DMs, or direct messages, are a fantastic way to communicate with your friends in private on Instagram. Unwanted enquiries and texts, meanwhile, have the potential to ruin this encounter. But without banning, is there a way to stop getting direct messages on Instagram? Let’s investigate.
When sorting direct messages, Instagram keeps track of who you follow and who follows you. This makes it simple to refuse communication requests from users who are merely following you. Additionally, there are a few workarounds available even if there are no direct ways to prevent people you follow from messaging you. Let’s examine six methods for stopping Instagram message delivery without blocking users.
Method 1: Turn off direct messages from the privacy settings.
It should be the default for you to get requests for Instagram messages from users you are not following. This also holds true for accounts that you are not following. You can turn them off from your Instagram account’s settings menu if you’d rather not receive them. Messages from users you follow on Instagram will remain unaffected. This is the procedure.
Step 1: Click the profile button after opening the Instagram app.
Step 2: Click or tap the hamburger symbol.
Step 3: Next, press the “Settings and privacy” button.
Step 4: Select “Messages and story replies” from this menu. Next, press on the Message controls.
Step 5: Click “Your followers on Instagram” on this screen. Choose “Don’t receive requests” after that.
Step 6: Tap Update Settings if requested. By doing this, you will stop receiving message requests from users who follow and unfollow you on Instagram.
On the other hand, you have the option to individually disable message requests from users who do not follow you on Instagram. This is the method.
Step 7: Return to the Message controls screen and select “Instagram Users.”
Step 8: Choose “Don’t receive requests” once more.
When it’s finished, communications from unknown users on Instagram will be blocked.
Method 2: Using Group Settings
Regardless of whether they follow you, Instagram also lets other users add you to their group. You might end up added to potentially spam chats as a result of this. You can utilise the settings menu to restrict who can add you to Instagram groups to only those you follow in order to stop it from happening. This is the method.
Step 1: Launch Instagram and click the hamburger symbol → profile icon.
Step 2: Next, press the “Settings and privacy” button.
Step 3: Select “Stories and message replies.”
Step 4: Tap on the Message controls here.
Step 5: Next, choose “Only people you follow on Instagram” when tapping on “Who can add you to groups.”
This will guarantee that you can only be added to groups on Instagram by users you follow. You may also read our tutorial on how to stop someone from adding you to a Facebook or Instagram group for further information.
Method 3: Through Story Settings
Instagram Stories let you post brief moments from your life. But it can also be used by other people to communicate with you. In this instance, you have the option to disable replies for your Stories, which would stop other users from seeing your messages on Instagram. This is the procedure.
Step 1: Launch Instagram and click the hamburger symbol → profile icon.
Step 2: Click “Settings and Privacy.”
Step 3: Next, select Message controls by tapping on “Messages and story replies.”
Step 4: Tap on Story responses at this point.
Step 5: Choose “Don’t allow story replies” in step five.
This will guarantee that no one can respond to your stories on Instagram, keeping them out of your direct messages.
Method 4: Manually Blocking the Request
Unknown users typically wind up in the request queue when they send you a direct message. You can block the unnecessary message requests, nevertheless, if you don’t want to disable all of them. This will make things less cluttered and enable other users to message you on Instagram. To do it, adhere to the instructions below.
Step 1: Launch Instagram and tap the upper-right corner messaging icon.
Step 2: Click on Requests here.
Step 3: At this point, tap the appropriate message request.
Step 4: Tap on Block.
To finish the process, tap on Block once more if requested. This will prevent the chosen account from receiving message requests and from being used on Instagram.
Method 5: By Restricting the User
Restricting a user on Instagram is a step down from outright blocking; the person will still be visible in the Requests box but won’t appear in your conversations. This implies that although their messages won’t be visible in your Instagram direct messages window, you can still view them if you so choose. This is the procedure.
Note: To learn more about the distinctions between Instagram Restrict and Block, read our comparison post.
Step 1: Click the messages icon after opening Instagram.
Step 2: Tap on the user you want to limit access to.
Step 3: Press the username.
Step 4: Click on Options here.
Step 5: Next, press the Restrict button.
The person will navigate to the Requests area and vanish from the messaging window. You need to Unrestrict this user in order to communicate with them again.
Method 6: Disabling Instagram DM Notifications
You can disable direct messages (DMs) from Instagram’s settings menu if you don’t want to completely disable them and don’t want to receive notifications for them either. You can receive Instagram messages in this manner without getting notified. This is the procedure.
Step 1: Launch the Instagram app, then tap the hamburger icon next to your profile icon.
Step 2: Select “Settings and privacy” when the menu options display.
Step 3: Press the Notifications button.
Step 4: Next, give Messages a tap.
Step 5: Go through the options on this screen and choose Off for each one.
This will turn off Instagram’s message notifications altogether. To resume getting them, simply follow the instructions above, making sure to choose “On” for every option.
FAQs about Disabling Instagram Direct Messages
Do other users know if you’re blocking their DM requests on Instagram?
No, the other user won’t be informed that you’ve disabled their Instagram direct message requests.
Can turning your Instagram account private automatically block DM requests?
After you make your account private, you won’t get new direct messages in your inbox, but you can still see them in the Requests area. Requests, however, won’t show up if you have messages fully disabled. See our explainer on Instagram private account messages for further information.
Block Messages From Strangers
Unknown senders’ repeated communications may wind up piling up in your inbox. Not to mention the sporadic irrelevant texts. Thus, we hope that this post has clarified for you how to stop getting messages on Instagram without barring users. If a user is bothering you, though, you could want to block them from Instagram.