How do I hide comments or message requests I don't want to see on Instagram?
There are two ways you can hide potentially offensive comments and message requests you don’t want to see on Instagram.
Content that doesn’t go against our Community Guidelines, but may be inappropriate, disrespectful, or offensive (example: racial slurs, curse words or scams) can be hidden using the Hidden Words setting. You can also create a custom list of words, phrases, numbers and emojis you want to hide.
Keep in mind that hidden comments are still included in your total comment count and when a comment or message is hidden, the person who sent it won’t know.
Hide offensive words or phrases
You can choose to hide comments and message requests you don’t want to see by turning on the following settings:
  • Hide comments: Comments with common offensive words, phrases or emojis are filtered out or hidden automatically. This setting is on by default, but you can change it any time.
  • Advanced comment filtering: Filter out even more comments that may contain offensive words or phrases. Comments from people you follow and who follow you will not be hidden. This setting is off by default, but you can change it at any time.
  • Hide message requests: Message requests that may contain scams or offensive words, phrases or emojis will appear in your hidden requests folder. This setting is off by default, but you can change it any time. Note: Instagram cannot see your messages unless you report them.
To change your comments settings or turn on hide message requests:
Instagram app for Android and iPhone:
  1. Tap profile or your profile picture in the bottom right to go to your profile.
  2. Tap more options in the top right, then tap settingsSettings.
  3. Tap Privacy, then tap Hidden Words.
  4. Below Offensive words and phrases, you can:
    • Tap switch on next to Hide comments to turn it off.
    • Tap switch off next to Advanced comment filtering to turn it on.
    • Tap switch off next to Hide message requests to turn it on.
Instagram.com from a mobile browser
  1. Tap your profile picture in the bottom right to go to your profile.
  2. Tap settings at the top.
  3. Tap Privacy and security, then tap Edit Comment Settings below Comments.
  4. Tap checkbox next to Use Default Keywords. Your change will be saved automatically.
Instagram.com from a computer:
  1. Click your profile picture in the top right, then click settingsSettings.
  2. Click Privacy and security on the left.
  3. Click Edit comment settings below Comments.
  4. Click checkbox next to Use Default Keywords. Your change will be saved automatically.
Instagram Lite app for Android
  1. Tap profile or your profile picture in the bottom right to go to your profile.
  2. Tap more options in the top right, then tap settingsSettings.
  3. Tap Privacy, then tap Comments.
  4. Tap switch on next to Hide Offensive Comments.
Keep in mind that you can only manage the hidden message requests setting from the Instagram app for Android and iPhone. Learn more about hiding message requests.
Manage custom words and phrases
You can also add words, phrases, numbers or emojis that you don’t want to see in comments and message requests to your list of Custom words and phrases. These will be hidden from your comments,message requests, or both. You can edit this list at any time.
To manage your custom word list:
Instagram app for Android and iPhone:
  1. Tap profile or your profile picture in the bottom right to go to your profile.
  2. Tap more options in the top right, then tap settingsSettings.
  3. Tap Privacy, then tap Hidden words.
  4. Below Custom words and phrases, you can:
    • Tap Manage custom words and phrases, then enter specific words, phrases, numbers or emojis you don’t want to see in the text box. Note: Separate each entry by a comma.
    • Tap switch off next to Hide comments to turn your custom word list on for comments.
    • Tap switch on next to Hide message requests to turn your custom word list on for message requests.
To remove a word, phrase or emoji from Custom words and phrases, tap Manage list. Tap the word, phrase, number or emoji you’d like to remove, then tap Delete to confirm.
Instagram.com from a mobile browser
  1. Tap your profile picture in the bottom right to go to your profile.
  2. Tap settings at the top.
  3. Tap Privacy and cecurity.
  4. Tap Edit Comment Settings below Comments.
  5. Enter specific words, phrases, numbers or emojis you want to hide in the text box. Click Submit to save the list. Note: Separate each entry by a comma.
Instagram.com from a computer:
  1. Click your profile picture in the top right, then click settingsSettings.
  2. Click Privacy and Security on the left.
  3. Click Edit Comment Settings below Comments.
  4. Enter specific words, phrases, numbers or emojis you want to hide in the text box. Click Submit to save the list. Note: Separate each entry by a comma.
Instagram Lite app for Android
  1. Tap profile or your profile picture in the bottom right to go to your profile.
  2. Tap more options in the top right, then tap settingsSettings.
  3. Tap Privacy, then tap Comments.
  4. Tap switch off next to Manual Filter.
  5. Enter specific words, phrases, numbers or emojis you want to hide in the text box. Tap Save to save the list. Note: Separate each entry by a comma.
Note that you can only manage the hidden message requests setting from the Instagram app for Android and iPhone.
Unhide comments
Only the person who posted the hidden comment can see it, but others can choose to see it by tapping View hidden comments at the bottom of the comments section. You can also review and manually unhide individual comments if you don’t find them offensive.
To unhide specific comments on your post from the Instagram app for Android and iPhone:
  1. Tap View hidden comments below your post.
  2. Scroll to the end of your comments and tap View hidden comments.
  3. Tap the comment you want to view, then tap Unhide.
Learn more about how to view, delete, or report hidden message requests.
When you hide comments or message requests, both new and existing content will be hidden. If you turn these settings off, hidden comments or message requests will be restored.
If you feel like you’re being harassed, you can also temporarily limit unwanted comments on your posts from groups of accounts.
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