How to Turn off Read Receipts on Instagram

Have you ever felt anxious waiting for those two little checks on your Instagram direct message to turn blue, indicating the recipient has seen your note? Or felt obligated to instantly open and reply when you see a new DM arrive?

We all experience messaging stress sometimes. Read receipts on Instagram create social pressure around viewing and responding. But what if you could take a break from those demanding double checks and read DMs on your own terms?

Unfortunately Instagram doesn‘t have a native setting to disable read receipts like WhatsApp or Telegram. But clever workarounds exist!

In this detailed guide, I‘ll explain multiple techniques to view Instagram direct messages privately, without triggering seen or read receipts. You‘ll learn:

• Why Instagram lacks a built-in toggle for read receipts

• Exact settings to change for more control over DMs

• 4 methods to read messages without sending receipts

• Answers to frequently asked questions

• Pros and cons of each approach

Equipped with these tricks, you can reclaim your Instagram inbox. No more jumpiness when messages roll in, or guilt about making someone feel ignored.

Let‘s start by examining why read receipts are mandatory in Instagram‘s messaging design.

Why Instagram Doesn‘t Have a Read Receipt Toggle

Most major messaging platforms give users the option to disable read receipts, including:

• WhatsApp
• Facebook Messenger
• Telegram
• Signal
• iMessage

So why hasn‘t Instagram provided an official way to turn off this feature?

There are a few likely reasons:

1. Instagram priorities visual sharing

Unlike dedicated messaging apps, Instagram is first and foremost a visual platform. Direct messaging is secondary to its photo-centric design.

Building a robust inbox experience has historically taken a backseat to innovations around Stories, Reels, and the main feed.

2. Privacy is not the top concern

Apps like WhatsApp and Telegram attract users with enhanced privacy options. Instagram‘s less privacy-conscious audience may not demand a read receipt toggle as much.

Its messaging may seem intimate, but Instagram is more of a public social square than a private whispering corner.

3. Engagement is key

Instant feedback provided by read receipts helps drive engagement on the platform.

Open rates and quick replies keep users actively interacting inside Instagram. Turning them off could harm metrics around messages sent and response times.

While these design decisions make sense for Instagram‘s priorities, lack of control over read receipts can still be frustrating for users.

Let‘s look at some ways to work around this limitation.

Adjust Related Instagram DM Settings

Before we get into specific tricks, two settings related to read receipts are worth adjusting in your Instagram app:

Turn Off Push Notifications

Disabling some or all push notifications prevents message previews from popping up on your device. You avoid the temptation to peek at new messages before you‘re ready.

To disable notifications:

1. Go to your profile tab in Instagram
2. Tap the hamburger menu in the top right corner
3. Choose Settings > Notifications
4. Toggle off any notifications you don‘t want under "Messages and Calls"

Disable Activity Status

The "Active" status that shows up next to your username gives away when you‘re in the Instagram app. Turn this off for more messaging privacy.

To deactivate activity status:

1. Go to Settings
2. Choose Privacy > Activity Status
3. Toggle the slider to off/gray position

Now let‘s get into specific techniques for stopping read receipts from being sent when you look at messages.

1. Read Instagram Messages from Notifications

With this method, you use push notifications to preview messages without opening the app and triggering the read receipt.

Here‘s how:

1. Leave notifications enabled for new messages.

2. When you get a notification, pull down the notification shade on Android or long press the banner on iOS.

3. View the message right in the preview window.

4. If you want to reply, open Instagram – the message will still show unread to the sender.

The key is resisting the urge to open Instagram when you receive the notification. Stay in the notification window to avoid sending the read receipt.

I recommend enabling notifications only for priority conversations you want previews for. Keep low priority ones muted.

Pros:

• Convenient previews of important messages

• Natural conversations still possible

Cons:

• Notifications must be enabled

• Discipline required not to open app

• Only new messages can be previewed

2. Airplane Mode Trick

Blocking all data to your device prevents Instagram from sending read receipts. Here‘s how:

1. Turn on Airplane mode on your phone to cut off internet.

2. Open Instagram and navigate to the message you want to read.

3. Read the message while offline – no data can be transmitted.

4. Close Instagram fully before turning off Airplane mode.

5. Disable Airplane mode to reconnect to the internet.

6. Reopen Instagram – the message(s) will still appear unread.

I suggest using Airplane mode rather than disabling connectivity individually. This guarantees no data slips through.

