How to Remove Followers on Instagram: A Complete Guide

Instagram, the vibrant kingdom of visual storytelling, can sometimes feel less like a personalized gallery and more like a crowded marketplace. While a large following is often touted as a mark of success, not all followers are created equal. Whether you’re pruning inactive accounts, safeguarding your privacy, or simply curating a more engaged audience, knowing how to remove followers is a crucial skill for any serious Instagrammer.

Here’s the straightforward answer: You can remove followers on Instagram manually, one by one, directly from their profile or from your followers list. This can be done whether your account is public or private. Crucially, Instagram does not notify the user that you have removed them. The process is relatively simple:

1. Navigate to your profile: Tap your profile picture in the bottom right.
2. Access your followers list: Tap the “Followers” option near the top of your screen.
3. Locate the follower: Scroll through your list or use the search bar to find the follower you want to remove.
4. Tap “Remove”: Tap the “Remove” button next to their username. (If you do not see a “Remove” button, it means that the person you are looking at is following you on a private account and you do not follow them back. Therefore, you are viewing them through a mutual follower of yours.)
5. Confirm the removal: A confirmation pop-up will appear. Tap “Remove” again to finalize the action.

While Instagram doesn’t offer a bulk removal feature for all users, a few workarounds exist, which we will cover in the FAQs below. So, let’s dive deeper into the why, the how, and the what-ifs of managing your Instagram follower list.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Removing Instagram Followers

Here are 12 of the most frequently asked questions, designed to equip you with everything you need to know about taking control of your Instagram audience:

1. Can someone tell if I remove them as a follower?

No, and this is crucial to understand. Instagram does not send notifications to users when they are removed as a follower. They might eventually notice they’re no longer following you, but they won’t receive an alert saying you specifically removed them. They might deduce that this is the case if they look for you in their following list and realize you are no longer there. You can also always make your account private to prevent them from seeing your posts.

2. Is there a way to remove followers in bulk?

Officially, no. Instagram does not provide a native feature for bulk removing followers for regular users. However, there are third-party apps that claim to offer this functionality. Be extremely cautious when using these apps! Many violate Instagram’s terms of service, risk compromising your account security, and can potentially lead to your account being banned or suspended. It’s usually best to avoid these entirely. They are not recommended.

3. What’s the difference between “removing” and “blocking” a follower?

Removing a follower simply means they are no longer following your account. They can still view your public profile (if it’s not private) and potentially request to follow you again.

Blocking a user, on the other hand, is a more drastic measure. When you block someone, they can no longer:

• View your profile or posts, even if your account is public.
• Send you direct messages.
• Find your profile in search.
• See your comments or likes on other people’s posts.
• Tag you in posts or comments.
• Mention you in posts or comments.
• Follow you.

Blocking is effective if you want someone to be unable to interact with you on Instagram at all.

4. Can I remove a follower from a private account?

Absolutely. The process is exactly the same as removing a follower from a public account. The main difference with a private account is that someone you remove won’t be able to see your posts unless they send you a follow request that you approve.

5. If I remove a follower, can they request to follow me again?

Yes, unless you block them. Removing a follower simply breaks the connection. They are free to send you another follow request, which you can then choose to accept or decline.

6. What if I accidentally remove a follower? Can I reverse it?

Unfortunately, there’s no “undo” button. If you accidentally remove someone, the only way to “reverse” it is to hope they notice and send you another follow request. Or, you can search for their profile and send them a follow request yourself, if you want to follow them.

7. Does removing followers affect my engagement rate?

Potentially, yes. Removing inactive or bot accounts can actually improve your engagement rate. A higher percentage of your remaining followers will be real people who are genuinely interested in your content, leading to more likes, comments, and shares per follower. However, if you are removing legitimate users that did engage with your content, you will likely see less engagement.

8. Should I remove inactive followers?

This is a common strategy for improving engagement. Inactive followers clutter your follower count without contributing to your metrics. Removing them can give your engagement rate a boost and make your audience appear more authentic to potential partners or sponsors. However, keep in mind that inactive followers may still occasionally view your stories or posts, so it’s a judgment call.

9. Are there any apps to identify fake or bot followers?

Yes, there are tools that analyze your follower base and identify potentially fake or bot accounts. However, like bulk removal apps, exercise extreme caution. Many require access to your account and could compromise your security. Focus on using Instagram’s built-in features and common sense – if an account has no profile picture, a generic username, and follows thousands of people but has no followers of its own, it’s likely a bot.

10. What happens if I remove a follower who is also following my business account?

The same rules apply. Removing a follower from your business account disconnects them from following your content. They can still view your public profile (unless you block them), but they will no longer see your posts in their feed unless they follow you again.

11. Is there a limit to how many followers I can remove in a day?

Instagram doesn’t explicitly state a daily limit for removing followers. However, excessively removing a large number of followers in a short period could trigger Instagram’s anti-spam algorithms. It’s generally wise to remove followers gradually over time, rather than in massive batches, to avoid raising red flags.

12. Can I remove a follower from my story views without removing them as a follower?

No, you cannot. The only way to prevent someone from seeing your story is to either block them or hide your story from them specifically (a feature available within story settings). Removing them as a follower will, of course, prevent them from seeing future stories until they re-follow you.

In conclusion, managing your Instagram follower list is an ongoing process. By understanding the mechanics of removing followers and being mindful of the potential implications, you can cultivate an audience that truly resonates with your content and contributes to a more engaging and authentic experience on the platform. Remember: proceed cautiously with third-party apps and always prioritize the security of your account.