Hiding likes on Instagram is a simple tweak you can make in your settings, but its impact is pretty significant. The idea is to take some of the pressure off and make the experience feel a little more genuine. You can either hide the like counts you see on everyone else's posts or just hide them on your own posts—or both.
Why Bother Hiding Likes on Instagram Anyway?
This whole feature isn't just another privacy toggle; it's Instagram's answer to a growing conversation about mental health and the endless cycle of social comparison. When you take away those public-facing numbers, the whole dynamic changes. The focus shifts from "How popular is this?" back to "What's actually being shared?"
It's a move that encourages people to be more authentic. You can post what you truly love without stressing about whether it will "perform" well. This fosters a space where creativity can actually breathe, free from that constant need for validation that like counts often create. In many ways, the reasoning lines up perfectly with the known social media detox benefits—it's all about building a healthier relationship with the platform.
Taking the Pressure and Anxiety Down a Notch
Instagram didn't just roll this out on a whim. The decision was backed by a lot of research into how the platform affects us psychologically.
Back in 2019, during initial tests in Canada and Australia, Instagram found that a whopping 58% of users felt less anxious about their posts once the like counts were gone. That feedback was a major catalyst for making the feature available to everyone. Adam Mosseri, the head of Instagram, said it himself: the goal was to create a "less pressurized environment."
When you remove that immediate, public scoreboard for a post's success, people tend to interact with content more genuinely. This has a few positive ripple effects:
- Focus on Content Quality: You start appreciating a photo or video for its creativity or message, not just its popularity.
- Encourages Authentic Sharing: It feels safer to experiment or share something personal when you're not worried about a low like count.
- Promotes Deeper Connections: Without a simple "like" to fall back on, people might be more inclined to leave a thoughtful comment or share the post—actions that show a much deeper level of engagement.
Shifting Focus to Metrics That Actually Matter
For businesses and creators, this change is a strategic nudge away from vanity metrics and toward actions that really move the needle. You can still see your own like counts privately, but the public shift forces you to look deeper.
Hiding likes doesn't kill engagement; it just redefines it. The conversation shifts from "How many people liked this?" to "How many people saved this, shared it with a friend, or started a conversation in the comments?"
This new mindset pushes you to build a smarter, more robust content strategy. Instead of just chasing likes, the real goal becomes creating content that resonates so deeply that it earns a comment, a save, or a share.
To get a full picture of what to track, check out our guide on the most important social media engagement metrics for real growth.
Here's a quick look at why hiding likes can be a game-changer for your experience on the platform.
Benefits of Hiding Likes at a Glance
| Benefit | Impact on Your Instagram Experience |
|---|---|
| Reduced Social Comparison | Less pressure to compete with others' popularity, letting you focus on your own content. |
| Increased Authenticity | Frees you to post what you genuinely enjoy without worrying about public reception. |
| Improved Mental Well-being | Can lower the anxiety tied to post performance and the need for digital validation. |
| Better Content Focus | Encourages you and others to appreciate the quality and message of a post over its metrics. |
| Deeper Engagement | Shifts focus to more meaningful interactions like comments, saves, and shares. |
Ultimately, hiding likes gives you more control, letting you curate an Instagram experience that's less about numbers and more about connection and creativity.
How to Hide Likes on Other People's Posts
If you're looking to make your Instagram scroll a little less about the numbers and a little more about the content, a great place to start is by hiding the like counts on posts from other people. It’s a small tweak, but it can completely change how you experience your feed, pushing you to focus on the actual photo or video instead of how popular it is.
This is a fantastic way to cut down on that subconscious social comparison we all do. The good news? Instagram has a single, universal toggle for this. You flip one switch, and it’s done—no need to mess with individual profiles.
Finding the Right Setting in the App
This is a global setting, so once you turn it on, it applies everywhere you see posts. The steps are exactly the same whether you're on an iPhone or an Android.
Let's walk through how to find it.
- First, head to your profile page by tapping your picture in the bottom-right corner.
- Next, tap the three horizontal lines (often called the hamburger menu) in the top-right to open up your options.
- From there, select Settings and privacy.
- Scroll down until you see the "What you see" section, and tap on Like counts.
You've found it! This is the main control center for like visibility.
All you have to do is tap the toggle next to Hide like counts. As soon as you turn it on, the numbers will vanish from posts in your feed.
What happens next? Instead of a specific number, you’ll see something like "Liked by [a username you follow] and others." You still get a sense of engagement, just without the exact count staring you in the face.
The change is immediate, and you can always come back and turn it off if you change your mind. You have complete control.
Taking this one small step helps you build a more intentional Instagram experience. It allows you to engage with content you genuinely enjoy, not just what's popular, which often leads to a much better time on the app. Learning how to hide the likes on Instagram for others' posts is a simple but powerful way to take back your feed.
Hiding the Like Count on Your Own Posts
While hiding other people's like counts can definitely clean up your feed, the real game-changer is controlling the numbers on your own content. Instagram gives you the power to decide, post by post, whether to show your like count to the world. This is incredibly freeing, letting you experiment with new ideas without worrying so much about public performance metrics.
