How to Mute Someone on Instagram Without Unfollowing

Muting hides someone's posts and/or stories from your feed while you carry on following them — and they're never told. It's the polite way to stop seeing content from an ex, an over-poster or an acquaintance without the awkwardness of unfollowing.

Muting is Instagram's quiet-exit button. Here's how to use it, and how it differs from the harsher options.

How to mute

1. Go to the person's profile, or press and hold their story.
2. Tap Following (on their profile) → Mute, or the mute option on the story.
3. Pick Mute posts, Mute story, or both.

Done. Their content stops showing in your feed and story tray. You can unmute the same way anytime.

Do they know?

No. Muting is entirely silent — no notification, no indicator on their end. They still see you as a follower and can still see your content as normal. It only changes what you see.

Mute vs unfollow vs restrict vs block

• Mute: you stop seeing their content; you stay following; they notice nothing.
• Unfollow: you stop following; it shows on your following list if they check.
• Restrict: limits their comments and DM read receipts — for low-key conflict.
• Block: full cutoff both ways — see what blocking does.

Still want to check on them?

Muted but curious now and then? You can still open their profile as normal — or, to check with no footprint (no story view registered), watch their public stories through an anonymous viewer. Mute tidies your feed; a viewer lets you peek on your own terms.

FAQ

How do I mute someone without unfollowing?

Profile → Following → Mute, then choose posts, story, or both.

Does muting notify the person?

No — it's completely silent.

Can I mute just their stories?

Yes — you can mute posts, stories, or both separately.

Do they know I muted them?

No — there's no indicator, and you stay following.

Can I still see a muted person's profile?

Yes — muting only hides content from your feed, not their profile.