane-like icon (next to the heart icon) in the upper-right corner of the screen when Instagram is open on your iOS or Android smartphone. This brings up your conversation list with all of your Instagram messaging exchanges. Locate the discussion or individual you wish to conceal. Use the search bar or scroll through the receipts to find the chat.
2. Modify the contact’s message settings
Choose your selected contact’s account name at the top of the screen once the conversation has opened. Selecting their photo will only take you to their profile, so avoid doing that. After that, a screen with their name, profile picture, and options to alter your theme or silence them should appear. Next, pick Safety and Privacy.
3. The read receipt toggle
Scroll down to “Read Receipts” in the Who Can See Your Activity section of the Privacy and Safety settings. Turn it off so that the circle is white and seated to the left instead of black as it appears above. This disables read receipts for this individual exclusively, so everyone else can still see when you’ve seen their messages, but they won’t be able to. Nevertheless, read receipts are always sent for messages in vanish mode. If you want additional privacy, you may also turn off the “Typing Indicator” while you’re here, which will prevent others from seeing you type.
Conclusions
If you’re busy or need a social media break, turning off your Instagram read receipts may sound sneaky, but it also means you won’t feel the need to respond to someone right away. Even while social media pushes us to be reachable at all times, there are instances when you need some time to reflect before responding to a message without worrying about offending someone. The benefit of having this flexibility is that you can do what suits you best.
Frequently Ask Questions (FAQ’s)
1. Can I completely turn off read receipts on Instagram?
Unfortunately, Instagram doesn’t have a direct option to turn off read receipts. However, you can use workarounds like enabling Airplane Mode or reading messages through notification previews to avoid triggering the “Seen” status.
2. Will the sender know if I restrict them to avoid reading receipts?
No, Instagram doesn’t notify the sender when you restrict them. However, their messages will move to your message requests, and they won’t be able to see when you’re online or if you’ve read their messages.
3. Are third-party apps safe for blocking read receipts on Instagram?
Using third-party apps can be risky as they often require access to your account, which can compromise your privacy and security. It’s better to rely on Instagram’s built-in features or safe workarounds.
4. Does enabling Airplane Mode always prevent read receipts?
Yes, but with a condition. You must close the Instagram app completely (force close) before turning off Airplane Mode. If you reconnect to the internet while the app is still open, the read receipt will be sent.
Pingback: How to delete a Telegram account in 2025