Pros:

• Zero chance of read receipts being sent

• Works for existing conversations

Cons:

• More steps than notification method

• Disrupts natural messaging flow

• Doesn‘t work for new messages received while offline

3. Restrict and Unrestrict

Here‘s a sneaky workaround using Instagram‘s Restrict feature to block someone:

1. Go to the profile of the person you want to read messages from privately.

2. Tap the … menu and choose Restrict > Restrict Account.

3. Check your message requests – their messages are now there without triggering read receipts.

4. When done reading, go back to their profile and tap Unrestrict to move messages back to your main inbox.

Restricting is meant for filtering abusive messages. But briefly restricting someone allows you to read messages undetected.

Pros:

• No read receipts are sent from message requests

• Allows reading existing conversations discretely

Cons:

• Doesn‘t work for active conversations

• Complicated multi-step process

• Could cause temporary send failures if sender tries to message you

4. Use a Third-Party App

A more robust option is using a third-party Instagram DM app that forwards your messages outside the Instagram app itself. Some popular options:

• Flow – Syncs DMs to email inbox. Free to try, paid upgrades available.

• Textto – Sends DMs as SMS texts. Free basic version, paid premium.

• Hoop Messenger – Integrates Instagram messaging into one inbox. Free on iOS and Android.

Research any third-party thoroughly before connecting to your Instagram account. Focus on privacy policies and data practices.

Pros:

• Read, respond without Instagram knowing

• Unified messaging experience

Cons:

• Requires installing unknown third-party apps

• Disrupts natural Instagram messaging

• Features and privacy practices vary greatly

Which Method Should I Use?

There is no one right technique for everyone. Consider these factors:

• Active versus existing conversations – Airplane and Restrict work best for reading existing messages. Notifications better for active convos.

• Effort involved – Notifications take little effort. Airplane requires more steps each time.

• Message length – Long messages are easier to read fully offline.

• Frequency – Occasional private reading or daily?

• Change habits? – Do you want to change your messaging flow or keep it familiar?

Pick the one(s) that best match your unique needs and priorities.

Over time, you may find yourself using different methods in different situations. Mastering a few techniques gives you flexibility.

Expert Tips to Read Instagram Messages Privately

Based on my extensive messaging experience, here are some pro tips:

• Temporarily mute active conversations to take a break from ongoing convos stressing you out. You can catch up on your terms later.

• When using Airplane mode, make sure to force quit Instagram before reconnecting your device. This erases any temporary local read receipt data.

• Enable notifications only for priority conversations and leave others muted. Customize as needed.

• Test each method with low-stakes conversations to get comfortable with the steps.

• Using Restrict too frequently could get your account flagged. Use sparingly.

• For third-party apps, carefully research data practices, privacy policy, and reviews.

FAQs About Instagram Read Receipts

Let‘s review some frequently asked questions:

Can you fully turn off read receipts in Instagram?

Unfortunately no. There is no native setting built into Instagram to completely disable read receipts across the app. The techniques here provide helpful workarounds.

Can I stop the "seen" indicator from showing up?

No, there is no way to prevent the "seen" receipt from being sent when you view a message – the methods here aim to prevent it as much as possible.

Can someone see if I‘ve read their Instagram DMs?

People you message can see when you‘ve read their DMs and you can see theirs…unless you use the tricks in this guide to view messages more privately!

Could I get banned from Instagram for these tricks?

As long as you only access your own account, these techniques don‘t violate Instagram‘s terms of use. Temporary restricting could earn you a slap on the wrist if done excessively.

What‘s the best third party app for hiding read status?

I recommend checking Flow, Textto, and Hoop Messenger. Compare privacy policies and data practices to find one you feel comfortable with.

Can I tell if someone read my DM without the read receipt?

If the person has disabled read receipts using the methods here, then no…their reading activity is privately hidden from you!

Reclaim Your Instagram Inbox

While Instagram still doesn‘t allow outright disabling of read receipts, these workarounds provide backdoor methods to read DMs more privately.

Apply the techniques smartly to reduce messaging stress. Mute conversations temporarily when needed. Preview priority notices from your lock screen. Disappear offline to catch up on busy days.

Armed with notification tricks, Airplane mode, Restrict, and third-party apps, you can handle Instagram messaging on your own terms.

Take back control of your inbox and wave goodbye to the pressure of those demanding double checks!