Curious about keeping your Instagram following list private in 2026? Even if you’re looking to maintain a bit of mystery or simply value your privacy, you own your reasons!
Many users want to know how to hide the following list on Instagram and control who sees their connections. The news is that although it’s not entirely possible to make your Instagram following list private. However, you can customize your privacy settings on Instagram to limit who can see your followers and following list. It’s done mainly by using a private account and carefully managing who follows you.
In this blog, we’ll walk you through the steps to keep your following list private by limiting who can see it, and share some tips to enhance your overall Instagram privacy. Keep reading to find out the hows and more!
Why Hide Your Following List on Instagram?
Hiding your Instagram following list from your followers can be a smart move for several reasons:
1. Privacy Concerns
Social media can sometimes feel like an open book (especially if you have a public profile), and your following list might reveal more about you than you realize: your interests, affiliations, or even personal connections. By hiding the following list on Instagram, you can keep your list private, control what others see, and maintain your privacy.
Also Read: 2. Professional Reasons
For influencers, business owners, or professionals, keeping your Instagram following list private can help maintain a polished online image. It prevents competitors or curious viewers from analyzing your network, collaborations, or marketing strategies.
3. Personal Boundaries
Not everything on social media needs to be public. You may not want everyone to see the people you interact with or follow. Setting personal boundaries by hiding your following list allows you to enjoy Instagram without worrying about unnecessary scrutiny.
4. Avoid Judgment
We all follow exciting accounts, but sometimes, those interests aren’t for everyone. To prevent others from passing judgment about you based on the people or accounts you follow, it’s best to hide the following list on Instagram.
Now that you know the reasons you can hide your following list on Instagram, let’s see how to hide your following list on Instagram using various methods.
Can You Hide Your Following and Followers List on Instagram?
Before jumping to the part of how to hide your following list on Instagram from friends and other users, let’s address your common question: ‘Can you hide your following and follower list on Instagram?’
So, the straightforward answer is, No. Instagram does not offer any feature to hide your Instagram followers and following list directly from your audience.
However, you can control and limit who sees your following and follower list on Instagram with just 1 step: making your account private.
When you switch your Instagram account to private, you can control who can see your following and followers list as you approve their request to follow you. And after that, they can see your following list on Instagram.
Other than this, there are some more ways if you don’t want to let people see who you follow on Instagram. There are more ways to reduce who can see who you follow on Instagram by managing individual followers and specific accounts. And these options are;
You can:
- On your private account, remove certain users from your followers lists so they don’t have access to your account’s Feed, content, and followers and following lists. If your account is public, they can still open your profile and see your public content and connections.
- Use the Restrict feature to quietly limit how someone interacts with you on Instagram without blocking or unfollowing them. But remember, restricted users can still see your profile, posts, and following list.
- Block them entirely to access your account, content, and other necessary details.
However, it’s important to note that there is no direct button to turn off or hide your following list on Instagram. But as mentioned above, there are a few ways to control who can see it: use a private account, block, or remove specific followers.
So, let’s get into the details of how to hide following on IG.
Take Control of Your Instagram Privacy
How to Hide the Following List on Instagram: Step-by-Step Methods
If this is your first time trying to hide the following list on Instagram, and you’ve no clue how it’s done, here are the 4 step-by-step methods to help you perform this task without much hassle.
Here are the methods to hide the following list on Instagram:
Method 1: Use Instagram’s Built-in Privacy Settings
If you have a public profile and want to know how to hide your following list on Instagram without a private account, let us break it to you: it’s not possible.
The only way to answer your query, “how to hide following on Instagram without a private account,” is by making your Instagram account private. This way, only users you approve can see your followers and following list on Instagram.
Here’s how you can do it.
1. Open your Instagram app, then tap your profile picture in the bottom-right corner.
2. Tap the three horizontal lines in the top right corner to go to “Settings and activity.” Scroll down and tap “Account privacy” under the “Who can see your content” section.
3. In the “Account Privacy” section, toggle the switch next to “Private account.”
And it’s done.
You’ve made your account private. Now, only approved followers can see your posts, your following list, and who follows you. They’ll need to send you a follow request, which you can accept or deny.
Method 2: Block the Individual Users
Another way to hide the Instagram following list is to block the users you don’t want to see your following, followers list, or Instagram Stories. Here is what you need to do to block people from seeing who you follow on Instagram.
1. Navigate to Instagram on your device and tap your “Profile photo” at the bottom right corner.
2. Select the “following” at the top to access the list of people you are following on the app.
3. Now, scroll through the list to locate the user from which you want to hide your following list. Once located, tap the user to open its profile.
4. Select the “three-dot” icon at the top-right corner of the screen.
5. Tap “Block” in the pop-up menu.
6. Hit “Block” again on the pop-up menu to confirm.
You’ve successfully blocked the user from that account and have successfully hidden your following list. They can’t see your profile, posts, Stories, or your followers and following list.
Now, here’s what happens after you block someone:
- The blocked user cannot see your posts, stories, or follower/following list.
- They cannot search for your profile or interact with you in comments or messages.
- Instagram does not notify the user that they have been blocked.
Method 3: Use Instagram’s “Restrict” Feature
Another way to answer your question, “how to hide who you follow on Instagram,” is to use Instagram’s restrict feature.
This method does not hide your followers or following list, but it is a subtle way to limit how a certain person sees and interacts with your activity. Such as your comments, DMs, and online status, without fully blocking them. Restrict users on Instagram so they can still see your posts, but their comments, messages, and your ‘Activity Status’ are limited and less visible. The following are the steps you need to go through to do this.
