You open Instagram for a quick scroll. A friend’s story, maybe a post from your cousin. But there it is — another Reel. Then another. And another. Sometimes it feels like that’s all the app shows you now. So here’s the question you came for: Can you turn off Reels suggestions on Instagram? Short answer? Not completely. But you can push them out of the way a little.
Let’s walk through what you can do.
What Are Instagram Reels and Why Do You See Them So Often?
Reels are short videos. Kinda like TikToks. Instagram shows them all over the place — in your home feed, the Explore tab, even between your friends' posts. These suggestions come from people you don’t follow. The app picks them based on what it thinks you like.
Sometimes it gets it right. Other times… not even close.
Can You Fully Turn Off Reels Suggestions on Instagram?
Nope. Instagram doesn’t give you a clean switch to make Reels go away. There’s no “off” button hiding in settings. But — and it’s a helpful but — you can limit how often they show up.
Instagram wants to keep pushing Reels, especially since they’re trying to compete with TikTok. That’s why it’s so aggressive. Still, you have a few tools.
Best Ways to Limit or Hide Reels in Your Instagram Feed
You can’t block all Reels. But you can train Instagram to chill out with them. Here's what helps:
- Tap “Not Interested” on Reels you don’t like
- Avoid watching or engaging with suggested Reels
- Mute or unfollow accounts that mostly post Reels
- Turn off autoplay in the app’s data settings
- Skip the Explore tab or use it less
- Use alternate Instagram apps (not officially supported)
This doesn’t wipe Reels off your feed. But it does make Instagram show fewer of them over time — especially ones you don’t care for.
How to Use the ‘Not Interested' Option on Instagram Reels?
If Instagram shows you Reels you don’t like, you can tell it to stop. Here’s how:
- Tap the three-dot menu on the top right of the Reel
- Choose “Not Interested”
- Done. The app will try to avoid that kind of content next time
Do it a few times, and Instagram starts picking up on the pattern.
It’s not perfect. But it’s the only direct signal you can send to the algorithm for now.
Can You Control What Reels Instagram Shows You?
Yeah — to a point. Instagram tracks what you watch, what you like, what you scroll past, and what you ignore. That means the more you skip content you don’t like (and the more you interact with stuff you do like), the better it gets.
Want more nature videos? Watch and like them. Don’t want loud prank content? Scroll right past or hit “Not Interested.”
Over time, your feed shifts. Slowly, but it does.
Why Instagram Keeps Showing You So Many Reels?
Simple. Instagram’s owned by Meta. Meta wants to compete with TikTok. Reels are their answer. That’s why the feature gets prime real estate in your feed. It’s why they autoplay. It’s why you see them even if you don’t ask for them.
Instagram is doubling down on short-form video. That’s where the app is heading. So yeah — you’ll see Reels whether you love them or not.
Final Thoughts
So… can you turn Reels off completely? No. But you can turn the volume down.
Skip what you don’t like. Tap “Not Interested.” Watch what matters to you. That teaches Instagram what kind of feed you want. It takes a bit of time — but it works better than you think.
If you’re still not into it, there’s always the option to scroll a little less.
