Step-by-Step Guide to Turn Off Like Count on Instagram

Introduction to Instagram Like Count Feature and Why People Hide It

If you’ve ever wondered how to turn off like count on Instagram, you’re not alone. Instagram has been a major player in the social media landscape for over a decade, and one of its most distinctive metrics is the "like" count. This simple feature shows how many people have liked a particular post. While likes can be motivating and serve as social proof, they can also create unnecessary pressure, competition, and self‑comparison among users.

In response to increasing concerns about mental health and digital well‑being, Instagram introduced the ability to hide like counts. Many users choose to turn off visible likes to focus more on the creativity and authenticity of their content rather than the numbers.

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Benefits of Turning Off Like Counts

Hiding like counts isn’t just about privacy — it can have tangible benefits:

• Better Mental Health – Reduces anxiety from comparing numbers with others.
• Focus on Content Quality – Encourages posting what you truly enjoy without stressing over performance.
• Reduced Peer Pressure – Lowers the likelihood of posting trends just to get more likes.
• Encourages Exploration – With numbers hidden, followers focus on captions, storytelling, and visuals.

By understanding these benefits, you can decide if taking control over like visibility aligns with your personal or professional goals.

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How to Hide Like Counts on Your Own Posts Before Posting

If you’re looking to start fresh with this feature, you can hide like counts on your post before sharing it. Here’s how:

1. Create Your Post
2. Select your photos or videos and proceed to the final screen before publishing.
3. Advanced Settings
4. Scroll down and tap on Advanced settings.
5. Toggle Like Count Option
6. Find and enable “Hide like and view counts on this post”.
7. Share Your Post
8. Now your content will go live without visible engagement numbers.

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How to Hide Like Counts on Existing Posts Individually

If you’ve already posted something but decide later that you want to hide its like counts:

1. Go to the post you want to edit.
2. Tap the three-dot menu (⋯) in the top-right corner.
3. Select Hide like count.
4. The like counts will disappear from public view, though you can still see them privately.

Use this option selectively if you want to maintain likes on certain posts while hiding them on others.

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How to Hide Like Counts for Posts from Other Accounts

Instagram also lets you hide likes on posts you see from other users. This means you’ll scroll through a feed free from visible numbers:

1. Go to your Profile.
2. Tap the three‑line menu in the top-right corner.
3. Select Settings and privacy.
4. Navigate to Hidden Words & Feed Preferences (naming may vary slightly).
5. Find Posts and toggle Hide like and view counts.

This option is great for reducing the influence of metrics when consuming content.

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Differences Between iOS and Android Settings Navigation

While the core options are the same, menu labels and navigation flows differ slightly between iOS and Android.

Knowing these small differences can save you time when following tutorials or switching devices.

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Troubleshooting: Why You Might Not See the Option

If you can’t find the “Hide like count” option, these could be the reasons:

• Outdated App Version – Update Instagram via App Store or Google Play.
• Region Restrictions – The feature might not yet be rolled out in your location.
• Account Type – Switch between personal, creator, and business accounts if needed; sometimes the UI differs.
• Temporary Glitches – Logging out and back in can refresh features.

Pro Tip: Check Instagram’s official Help Center to confirm the latest availability in your region.

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Privacy and Engagement Considerations

Before you dive in, it’s worth knowing the effects:

• Privacy – Others can’t see your engagement numbers, but you still can.
• Analytics – For business accounts, performance data remains available in Insights.
• Perception – Some audiences may perceive hidden likes as a statement about quality or a shift of focus to content.
• Comment Activity – Like counts don’t affect comment visibility or direct messages.

Understanding these implications will help you balance creativity with strategic engagement.

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How to Turn Like Counts Back On

Changing your mind is perfectly fine — here’s how to re‑enable like counts:

For a single post:

1. Go to the post.
2. Tap the three-dot menu.
3. Select Unhide like count.

For all posts from others:

1. Go to Settings and privacy.
2. Reverse the toggle for Hide like and view counts.

Toggling back on is just as simple as turning it off, giving you flexibility over time.

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Final Thoughts on Creating a Healthier Instagram Experience

Learning how to turn off like count on Instagram is a small but impactful change that can reshape how you interact with the platform. Whether you want to reduce social media pressure, focus on authentic storytelling, or simply tidy up your feed visually, this feature empowers you to do just that.

Experiment with hiding like counts for a few days or weeks. You might find it changes your posting habits for the better, encouraging creativity over competition. And importantly, remember you can always toggle it back if it doesn’t suit your style.

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Summary

By taking advantage of Instagram’s flexible engagement settings, you can create a browsing and posting experience that supports your mental well‑being and personal goals. Start today by hiding like counts — and see how this small change can make your Instagram feed feel more authentic and enjoyable. Try it now and take control of your social experience.