How to Hide Your Likes on Instagram Step by Step Guide
Learn how to hide likes on Instagram with step-by-step instructions for iOS and Android, plus tips on privacy, wellness, and content focus.
How to Hide Your Likes on Instagram: Step-by-Step Guide
Instagram is one of the world’s most popular social media platforms, and in recent years it has introduced new privacy and wellness options — including the ability to hide likes on Instagram. This feature helps users reduce social comparison, focus more on content, and create a more positive experience. In this step-by-step guide, you’ll learn how Instagram’s like visibility works, why you might want to turn it off, and exactly how to hide your likes on both iOS and Android.
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Understanding Instagram’s Like Visibility Feature
Instagram originally displayed a visible like count beneath every post, such as “Liked by Alex and 104 others,” showing exactly how many people had liked the post. With the hidden-like-count feature, you can stop this number from appearing publicly and even hide like counts from posts you see in your feed.
First tested in 2019 and rolled out worldwide in 2021, this feature aims to help users focus on imagery, stories, and creativity rather than popularity metrics.
Common reasons to hide likes:
- Reduce pressure or anxiety about public approval
- Avoid unhealthy comparisons with others
- Encourage engagement with the actual content instead of numbers
- Experiment with different posting strategies without visible influence from like counts
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How Like Counts Work on Instagram
When likes are visible, everyone sees the total number on each post (unless privacy settings restrict it).
When you hide likes:
- Viewers see “Liked by [username] and others” without the exact number
- You can still view your like tally privately
- Instagram continues to use likes in its engagement algorithm — the change is purely about visibility
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How to Hide Like Counts on Your Own Instagram Posts
If you want to hide like counts for one of your posts after sharing:
- Open the Instagram app on iOS or Android.
- Go to your Profile by tapping your profile icon in the bottom-right corner.
- Select the post where you want to hide likes.
- Tap the three-dot menu (⋯) in the top-right corner.
- Choose Hide Like Count.
Result: Visitors will no longer see the like total for that post, but can still like and comment.
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How to Hide Like Counts on Other People’s Posts in Your Feed
If you’d rather never see like counts from others in your feed:
- Open the Instagram app.
- Tap your profile picture in the bottom right.
- Go to Settings → Privacy.
- Tap Posts.
- Toggle on Hide Like and View Counts in the "Likes and Views" section.
From now on, your feed will be free of total like numbers.
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Hiding Likes on Existing vs. New Posts
You can choose to hide likes either after posting or before hitting share:
- Existing Posts: Follow the individual post method above.
- New Posts: On the final Share screen, tap Advanced Settings, then enable Hide Like and View Counts on This Post before publishing.
This lets you tailor visibility for specific posts.
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iOS vs. Android: Differences in the Process
Functionally, the steps are the same on both platforms. Minor differences include:
- Slightly different menu icon styles
- On Android, you may need to scroll further to find "Advanced Settings"
Otherwise, the hide likes feature works identically.
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Seeing Your Own Like Counts Privately
Hiding likes doesn’t mean losing access to your data:
- Open your post.
- Tap Liked by [username] and others.
- View the complete list of users and total likes privately.
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The Impact of Hiding Likes
Research and user feedback suggest hiding likes can:
- Improve mental well-being by removing comparison triggers
- Encourage authentic posting habits
- Focus attention on quality and storytelling
However, influencers and brands may find it more difficult to showcase engagement to partners without visible like metrics.
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Pros and Cons of Hiding Instagram Likes
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Reduces pressure and social comparison | Makes it harder to gauge popularity quickly |
| Encourages authentic content | Some partnerships require public metrics |
| Can improve mental health for some users | No direct effect on algorithm; benefits are psychological |
| Shifts focus to content quality | Comments still reveal perceived engagement |
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How to Unhide Likes
If you want to reverse the setting:
- Individual Posts:
- Go to the post.
- Tap three dots menu.
- Select Unhide Like Count.
- Entire Feed:
- Go to Settings → Privacy → Posts.
- Turn off Hide Like and View Counts.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can people still see who liked my post?
A: Yes — the list of usernames is visible; the number is hidden.
Q: Does hiding affect Instagram’s algorithm?
A: No — likes still count toward engagement for feed ranking.
Q: Can I hide likes from only certain people?
A: No — settings apply to everyone equally.
Q: Can I hide likes on Reels?
A: Yes — apply similar steps for Reels.
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Conclusion and Next Steps
Hiding likes on Instagram gives you greater control over your social media environment and helps create a healthier, less pressurized space for creativity.
Tips for a healthier Instagram experience:
- Hide likes on posts where you don’t want public numbers.
- Turn off feed like counts to avoid comparison.
- Post content you truly value, not just what’s likely to earn likes.
- Revisit your settings regularly to align with your goals.
By using Instagram’s like visibility options strategically, you can tailor your feed to support your mental well-being and strengthen your creative expression. If you’re ready for a more mindful experience, try hiding likes today and see how it changes your perspective.
