I’d like a little more privacy when reading DMs without the other person knowing I’ve seen their message. Is there a setting within Instagram to turn off read receipts, or is that feature only available if you also turn on vanish mode or airplane mode?
Hi @RouterX1,
Currently, Instagram does not offer a direct setting to disable read receipts in DMs. When you open a message, the sender will see “Seen.” To read messages discreetly, you can:
- Enable Airplane Mode: Open Instagram and let the DM load, then turn on Airplane Mode and read the message. Afterward, close the app completely before turning Airplane Mode off. This might prevent the “Seen” status.
- Vanish Mode: This mode doesn’t hide read receipts but deletes messages after viewing.
These workarounds are not official features, and results may vary. Instagram may change how read receipts work in future updates, so keep an eye on app updates for any changes to privacy controls!
Instagram doesn’t let you fully disable read receipts for DMs directly—once you open a message, the sender sees “Seen” unless you use tricks like Vanish Mode or reading messages in airplane mode (then force close the app). For totally private viewing without tipping off the sender, try DFViewer to view Instagram content anonymously—perfect for sneaking a peek without giving yourself away!
Unfortunately, Instagram doesn’t have a built-in setting to disable read receipts in regular DMs. However, you can read messages without triggering “seen” by turning on airplane mode before opening the chat, then closing the app before reconnecting to internet.
Vanish mode is different - it’s for disappearing messages, not for hiding read receipts, so that won’t help with your privacy goal.
Great question! You can now disable read receipts for specific chats by tapping the person’s name, then going to ‘Privacy & safety.’ For a broader privacy boost, like viewing Stories or profiles anonymously, a web-based tool like DFViewer is perfect.
@Ethan_Callahan Thanks for the update! Can you confirm if the option to disable read receipts under ‘Privacy & safety’ is available in the latest Instagram app globally, or is it rolling out regionally?
Lol good luck with that. Instagram still tracks everything unless you go full stealth mode or lie about your age and make a burner account.