How to Turn Off Read Receipts on Instagram and Read Messages Privately

Ever opened an Instagram Direct Message (DM) and instantly wished you hadn’t? We’ve all been there. The moment you read a message, the sender knows you’ve seen it, no turning back. While read receipts can be useful, they can also feel intrusive, especially when you want to check a message without the pressure to respond immediately. So, the pressing question is: how to turn off read receipts on Instagram?

As of 2025, Instagram has introduced new features allowing users to manage read receipts more effectively. Additionally, there are several workarounds to help you read messages privately without triggering that dreaded “Seen” notification. Let’s dive into these methods to help you regain control over your privacy.

Understanding Instagram’s Read Receipts Feature

Before we explore the solutions, it’s essential to understand how Instagram’s read receipts work. When you open a DM, the sender immediately sees a “Seen” label beneath their message, indicating you’ve read it. Previously, Instagram didn’t offer a built-in feature to disable read receipts, but recent updates have introduced more control over this aspect.

This feature encourages prompt responses and engagement but can feel invasive when you prefer to read a message without the obligation to reply immediately. Understanding how to manage or disable read receipts can significantly enhance your messaging experience on the platform.

How to Turn Off Read Receipts on Instagram

With Instagram’s recent updates, you now have the option to disable read receipts directly within the app. Here’s how you can do it:

Method 1: Disable Read Receipts for Specific Chats

If you wish to turn off read receipts for individual conversations, follow these steps:

1. Open Instagram and tap on the Messenger icon in the top right corner to access your DMs.
2. Select the chat for which you want to disable read receipts.
3. Tap on the username at the top of the chat window.
4. Tap on Privacy & Safety.
5. Toggle off the Read Receipts option.

By doing this, the other person won’t see when you’ve read their messages. However, note that you also won’t be able to see when they’ve read your messages. Additionally, this setting doesn’t apply to messages in vanish mode.

Method 2: Turn Off Read Receipts for All Messages

To disable read receipts for all your conversations:

1. Go to your profile by tapping on your profile picture in the bottom right corner.
2. Tap on the three-line menu (hamburger icon) in the top right corner and select Settings and privacy.
3. Navigate to Messages and story replies.
4. Tap on Show read receipts.
5. Toggle off the Read Receipts option.

This global setting ensures that none of your contacts can see when you’ve read their messages. Remember, this also means you won’t receive read receipts from others.

Alternative Methods to Read Messages Privately

If you prefer not to disable read receipts or are using an older version of Instagram without these settings, here are some workarounds to read messages without notifying the sender:

Method 3: Use Airplane Mode Trick

This simple trick allows you to read messages without sending a read receipt:

1. Open Instagram and navigate to your DMs, but don’t open the specific message yet.
2. Turn on Airplane Mode on your device to disconnect from the internet.
3. Return to Instagram and open the message to read it.
4. Close the Instagram app completely (ensure it’s not running in the background).
5. Turn off Airplane Mode to reconnect to the internet.

By reading the message offline and closing the app before reconnecting, Instagram won’t register that you’ve seen the message. However, if you reopen Instagram while online, the read receipt may be sent.

Method 4: Read Messages from the Notification Panel

For shorter messages, you can read them directly from your device’s notification panel:

1. Enable Instagram notifications for direct messages in your device settings.
2. When you receive a message, read it from the notification banner or panel without tapping on it.

This method allows you to see the content without opening the app, thus avoiding the “Seen” status. However, it may not be effective for longer messages or media content.

Method 5: Restricting the Sender

Instagram’s “Restrict” feature allows you to read messages without sending read receipts:

1. Go to the sender’s profile.
2. Tap on the three-dot menu in the upper right corner and select Restrict.
3. Confirm your choice to restrict the account.

Messages from restricted accounts appear in your message requests, and the sender won’t see when you’ve read their messages. You also won’t receive notifications for new messages from restricted users.

Final Tips for Managing Instagram Messages Privately

To maintain your privacy while using Instagram’s messaging feature, consider additional steps beyond just managing read receipts. Using Vanish Mode can be a great option for temporary conversations, as messages disappear after they’ve been seen.

 If you want to avoid pressure to respond immediately, turning off your activity status will prevent others from seeing when you’re online. Additionally, being mindful of message requests is essential, messages from non-followers are stored in a separate folder and won’t display read receipts until you accept them. 

These small adjustments can give you more control over your interactions. Furthermore, if you suspect someone has blocked you, learning how to know if someone blocked you on Instagram can also be valuable for managing your privacy and understanding your connections on the platform.

Alternatives: Private Messaging Apps with More Control

If managing read receipts on Instagram still doesn’t meet your privacy needs, consider using alternative messaging apps that offer more control:

• Telegram: Offers secret chats with self-destructing messages and no mandatory read receipts.
• Signal: Provides end-to-end encryption with optional read receipts and typing indicators.
• WhatsApp: Allows users to disable read receipts in the privacy settings, though this also disables your ability to see others’ read receipts.

These platforms prioritize user privacy and offer more granular control over read receipts and other features.

Conclusion

If you’ve been wondering how to turn off read receipts on Instagram, the platform’s recent updates have made it possible to manage this feature both for individual chats and globally. By adjusting your privacy settings and using smart workarounds, you can read messages without pressure to respond immediately. As Instagram continues to evolve, staying updated on new privacy features will help you maintain better control over your interactions.