How to Hide Instagram Stories from Followers and Non-Followers
In some cases, you may want to hide your Instagram stories to your followers and non-followers. Just for test purposes or if you want to share personal moments only with your close friends, this guide will definitely be useful. The method for doing this is different for your followers and non-followers. We will cover both separately below. So let's start with the guide. However, if you want to restrict an Instagram account, please refer to our guide on this subject.
Hide Instagram stories from your subscribers
There are two ways to hide your Instagram stories from your followers. The first option is explicitly intended for this purpose, while the second could be modified to qualify for this purpose. Both have their share of ups and downs, which we will discuss next.
1. Use the Hide Story option
- Open Instagram on your device, go to your profile and tap the hamburger menu.
- Press on Settings present at the bottom right.
- Then go to Privacy > Story.
- Under Hide the story of, Press on x people (where x is the number of people your story is hidden in. Since you are just starting the guide, it would be zero). You will now get a list of all your followers.
- Select the desired user and press the button check present mark at the top right.
That's it. These are the steps to hide your Instagram stories to your followers. The advantage of this method is the user / users whose story you have hidden has no idea, nor will your other followers know that you have hidden your Instagram stories to anyone.
The disadvantage, however, becomes apparent when you want to hide your story to many followers. You can not automatically select all users at once, then manually delete one or two from this list. You will need to manually select all the users to whom you want to hide your stories. Let's take a look at the second method of hiding Instagram stories. However, if your storage space is insufficient, try the Instagram Lite app.
2. Use the Close Friends feature
Instagram provides a Close friends functionality. So, rather than trying to hide your Instagram stories to many of your followers, you can actually only select a few of those who need to see this story. Then you can add them to your group of close friends. To do this, follow the steps below. However, if you want to add or remove users from Thread's friends list, see our guide too.
- Under Settings, go to Privacy section.
- In Privacy, Press on Close friends.
- Then press To start. Of suggestions list, press Add next to the desired user that you want to add to your close friends.
- Finally, press Create a list. That's it. Now go to the Instagram Stories section, create a new story (you can also add music to your stories) and press Close friends.
This was the second method to hide your Instagram stories to your followers. Only users added to this group will now be able to see your story. Now, here are some important things to keep in mind though. All users added to the list of close friends will be able to know the same thing. Although they are not informed that you have added them. However, any story shared with the list of your close friends is surrounded by a distinct green color.
Moreover, the story itself would mention the Close friends keyword at the top right. Although a member of the list of close friends can not see who the other members of this group are, it would still have an idea that the story is hidden from your other subscribers. This is not the case if you continue with the first method (ie the Hide Story option).
So these are the two different methods to hide your Instagram stories to your followers. Let's turn our attention now to non-followers.
Do not miss: Instagram feeds allow you to enjoy an experience similar to Snapchat's
Hide Instagram stories of non-followers
There are two different ways to hide Instagram stories to your non-subscribers. The first is a general prohibition, that is, none of your non-followers will be able to see your stories. The second method is to hide stories from individuals. Both of these methods have been discussed below. If this trick really intrigues you, do not forget to check out other Instagram tips and tricks.
1. Switch to a private account
If you switch your account to a private account, then none of your non-subscribers will be able to see your stories. Here's how it could be done.
- Open the Instagram app and go to Settings.
- Press on Privacy > Account confidentiality. This will be located under the Connections tongue.
- Activate the rocker next to Private account.
That's it. You can now hide your Instagram stories successfully to all your non-followers. However, if you want to hide your story from some non-followers only, follow the instructions below. You can also upload images and videos to your Instagram account directly from your PC. Refer to the guide for more information.
2. Hiding stories to individual non-disciples
- Use the Search feature and look for the non-follower to whom you want to hide your Instagram story.
- In his profile, tap the Overflow menu.
- Now select the Hide your story option of this menu.
- Finally, in the confirmation dialog, press Hide.
With this, we conclude the guide on how to hide the Instagram story to your followers and non-followers. As already mentioned, each method has its own advantages and disadvantages. Let us know in the comments which method you end up choosing.
Read more: Download Instagram photos and videos on Android