How to Hide Likes on Instagram

Hide likes on Instagram with a setting that removes the like count from view. The setting works in two directions. One account toggle, under Settings and activity, hides like and share counts on the posts you scroll past. A per post option, in the three dot menu or under More options before you share, hides the count on your own post, so followers see “Liked by [name] and others” instead of a number. The steps below cover iPhone, Android and the web. More on account safety is in our Instagram privacy and safety guides.

Why would You Hide Likes on Instagram?

Instagram announced the option for everyone on 26 May 2021, after testing hidden like counts for a while. People switch it on for a few common reasons:

• Personal accounts that do not want friends comparing numbers.
• Creators and brands testing a new format without a low count putting people off.
• Anyone who finds the feed calmer without a score under every photo.

The count never disappears for you. You still see the real number on your own posts. Only other people see it hidden.

How to Hide Likes on Instagram: Three Settings

The three settings below are separate switches. Use one or all of them.

Posts You Scroll Past

This is one account setting. It hides like and share counts on posts from other accounts while you scroll and leaves your own posts alone.

On iPhone and Android

1. Open Instagram and tap your profile picture at the bottom right.
2. Tap the menu icon (three lines) at the top right.
3. Tap Settings and activity.
4. Scroll to the What you see section and tap Like and share counts.
5. Switch on Hide like and share counts.

On the Web

1. Go to instagram.com and click More at the bottom left.
2. Click Settings.
3. Under What you see, click Like and share count.
4. Switch the Hide like and share counts toggle on.

As an account level setting, it applies on every phone and browser you use with that account once you switch it on. To see counts again, switch the same toggle off.

A New Post, Before You Share It

Use this when you want one post to go out without a visible count.

1. Create your post as usual: choose the photo or video, edit it and tap Next.
2. On the caption screen, scroll down and tap More options.
3. Under Like and share counts, switch on Hide like count on this post.
4. Go back and tap Share.

On some app versions this section is called Advanced settings instead of More options. The toggle inside is the same.

A Post You Already Shared

You can still remove the number after posting, one post at a time.

On iPhone and Android

1. From your profile, open the post.
2. Tap the three dots at the top right of the post.
3. Tap Hide like count.

On the Web

1. On the web, open the post and click the three dots at the top right.
2. Click Hide like count to others.
3. A "Like count hidden" message confirms it.

The sources list no setting that hides likes on every old post at once. For a clean grid, go through the posts one by one.

What Changes When Likes are Hidden?

The table shows what hiding changes and what stays the same, based on Instagram's announcement and the guides listed under Sources.

If you manage an account for a client, tell them before you switch it on, because a missing number is easy to notice.

How to See Your Own Likes When They are Hidden

Open your post to see it, because only other people see the count hidden. To follow how a post performs over time, use Instagram Insights, which is available on professional accounts.

How to Unhide Likes on Instagram

• One post: open it, tap the three dots and tap Unhide like count.
• Posts you scroll past: go back to Like and share counts under Settings and activity and switch the toggle off.

Both can be reversed at any time through the same menus.

If You Cannot Find the Setting

Instagram moves menu names between app versions. If the steps above do not match your screen:

1. Update the Instagram app from the App Store or Play Store.
2. On older app versions open Settings, then Privacy, then Posts and switch on Hide Like and View Counts. That is the older name for the same toggle.
3. If the option still does not show, log out and back in.

More fixes like this are in our Instagram troubleshooting guides.

Sources

• Instagram: Giving People More Control on Instagram and Facebook, 26 May 2021, the announcement that gave everyone the option to hide like counts.
• Beebom: How to Hide Likes on Instagram, updated 11 February 2025, the menu names and web steps used in this guide.
• How-To Geek and Hootsuite, the older Settings, Privacy and Posts path and the Insights note.
• Instagram Help Centre, where Instagram lists its current menu names.

The label on this guide is Checked, which means we compared the steps with these sources and have not tried them on a device yet. Read how we label guides.