How to Change IG Feed Settings for a Personalized Experience
Learn how to change Instagram feed settings, customize favorites, mute accounts, and train the algorithm for a more personalized experience.
How to Change IG Feed Settings for a Personalized Experience
If you’re looking for ways to change IG feed settings so your Instagram feels more relevant and enjoyable, you’re in the right place. Instagram can be an endless source of inspiration, creativity, and connection—but only if your feed aligns with your interests. This guide walks you through step-by-step methods to take control of what you see, from tweaking algorithm signals to refining your follow list.
We’ll cover how the Instagram algorithm works, switching between feed views, customizing your favorites, muting unwanted posts, and training Instagram to serve you better content. By the end, you’ll know exactly how to make your Instagram feed an inspiring, personalized space.
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Understanding How the Instagram Feed Algorithm Works
Before you make any changes, it’s important to understand what determines the content you see. Instagram’s feed algorithm uses several key signals:
- Engagement – Liking, commenting, saving, or sharing posts influences how often similar content appears.
- Recency – Newer posts are prioritized to keep your feed fresh.
- Interests – Based on your activity, Instagram predicts topics and creators you may enjoy.
Instagram also mixes in suggested posts, ads, and Reels, adapting recommendations over time.
Pro tip: The more you actively engage with certain types of content, the more Instagram will prioritize them.
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Switching Between Feed Views: Following vs. Favorites
Instagram provides three viewing options: the default algorithmic feed, Following, and Favorites.
- Following – Shows posts chronologically from all accounts you follow.
- Favorites – Displays posts only from accounts on your favorites list, also in chronological order.
How to Switch Views
- Open Instagram.
- Tap the Instagram logo at the top left.
- Select Following or Favorites from the dropdown menu.
This is a quick way to see either all of your followed accounts or just your top-priority ones—without battling the algorithm.
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Customizing Your Favorites List for Relevant Content
A Favorites feed only works well if you curate it carefully.
Steps to Add Favorites:
- Go to your Instagram profile.
- Tap the menu (☰) in the top right corner.
- Select Favorites.
- Tap Add favorites and choose up to 50 accounts.
You can include close friends, family, favorite creators, or accounts that deliver consistent value.
Top Reasons to Use Favorites
- Ensure you see important posts first.
- Reduce distraction from less relevant accounts.
- Keep your feed meaningful and streamlined.
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Using the Mute Feature to Declutter Your Feed
If you don’t want to unfollow someone but prefer not to see their posts:
To mute an account:
- Visit the account’s profile.
- Tap Following > Mute.
- Toggle off Posts and/or Stories.
Muting helps you avoid content that doesn’t fit your goals—without damaging personal relationships.
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Interact Strategically to Train the Instagram Algorithm
Because the algorithm learns from your activity, you can “train” your feed by:
- Liking and saving posts about your favorite topics.
- Watching Reels similar to content you enjoy.
- Posting comments to show your interest.
- Sharing content with friends to reinforce signals.
Avoid interacting with topics or creators that aren’t relevant, as this can trigger more similar content.
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Managing Suggested Posts and Ads
Instagram regularly adds suggested posts between followed content. You can customize these suggestions.
Hide Unwanted Suggestions
- Tap the ⋯ menu on the post.
- Select Not Interested to filter similar content.
Adjust Ad Preferences
- Navigate to Settings and Privacy.
- Select Ads > Ad Topics.
- Remove or manage topics that don’t apply.
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Curating Your Follow List for Maximum Relevance
An intentional follow list is the foundation of a tailored feed.
- Remove inactive accounts.
- Unfollow creators or brands no longer aligned with your tastes.
- Follow new accounts that match emerging interests.
| Type of Account | Why Keep? | When to Unfollow |
|---|---|---|
| Close Friends | Personal engagement and updates | Minimal interaction or uninspiring content |
| Brands | Exclusive deals or product news | Excessive promotional posting |
| Creators | Educational or inspiring content | Shift away from topics you value |
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Organizing Content with Saved Collections
The Instagram Save function lets you group posts into organized collections:
- Recipes
- Tutorials
- Travel ideas
- Style inspiration
To create a collection:
- Tap the bookmark icon on a post.
- Hold to select Save to Collection.
- Name your collection and save the post.
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Reviewing and Refreshing Your Follow List Regularly
Your preferences change over time, and your Instagram should reflect that.
- Set a monthly or quarterly reminder to review follows.
- Remove accounts that no longer fit your interests.
- Add new pages, creators, and influencers who inspire you.
Refreshing your follow list keeps your feed dynamic and engaging.
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Troubleshooting When Feed Changes Don’t Show
If your adjustments aren’t reflected immediately:
- Update the app to the latest version.
- Clear cache/data (especially on Android).
- Restart the app fully.
- Log out, then log back in.
- Wait a few days for the algorithm to adapt.
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Long-Term Practices for a Personalized Feed
To keep your Instagram consistently valuable:
- Engage only with posts you enjoy.
- Regularly update your favorites and follows.
- Use Following or Favorites view for chronological posts.
- Hide or mute irrelevant content immediately.
- Limit passive scrolling to prevent poor recommendations.
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By taking active control over your Instagram feed settings, you shift from being a passive scroller to a mindful curator. Now that you’ve learned how to change IG feed preferences, you can fine-tune your interactions, favorites, and follows to make Instagram a source of daily inspiration.
Take five minutes today to switch views or adjust your favorites list—and watch your feed transform over the next week.
