Hey there! Sometimes you just want to keep certain conversations on Instagram private, am I right? I feel you. There are all kinds of reasons why you may want to hide a chat – decluttering your inbox, keeping nosy friends or family from snooping, or just getting some space from someone.
Lucky for us, Instagram makes it super easy to hide chats so only you can see them. I’ll walk you through exactly how to do it below. No complicated settings, I promise!
How to hide chat on Instagram:
Instagram allows you to hide chats to keep your messages private or clear up your main messages screen. Here are a few ways to hide conversations on Instagram.
- Long press on a chat: Open your Instagram app and go to your messages. Long press on any chat you want to hide. A pop-up menu will appear – tap on “Hide Chat” and confirm. This will move the chat out of your main messages list.
- From chat details: Open the chat you want to hide. Tap on the name of the person at the top of the chat. In their details page, tap on the 3 dots at the top right. Select “Hide Chat” and confirm.
From settings: Go to your profile page and tap on the 3 lines menu. Go to Settings > Privacy > Hidden Words. Here you’ll see a list of your hidden chats. Tap on the “+” and add the username or name of any chat you want to hide.
- To view your hidden chats again, go back to Settings > Privacy > Hidden Words and tap on “View Hidden Chats”. Toggle any chats you want to unhide.
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How to unhide chat on Instagram:
If you’ve previously hidden a chat on Instagram and would like to bring it back, you can easily do so by accessing the ‘Archive’ section of the app.
- Once there, select the chats that you want to unhide and tap the ‘Unhide’ option.
- Your chats will then be restored and visible on your chat list.
- You can repeat this process to unhide multiple chats at once.
- If you decide you no longer want a chat to be visible, you can always archive it again.
- Just tap on the chat, select ‘Archive’ and the chat will be removed from your list.
How to delete chat on Instagram:
From archiving a chat to deleting it completely, there are a few options if you want to hide chat on Instagram.
- To delete a chat, open the Instagram app and go to your direct messages.
- Select the chat you want to delete and tap the three-dot menu at the top right corner.
- From the menu, tap ‘Delete Conversation’ and confirm the action.
- The chat will be removed from your messages list.
- If you want to delete all chats, go to the Settings menu in the app and select ‘Delete All Chats’.
- Confirm the action and all chats will be removed.
How to clear chat on Instagram:
If you want to keep your conversations private without deleting them, you can easily clear your chat on Instagram.
- To do this, open the chat with the user you wish to clear and tap the menu icon in the top right corner.
- Here, select ‘Clear Conversation’, and you’ll be asked to confirm the action.
- Once you confirm, the message thread will be removed from your inbox but will remain in the recipient’s messages.
- However, the user won’t be notified that you have cleared the chat.
- To hide your messages from other users, you can block or mute users, or set your profile to private.
- That way, your messages won’t be seen by anyone other than the person you’re messaging.
How to block chat on Instagram:
Your next option for hiding your chats is to block the user you’re chatting with. This will stop them from being able to send you messages or view your profile.
- To do this, go to the user’s profile page and tap the three dots in the top right corner.
- Select ‘Block’ and confirm your choice.
- Once you block someone, they won’t be able to contact you and won’t be able to see your profile.
- You can unblock them at any time by going to the same page and selecting ‘Unblock’.
- Keep in mind that when you block someone, they won’t be able to see your messages or profile, but they may still be able to view any comments you’ve made on public posts.
How to report chat on Instagram:
If you’re being harassed or receive any other kind of inappropriate messages, you can report the chat to Instagram. To do this, you’ll need to:
- Take screenshots of the conversation
- Navigate to the conversation’s profile page
- Click on the three dots in the top right corner
- Select ‘Report’ from the drop-down menu
Once the report is submitted, Instagram will investigate the situation and take necessary action. If you feel unsafe, be sure to block the user or delete the chat. Doing so will keep you safe from any further messages from the user.
How to mute chat on Instagram:
While you can’t hide the chat conversation, you can mute it so it won’t appear in your notifications.
- To do this, open the chat window and select the ‘i’ icon located in the upper right corner.
- This will open a new menu where you can select the ‘Mute’ option.
- You can choose to mute the conversation for either 8 hours, one week, or indefinitely.
- This will stop notifications from that conversation appearing, allowing you to still view the messages but not be disturbed by notifications.
- If you choose to mute the conversation indefinitely, you can always unmute it later by selecting the same ‘i’ icon and selecting ‘Unmute’.
How to archive chat on Instagram:
Occasionally, you may want to save a conversation without deleting it and this can be done by archiving it on Instagram.
Archiving a chat allows you to:
- Retain the conversation without cluttering up your inbox
- Find the conversation later for reference
- Hide it from other people who’ve access to your account
- Keep it safe without permanently deleting it
To archive a chat, go to the conversation you want to hide, tap the three dots in the top-right corner, and select Archive. The chat will now move to the Archive folder, where it will remain until you choose to unarchive it. Keep in mind that once you archive a conversation, it will no longer be visible in your inbox.
Frequently Asked Questions:
How Long Does It Take for a Chat to Be Hidden?
- It usually takes just a few seconds for a chat to be hidden. You can quickly hide a conversation by opening the chat and tapping the menu icon in the top right corner. Select the option to hide the chat and confirm your choice.
How Do I Hide a Chat From Specific People?
- You can hide a chat from specific people by tapping the conversation, selecting ‘More’, and then ‘Hide Conversation’. That will make it so the conversation is no longer visible in your inbox.
Is It Possible to Hide Multiple Chats at Once?
- No, unfortunately, it’s not possible to hide multiple chats at once. You’ll have to go through each chat individually and hide them separately. Sorry!
Can I Hide My Chat Without Deleting It?
- Yes, you can hide your chat without deleting it. Simply tap the three dots icon in the top right corner of the chat and select the ‘hide chat’ option. Your chat will be hidden from your inbox without deleting any messages.
Are Messages Still Sent and Received When a Chat Is Hidden?
- Yes, messages are still sent and received when a chat is hidden. However, the chat still remains hidden from your view, so you won’t be able to see the messages unless you unhide it.
Conclusion:
In wrapping up, understanding how to effectively manage and hide your Instagram chats provides a perfect blend of organization and privacy. In a digital age where our online spaces can get cluttered and privacy is ever so crucial, such features empower users to take control of their in-app experiences. By leveraging these simple steps, you can create a more streamlined and confidential messaging environment. Always prioritize your comfort and security when interacting online. Here’s to a cleaner, more private Instagram experience!