1. Head to Instagram on your device and select your “Profile photo” at the bottom right corner.
2. Select the “following” at the top to access your following list on the app.
3. Scroll through the list to find the user you wish to restrict.
4. Once located, tap the user’s name to open their profile.
5. Select the “three-dot” icon at the top-right corner of the screen.
6. Tap “Restrict” to restrict the selected user.
7. Hit “Restrict” again on the pop-up menu to confirm.
You’ve successfully restricted the selected user from seeing your Instagram activity. You’ve limited how they can interact with you on Instagram without blocking them or removing them as a follower.
Method 4: Remove Followers You Don’t Want
If you prefer certain people not to see your posts and want to hide followers and following on Instagram from your friends, removing them from your followers is a quick and effective option.
Here are simple steps to remove someone whose request you accepted earlier, but now you want to hide your Instagram following list from them:
- Open Instagram and tap your profile picture at the bottom right.
- Tap Followers at the top to open your followers list.
- Scroll or use the search bar to find the person you want to remove.
- Next to their name, tap the three dots.
- Tap Remove and confirm when asked.
And you have removed a follower or friend you want to hide your following list from. Instagram does not send them a notification that you removed them. If your account is private, they will no longer see your posts or stories unless they follow you again and you accept their follow.
This way, you will have more control over which users or people see who you follow on Instagram.
What Happens When You Hide Your Following List?
Hiding your following list on Instagram can have several effects on how others interact with your profile (if it is private). Here are some things that happen when you hide your following list on Instagram.
Privacy and Visibility
When you hide your following list, it leads to:
- Increased Privacy: On a private account, only your approved followers can see the full list of users you follow. People who don’t follow you can’t open your followers or following list at all.
- Controlled Visibility: Even if someone stumbles upon your profile, they won’t be able to check your connections, giving you greater control over your online presence.
Interaction Impact
While hiding your following list enhances privacy, it does not affect how you interact with other users:
- Likes and Comments: You can still get more views and likes on your Instagram posts, and others can see your interactions unless your entire profile is private.
- Followers’ View: Your approved followers can see your full followers and following lists. What you’re really controlling is who becomes a follower in the first place.
User Experience
The user experience remains unaffected:
- Profile Engagement: Users can still visit your profile, view your posts, and engage with your content.
- Notification System: You’ll continue to receive notifications for likes, comments, and new followers as usual.
Personal Safety
Hiding your following list can contribute to a safer online experience:
- Reducing Harassment: It can help protect against unwanted attention and potential harassment from strangers or malicious users.
- Shielding Relationships: It safeguards your personal relationships and professional networks from public scrutiny.
By taking these steps, you can better manage your privacy on Instagram and maintain a more controlled online presence. You can even hide like counts on Instagram Reels to keep your content and activities more private. This makes social media a more enjoyable and secure experience.
Tips for Maintaining Online Privacy on Instagram
While hiding your following list is a great start, there are other privacy settings you should consider:
- Private Account: Switch to a private account to control who can see your posts, stories, and personal information.
- Story Settings: Adjust your story settings to control who can see your stories and who can reply to them.
- Two-Factor Authentication: Enable two-factor authentication to add an extra layer of security to your account.
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Wrap Up!
In the end, learning to hide the following list on Instagram gives you more control over your privacy and helps you create a safer, more comfortable online space. While Instagram does not offer a one-size-fits-all solution to make your following private or hide on Instagram, the methods shared above help you manage who can see your activity and protect your personal boundaries.
Remember, your Instagram profile is a place where you can express yourself without worry. So, make the following list private on Instagram, and create a space full of authenticity, fun, and work.
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Happy scrolling!
FAQs
How Do I Hide My Followers on My Instagram Feed?
Unfortunately, hiding your followers on your Instagram feed is not possible. By default, your followers can see your posts and Stories. But you can hide specific Stories from certain followers or share Stories only with Close Friends.
Can You Follow Someone Secretly on Instagram?
No, it’s not possible to follow someone secretly on Instagram. When you follow someone, they will be notified that you’ve followed them. However, you can hide your following list from friends and other users by making it private (as mentioned above).
How to Hide Followers and Following on Instagram From Friends?
You can make your account private to hide your followers and following on Instagram from friends. For this, open the Instagram app and tap your profile photo. Select the three horizontal lines in the upper-right corner and select “Account Privacy.” Use the toggle to make your account private.
Can you Completely Hide your Following List on Instagram?
No, Instagram does not allow you to hide your following list completely. You can only limit who sees it by switching to a private account, removing followers (on a private account), or blocking certain users. The Restrict feature does not hide your followers or following list—it only limits how that person can interact with you.
How Do I Hide My Following List on Instagram from Certain People or Non-followers?
For specific people, you can block them to prevent them from seeing your profile and your following list. On a private account, you can also remove them as followers so they can’t see your posts or lists unless you approve them again. Restrict is more about quietly limiting comments and DMs, not hiding your following list.
Why can’t I See Someone’s Following or Followers List on Instagram?
They may have a private account, and you’re not approved as a follower. Or they may have blocked you. Restricting someone doesn’t hide followers/following lists, so it’s usually privacy settings or blocking.
Can my Followers See Who I Follow on Instagram?
If your account is public, anyone can view who you follow unless you block them. Removing someone as a follower or restricting them doesn’t stop them from seeing your public profile and following list.
How to Hide your Following List on Instagram Without a Private Account?
You cannot fully hide your following list on a public account. The only real option is to block specific users, so they can’t see your profile or following list from that account. Restricting them won’t hide your followers or following list; it just limits interactions.
Is it Safe to Use Third-party Apps or Tricks to Hide my Followers/Following?
No, using third-party apps is not safe and can put your account at risk. Instagram does not support such tools, and they may lead to security issues or account suspension.