This feature officially went live for everyone on May 26, 2021, and it came after a ton of testing. Instagram discovered that over 70% of users who hide likes don't do it for every single post; they pick and choose. It’s this kind of flexibility that has helped people feel more comfortable sharing authentically. You can read more about the rollout and Instagram's approach to engagement to see the bigger picture.
You can hide likes at two different times: right before you publish a new post, or anytime after a post is already live.
For a Brand-New Post
Let's say you're about to share something a little more personal or maybe a creative risk. You can hide the likes before anyone even sees it.
When you get to that final screen where you write your caption and tag people, just follow these quick steps:
- Scroll all the way to the bottom and tap on Advanced Settings.
- Find the "Likes and views" section.
- Toggle on Hide like and view counts on this post.
That's it. Head back, hit "Share," and your post will appear without a public like count from the get-go.
For an Existing Post on Your Feed
Already have a post out there that you’d like to change? No problem. Maybe it didn't get the traction you expected, or you just want to shift the focus to the content itself.
Here’s how to hide the likes on a post that's already live:
- Go to the specific photo or Reel on your profile.
- Tap the three-dot menu (•••) in the top-right corner of your post.
- A menu will pop up—simply select Hide like count.
Instantly, the number will vanish. Instead, people will see that familiar "Liked by [a friend's username] and others."
The best thing about this is that it's not a permanent decision. If you ever change your mind, just repeat the same steps and tap "Unhide like count." The number will reappear just as it was.
This simple feature puts you in the driver's seat. You get to decide when to flex your social proof and when to let the content just be content. It makes for a much more intentional, and frankly, less stressful way to use the platform.
Does Hiding Likes Affect Your Engagement Strategy?
So, you're thinking about hiding your like counts. The big question on everyone's mind is always: "Will this kill my engagement?" Let's get straight to it.
The short answer is no, it doesn't have to. In fact, for many creators and brands, it’s been a game-changer for the better.
When you remove that public number, something interesting happens. The focus shifts. People stop passively tapping the heart icon just because a post looks popular and start paying attention to what really matters: the content itself.
Instead of chasing a vanity metric, you and your audience can focus on interactions that signal genuine interest. Think about it—a thoughtful comment, a save, or a share is a much stronger signal that your content connected with someone. It encourages you to create stuff that actually starts conversations or is so useful people have to save it for later.
A Shift Toward Deeper Connections
The biggest impact is psychological. Without a visible like count telling them what to think, your audience has to judge your content on its own merits. They aren't swayed by social proof (or the lack of it). This levels the playing field, letting your creative work speak for itself.
Imagine feeling free to experiment with a new video style or a quirky graphic without worrying that a low like count will make it look like a flop. That creative freedom is a huge advantage.
Interestingly, this seems to boost activity. Data from Instagram suggests users who hide likes actually post more often—a 22% increase in posting activity, to be exact. The platform’s own research also found that posts with hidden likes get 18% more comments and 12% more shares. This tells us the audience's behavior really does shift toward more meaningful engagement.
You Still Have Full Access to Your Data
One of the most common myths is that hiding likes means the data just disappears. That’s completely false.
While the number is hidden from the public, it is still 100% visible to you in your private post insights.
You lose zero data by hiding likes. You can still track every single like, see exactly who liked your post, and measure its performance in your analytics. The only thing that changes is public visibility.
This gives you the best of both worlds. You can dial down the social pressure for your audience while still keeping a sharp eye on your key metrics behind the scenes.
Knowing this, you can build a more resilient and authentic strategy. If you're looking for more ways to drive valuable interactions, our guide on how to get more engagement on Instagram is packed with tips that work, whether your likes are visible or not.
Visible Likes vs Hidden Likes Impact on Engagement
To make it even clearer, let's break down how the experience changes for your audience and what it means for your metrics.
| Metric | Impact with Visible Likes | Impact with Hidden Likes |
|---|---|---|
| Comments | Users may comment less, relying on likes to show approval. | Often increases as users share their thoughts directly instead of just liking. |
| Saves | Strong indicator of value, but may be secondary to likes. | Can increase as users focus more on the content's utility or quality. |
| Shares | Influenced by perceived popularity (high like count). | Driven purely by the content's value and relevance to the user's network. |
| User Perception | Heavily influenced by "social proof"—high likes suggest quality. | Based on the actual merit and appeal of the content itself. |
| Creator Focus | Can lead to creating "likeable" content over valuable content. | Encourages creating content that sparks conversation, provides value, or is share-worthy. |
Ultimately, hiding likes encourages a focus on quality over quantity. Instead of a quick, passive tap, you're pushing for actions that show your content truly made an impact.
As you refine your approach, exploring different content creation tools for social media can also help you produce higher-quality visuals and videos that naturally earn those comments and shares, making the public like count feel completely irrelevant.
