how to not see peoples stories on instagram?

Table of Contents

To hide your Instagram Stories from specific users, follow these steps:

Open the Instagram app on your device and go to your profile by tapping your profile picture in the bottom right corner.
Tap the three horizontal lines in the top right corner to open the menu, then select Settings.
Within Settings, tap on Privacy, then select Story.
Scroll down to find the option labeled Hide story from. Tap on it to see your list of followers.
Browse through your followers and select the users you want to hide your stories from by toggling the switch next to their names. You can hide stories from multiple users at once.
After selecting the users, go back to exit the menu. The changes will automatically save.

From now on, your chosen users will not be able to see your Stories. They won’t receive a notification that they are hidden, which keeps your settings private. You can always modify this list later by returning to the Hide story from section and adjusting your selections.

It’s important to note that this setting only hides your current Stories. If you add new users to your hide list, they will not see your future Stories unless you update this setting again.

One helpful tip is to review your Hide story from list periodically to ensure it reflects your current preferences. If you change your mind, simply repeat these steps and adjust the toggle switches. Keep in mind that if you set your Stories to be public or share them with close friends only, this feature will help you further customize who can view your content.

Now you have full control over who sees your Instagram Stories. This approach offers added privacy and peace of mind, especially if you want to share moments selectively without notifying everyone on your list.

Introduction: Why You Might Want to Hide Stories

Instagram Stories are a popular way to share moments with friends, family, and followers. However, sometimes users prefer to hide their stories for privacy reasons or to maintain personal boundaries. Whether you want to control who sees your updates or prevent certain people from viewing your content, hiding stories can be a useful feature.

There are many situations where hiding your stories makes sense. For example, you might not want your boss or colleagues to see your weekend plans. Or you could be sharing something sensitive that you prefer only certain people see. In other cases, users hide stories to reduce unwanted interactions or to manage their online presence more comfortably.

Understanding why you might want to hide stories can help you decide if this feature fits your needs. It also gives you control over your privacy without restricting your overall activity on Instagram. Keep in mind that hiding stories is different from deleting them; it simply blocks specific viewers from seeing your current story, while your profile remains visible to everyone unless you change your privacy settings.

Many users don’t realize that hiding stories is quick and easy to do. It allows for better privacy management, especially if your followers include a mix of close friends and acquaintances. Whether you want to experiment with privacy or feel uncomfortable with certain viewers, hiding stories empowers you with that control. Next, we’ll explore how to hide your stories step by step, so you can tailor your Instagram experience to your comfort level.

Managing Who Can See Your Instagram Stories

Want to control who can view your Instagram Stories? Managing your story viewers is an essential privacy feature on Instagram. Whether you want to hide stories from certain people or select specific viewers, adjusting your privacy settings helps keep your content protected. This guide will walk you through the steps to manage and update your story viewers easily, ensuring you share only with the audience you choose.

Access Your Privacy Settings

Start by opening the Instagram app on your phone. Tap your profile icon in the bottom right corner. Next, tap the three horizontal lines or menu icon in the top right corner to access the menu. From the list, select Settings and Privacy. Then, scroll down and tap on Privacy. Under Privacy, locate and select Stories. This is where you’ll find options to customize your story viewer settings.

Hide Stories From Specific People

If you want to prevent certain users from seeing your stories, you can hide your stories from them. In the Story controls section, tap on Hide story from. You’ll see a list of your followers; select the users from whom you want to hide your stories by tapping their names. Once selected, your stories will no longer be visible to these users. Tap Done to save your choices.

Create a Close Friends List

If you want to share stories with a specific group of trusted friends, use the Close Friends feature. Still in the Stories settings, find and tap on Close Friends. Here, you can add followers to your list by searching their usernames. When you share a story with close friends, only those on your list can see it. This is perfect for sharing more personal moments with a select group.

Use the ‘Hide Story From’ Feature During Posting

Want to update viewers on the fly? When posting a new story, tap on the Settings icon (gear icon). Select Hide story from and choose the users you want to hide the story from before sharing. This allows real-time privacy control and avoids editing your privacy settings later.

