How to Hide Someone’s Story on Instagram: A Definitive Guide

Want to curate your Instagram experience and declutter your feed? Hiding someone’s story is a subtle but powerful way to do it. The good news is, Instagram makes it incredibly easy to mute stories without unfollowing the person. Here’s exactly how:

The simplest way to hide someone’s story on Instagram is to mute them. This action prevents their stories from appearing at the top of your feed, but still allows you to view their posts and stories by visiting their profile directly. Here’s how to do it:

Method 1: From the Stories Bar

1. Locate the user’s profile icon in the stories bar at the top of your feed.
2. Tap and hold on their profile icon.
3. A menu will pop up. Select “Mute.”
4. You’ll then be given two options: “Mute Story” and “Mute Story and Posts.” Choose “Mute Story.”

Method 2: From Their Profile

1. Navigate to the profile of the person you want to mute.
2. Tap on the “Following” button (or “Follow” if you are not following them).
3. Select “Mute.”
4. Toggle the switch next to “Stories” to mute their stories.

That’s it! The user won’t be notified that you’ve muted their story, and you can unmute them at any time using the same steps. Now, let’s dive into some FAQs to provide a more comprehensive understanding of this feature.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Hiding Instagram Stories

H3: 1. Will the Person Know I Muted Their Story?

Absolutely not! Instagram is designed to be discreet when it comes to muting. The person whose story you’ve hidden will not receive any notification or indication that you’ve done so. They’ll continue to see you as a follower (if you are one), and won’t be able to tell if you’re actively viewing their content unless you interact with it directly (like liking a post or replying to a story). This keeps things cordial and avoids any unnecessary drama.

H3: 2. What’s the Difference Between Muting a Story and Muting Posts?

Muting a story specifically hides their stories from appearing in the stories bar at the top of your feed. You’ll still see their regular posts in your main feed. On the other hand, muting posts hides their regular feed posts, but you’ll still see their stories. You can mute both stories and posts if you want to completely filter out their content from your primary Instagram view without unfollowing.

H3: 3. How Do I Unmute Someone’s Story?

Unmuting a story is just as simple as muting it. You have two main methods:

• From their Profile: Go to the person’s profile. Tap the “Following” button (or “Follow” if you aren’t following them). Select “Mute” and then toggle the switch next to “Stories” to turn it off (so it’s no longer highlighted).
• From the Settings: Go to your profile, then tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) in the top right corner. Select “Settings,” then “Privacy,” and then “Muted Accounts.” Here, you’ll see a list of accounts you’ve muted. Simply tap the “Unmute” button next to the account whose story you want to see again.

H3: 4. If I Mute Someone’s Story, Can I Still See Their Posts?

Yes! Muting a story only affects their stories. You will still see their regular posts in your main feed, unless you’ve also muted their posts. This allows you to selectively filter content without completely cutting someone off.

H3: 5. Can I Mute Someone’s Story Without Following Them?

You can only mute someone’s story if you are following them. The “Mute” option is only available for accounts you follow. If you don’t follow them, you won’t see their stories at all unless you visit their profile directly. To mute them, you’d first have to follow them, then mute.

H3: 6. Does Muting a Story Affect Our Direct Messages?

No, muting a story does not affect your direct messages with that person. You will still receive and be able to send messages as usual. Muting only affects the visibility of their stories and/or posts on your feed.

H3: 7. Is There a Limit to How Many People I Can Mute?

Instagram doesn’t impose a specific limit on the number of accounts you can mute. You can mute as many accounts as you need to in order to curate your feed to your liking. This is great for customizing your experience without the social awkwardness of unfollowing.

H3: 8. If I Unmute Someone, Will They Know I Had Muted Them Before?

No, Instagram keeps your muting history private. The person you unmute will not receive any notification or indication that you had previously muted their story. It’s a completely discreet process.

H3: 9. Can I Mute Someone’s Story From the Desktop Version of Instagram?

Yes, you can mute someone’s story from the desktop version of Instagram. Simply go to their profile and click the “Following” button. From there, you’ll see the “Mute” option and can toggle the setting for stories.

H3: 10. What Happens If I Mention a Muted Person in My Story?

If you mention a muted person in your story, they will receive a notification that they were mentioned. Muting only affects their content appearing on your feed. Mentions are considered direct interactions and will always trigger a notification.

H3: 11. If Someone Mutes My Story, Can I Still See Their Story?

Yes, if someone mutes your story, it only affects their feed, not yours. You can still see their stories and posts as usual. Muting is a one-way action that only impacts the person doing the muting.

H3: 12. How Can I Hide My Story From Specific People Without Muting Them?

Instagram offers a feature to hide your story from specific people without them knowing. Here’s how:

1. Go to your profile and tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) in the top right corner.
2. Select “Settings.”
3. Tap “Privacy,” then “Story.”
4. Under “Hide Story From,” select the people you want to hide your story from.

This list will consist of your followers. They won’t be notified that you’ve hidden your story from them. They simply won’t see it in their feed, and your profile won’t show a story ring. This is different from blocking, as they can still see your profile and posts, and you can still interact with their content.