Troubleshooting Common Hiding Likes Issues
So, you're trying to hide your likes, but Instagram isn't cooperating. It happens. You go to tap the setting, and it’s just… not there. Or maybe you switch the toggle, but nothing changes. Don't worry, this is almost always a simple fix, and you're not alone. Most of these issues trace back to a few common culprits that are easy to sort out once you know where to look.
The most common complaint I hear is the "Hide like count" option completely vanishing. You tap the three-dot menu on one of your posts or go digging through your privacy settings, and the option is nowhere to be found. It’s frustrating, but it's rarely a major problem with your account.
Usually, the answer is something much more mundane, often related to basic app maintenance.
Why Is the Setting Missing?
Nine times out of ten, an outdated app is the problem. Instagram is constantly pushing out updates, some big and some small. If your app is even a few versions behind, it might not have the code for the latest features. Your first move should always be to pop over to your phone’s app store and see if there’s an update waiting for you.
Another possibility is a temporary bug inside the app. Apps get glitchy; it’s a fact of life. This can cause settings to disappear or fail to save properly. A quick fix is to clear out the app's cache.
- For Android users: Head to
Settings>Apps>Instagram>Storage & cache, then give the Clear Cache button a tap. - For iPhone users: The process is a little different. You'll need to offload the app by going to
Settings>General>iPhone Storage>Instagram>Offload App. Then, just reinstall it from the App Store. This clears things out without touching your account info.
Sometimes, the simplest trick is the most effective. Just try logging out of your Instagram account and then logging right back in. This quick refresh often forces the app to reset itself, which can magically restore missing options. It’s always my first step before trying anything more involved.
What to Do If the Setting Won't Save
Okay, so you found the setting and toggled it on, but your likes are still showing up for everyone to see. This usually points to a temporary communication error with Instagram's servers or a hiccup in your current session. The best first step is to fully close the app. Don't just swipe it into the background—force-quit it completely, then reopen it.
If that doesn't do the trick, a good old-fashioned phone restart is your next best bet. It’s the classic "turn it off and on again" for a reason. Restarting your phone clears its memory and can solve all sorts of strange app behavior, including settings that won't stick.
And one final thing to remember: you will always be able to see your own like counts. Hiding them only affects what other people see. You can get a full breakdown of your post's performance by checking out your private analytics. If you're not familiar with that, you can learn more about how to turn on insights on Instagram, where all that valuable data lives.
Got Questions About Hiding Instagram Likes?
Even after you get the hang of it, a few questions always seem to come up. This feature looks simple, but once you start using it, you might find yourself wondering about the little details. Let's walk through the most common points of confusion so you can use this feature like a pro.
We’ll tackle everything from whether you can still see your own likes to how it might affect your post’s performance. Getting these details straight is the key to making this feature work for you, not against you.
Can I Still See Who Liked My Post?
Yes, absolutely. Hiding the like count only makes it invisible to everyone else. You never lose access to your own engagement data.
On any post where you've hidden the likes, you can still see the complete list of people who tapped that heart button. Just tap the text right below your caption that says "[username] and others." This takes you to a private screen showing you the total number of likes and every single person who gave you one. Your analytics are safe and sound.
The important thing to remember is that you're only changing the public visibility of the like count. All the data is still there for you, so you can keep tracking performance and see what's actually connecting with your audience.
This really gives you the best of both worlds. You can dial down the social pressure for your followers while still keeping a sharp eye on your own metrics.
Is Hiding Likes a Permanent Decision?
Not at all. One of the best parts about this feature is how flexible it is. You can change your mind about showing the like count at any time, whether it's five minutes or five months after you hit "Share."
It's completely reversible and works both ways.
- Want to show the likes again? Head to the post, tap the three-dot menu (•••) in the corner, and choose Unhide Like Count. That number will pop right back up for everyone.
- Decided to hide them after all? Just follow the same steps and tap Hide Like Count.
This flexibility means you can experiment. Try hiding likes on a few posts to see how it feels, knowing you can always flip the switch back if you change your mind.
Does Hiding Likes Hurt My Post in the Algorithm?
This is the big one for most creators and brands. The short answer is no—hiding your likes does not directly penalize your post in the Instagram algorithm. The algorithm still sees every single like, comment, save, and share, using those signals to decide where your post shows up in people's feeds.
Instagram has made it clear that this feature is purely cosmetic. Behind the scenes, nothing changes about how your content is ranked. In fact, some people find that hiding likes can indirectly help performance. When people aren't influenced by a high or low number, they might be more likely to leave a genuine comment or share the post—both of which are powerful signals to the algorithm.
Can I Hide Likes on Instagram Reels and Videos?
You sure can. The option to hide like and view counts works across all the content formats you can put in your main feed, including:
- Single photos
- Carousel posts
- Standard videos
- Instagram Reels
The steps for hiding counts on a Reel or video are exactly the same as for a photo. You can either set it from the Advanced Settings screen before you publish, or you can go back to an existing Reel, tap the three-dot menu, and select Hide Like Count. It's nice and consistent, letting you apply the same strategy across your entire profile.
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