Managing Viewer List During and After Your Story

To see who has viewed your story, open your active story. Swipe up or tap the eye icon to view the list of viewers. From here, you can identify who watched your story. Keep in mind, if you have hidden your story from certain users, they won’t appear in this list.

Remember, privacy settings can be changed at any time to adapt to your preferences.
Be cautious when hiding stories; once hidden, you cannot retroactively notify those users.
Use close friends to share more personal moments securely.

By managing your story viewers carefully, you can control your audience and share content confidently on Instagram. Whether hiding stories from certain followers or curating a close friends list, these features help maintain your privacy while connecting with your audience.

Using Close Friends for Private Stories

Creating a Close Friends list is a useful way to share private stories with a select group on social media platforms like Instagram. This feature helps you control who sees your content, enhancing your privacy. If you want to share more personal moments without broadcasting to all followers, using Close Friends is an easy and effective solution.

Open the social media app and go to your profile page.
Tap the menu icon (usually three horizontal lines or dots) in the top right corner.
Select Close Friends from the menu options. If you do not see it, look for the settings icon or search for ‘Close Friends’ in the app’s help section.
You’ll see a list of suggested friends or followers. Tap the ‘Add’ button next to the names of people you want to include in your Close Friends list. You can add or remove people at any time.
Once your list is ready, go to create a new story like usual.
Before posting, look for the green badge or icon labeled Close Friends. Tap it to select this option.
Your story will now be visible only to the people on your Close Friends list, not to all your followers.

This method ensures your private stories are seen only by your chosen group, giving you more control over your privacy. Remember, you can update your Close Friends list anytime by repeating the steps above. This flexibility allows you to share different stories with different groups based on your comfort level.

Sometimes, users wonder if people know they are on a Close Friends list. Rest assured, the platform does not notify recipients that they are part of your Close Friends when they view your private stories. They simply see the story marked as shared with Close Friends, which keeps your privacy intact.

If you encounter issues, such as the option not appearing or stories not showing only to Close Friends, try updating the app or restarting your device. Occasionally, bugs or outdated versions can cause features to malfunction. Clearing app cache or reinstalling can also help resolve common problems.

Using the Close Friends feature effectively can help you share moments more privately and reduce the worry about oversharing. It’s especially helpful for sharing sensitive content, exclusive updates, or casual moments with a trusted group. Experiment with your list to find the right balance for your privacy needs.

Temporarily Hiding Stories Without Unfollowing

If you want to keep your stories private from specific users without unfollowing or blocking them, there are easy ways to do so. Many social media platforms offer options to hide stories temporarily, giving you control over who sees your updates. This can be helpful if you want to share something with most friends but keep it hidden from certain followers for a while.

Hiding stories temporarily allows you to maintain your connections without revealing everything to everyone. It also prevents awkward situations that might happen if you accidentally unfollow someone you still want to see your content. Let’s walk through how to do this step by step.

Check your platform’s story privacy settings. Most social media apps like Instagram or Facebook have specific story privacy options. Open your app and navigate to your account’s privacy or story settings.
Access the story settings. On Instagram, for example, tap your profile picture, then tap the menu (three lines) in the top-right corner, and go to Settings. From there, select Privacy, then Story.
Choose the ‘Hide Story From’ option. In Instagram, you’ll find an option labeled “Hide Story From.” Tap this to see a list of your followers.
Select the users you want to hide your stories from. A list will appear. Tap the circles next to the names of users you wish to hide your stories from. You can select multiple users at once.
Save your settings and post your story. Once you’ve made your selections, go back and share your story as usual. The selected users will not be able to see it until you change these settings again.

If you want to make the change temporarily, remember to revisit your story settings and remove users from the hide list when you’re ready to share with everyone again. This method keeps your privacy tight without the need to unfollow or block anyone.

Another helpful tip is to regularly review your story privacy list to ensure only the intended users are hidden. If you accidentally hide your story from someone important, you can easily undo it by deselecting their name from the ‘Hide Story From’ list.

Keep in mind that hiding stories differs from unfollowing or blocking. The latter options often notify users and can affect your relationships, whereas hiding stories remains discreet. This feature is perfect for sharing temporary updates with select friends while keeping others in the dark, temporarily or permanently.

Adjusting Privacy Settings to Limit Story Views

Want to control who can see your Instagram stories? Adjusting your privacy settings helps restrict story views to a select group of people or even specific followers. This way, you can share moments confidently without worrying about unwanted viewers. Let’s walk through the simple steps to tweak your privacy settings and keep your stories more private.

Open the Instagram app on your device. Make sure you are logged into your account.
Go to your profile by tapping the profile icon located at the bottom right corner of the screen.
Tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) in the top right corner to open the menu options.
Select “Settings” from the menu. This opens the main settings page for your account.
Tap “Privacy” to access your privacy options.
Choose “Story” from the privacy settings list. Here you will find controls specifically related to your stories.
Adjust who can see your stories. Under the “Story Controls” section, you’ll find several options:
- Close Friends: Select this to share stories only with a specific group of people you trust. Tap “Close Friends” and add or remove followers as needed.
- Hide Story From: Tap this to choose followers you want to exclude from viewing your stories. Select the users you want to hide your stories from, then confirm.
Control who can reply to your stories. In the same “Story” settings, you can decide whether everyone, only people you follow, or no one can reply.
Extra privacy tips include:
- Regularly review your “Close Friends” list to keep it updated.
- Use “Hide Story From” to prevent specific followers from viewing certain stories.
- Change your story reply settings to restrict interactions.
Test your settings. Post a story and then check your privacy controls to ensure only the desired people can view or reply.

Remember, adjusting these privacy settings gives you more control over your content. For example, if you only want trusted friends to see certain stories, use the “Close Friends” feature. If there are users you do not want to see your content at all, hide your stories from them. Regularly reviewing your privacy options ensures your sharing preferences stay current, giving you peace of mind while enjoying your Instagram experience.

Tips for Enhancing Your Instagram Privacy

Instagram is a popular social media platform where privacy is important to protect your personal information. Whether you share stories, posts, or interact with friends, taking steps to improve your privacy can give you peace of mind. Below are practical tips to help you control your visibility and keep your account secure.

Make Your Account Private
The simplest way to enhance privacy on Instagram is to switch your account to private. This means only approved followers can see your posts and stories. To do this, go to your profile, tap the menu icon (three lines), select Settings, then Privacy. Turn on the Private Account toggle. Remember, once private, new followers must be approved, giving you more control over who sees your content.
Control Who Can See Your Stories
Sharing stories is fun, but you may want to limit who can view them. In Privacy Settings, select Story. Here, you can create a Close Friends list to share stories only with selected people or hide stories from certain followers. This helps protect your privacy when sharing casual moments.
Manage Your Profile and Post Visibility
Be mindful of what you share in your bio and posts. Avoid using personally identifiable information like your phone number, address, or workplace. Use options in your profile settings to hide your phone number or email from your profile if you don’t want strangers to see this information.
Limit Tagging and Mentions
To prevent unwanted tags or mentions, adjust your settings under Privacy. Select Tags and choose Only People You Follow Can Tag You or Manual Approval. For mentions, set your preferences so only approved followers can mention you in comments or tags.
Review and Manage Followers Regularly
Periodic checking of your followers list helps you remove or block followers you don’t trust. Go to your profile, tap Followers, and review recent followers. Tap the three dots next to a follower’s name to remove or block them if needed. Blocking someone prevents them from seeing your profile, posts, or stories altogether.
Be Careful with Third-Party Apps
Many apps offer to analyze or grow your Instagram account. Be cautious when granting access. Only use trusted apps, and thoroughly review the permissions they request. Unauthorized access can compromise your account security and privacy.

By following these simple tips, you can enjoy sharing on Instagram while maintaining control over your privacy. Regularly updating your settings and being mindful of what you share helps protect your personal information and keeps your social media experience safe and enjoyable.