How to Hide Likes on Instagram (2026 Guide)

You can hide like counts on Instagram in two ways: hide likes on other people's posts (so you do not see their like counts) or hide likes on your own posts (so nobody sees your like count). Both options are available in Instagram's settings and take about 30 seconds to set up.

Here is how to do both, step by step.

How to hide likes on other people's posts

This setting hides all like counts across your entire Instagram feed. You will still see who liked a post (e.g., "Liked by username and others") but not the total number.

Steps:

1. Open Instagram and go to your profile
2. Tap the three-line menu (top right)
3. Tap Settings and Privacy
4. Tap Hide Likes
5. Toggle on Hide Like and View Counts

This change only affects what you see. Other people can still see like counts on their own feeds unless they also turn this feature on.

How to hide likes on your own posts before publishing

You can hide the like count on individual posts before you publish them.

Steps:

1. Create your post as normal (photo, reel, or carousel)
2. On the screen where you write your caption, tap Advanced Settings
3. Toggle on Hide Like and View Counts on This Post
4. Publish the post

When likes are hidden, other users will see "Liked by username and others" instead of a specific number. You can still see your own like count through Instagram Insights.

How to hide likes on posts you have already published

If you forgot to hide likes before publishing, you can do it after.

Steps:

1. Go to the post you want to update
2. Tap the three-dot menu (top right of the post)
3. Tap Hide Like Count

The like count will be hidden immediately. You can reverse this at any time by tapping the three-dot menu again and selecting Unhide Like Count.

How to still see your own likes when hidden

Even when likes are hidden from the public, you can always see your own like counts through Instagram Insights (available on Business and Creator accounts).

Steps:

1. Go to your profile
2. Tap Insights (or Professional Dashboard)
3. Select the post you want to check
4. View likes, comments, saves, shares, and reach

This lets you track your engagement privately without displaying numbers publicly.

Why should you consider hiding likes?

For personal accounts:

• Reduces comparison and pressure around vanity metrics
• Encourages posting what you genuinely want to share rather than chasing likes
• Creates a healthier relationship with social media

For business accounts:

• Shifts your focus to engagement metrics that matter more (comments, saves, shares, DMs)
• Prevents competitors from easily seeing your post performance
• Can actually increase engagement because followers focus on content quality rather than social proof

For influencers and creators:

• Some brands prefer seeing saves and shares over likes when evaluating partnerships
• Hiding likes can reduce the pressure to produce only "safe" content
• Allows you to experiment with new content formats without worrying about public metrics

Does hiding likes affect the Instagram algorithm?

No. Hiding likes is a display feature only. It does not change how the Instagram algorithm treats your content. Your posts will still be distributed based on engagement rate, watch time, shares, saves, and other signals, regardless of whether the like count is visible to your audience.

The algorithm still counts likes internally. It just does not display them to other users when you have the feature enabled.

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Frequently asked questions

Can you hide likes on Instagram reels?

As of 2026, the option to hide likes applies to feed posts and carousels. For reels, Instagram shows view counts rather than like counts. You can hide view counts on reels using the same Advanced Settings toggle before publishing.

If I hide my likes, can people still like my posts?

Yes. Hiding likes only hides the count. People can still like, comment, save, and share your posts exactly as they normally would. The only difference is that the total number of likes is not displayed publicly.

Does hiding likes hurt engagement?

No. Research suggests that hiding likes can actually improve engagement in some cases because it reduces the "bandwagon effect" where people are less likely to engage with posts that appear to have low like counts. When the count is hidden, each person makes their own decision about whether to engage.

Can brands still see my likes if they are hidden?

Brands and potential partners cannot see your public like counts if you have hidden them. However, they can request your Instagram Insights data (which you can share via screenshots or the Insights sharing feature) to verify your engagement metrics. Most brands in 2026 prioritise saves, shares, and comments over likes anyway.

How do I unhide likes on Instagram?

To unhide likes on all posts, go to Settings → Hide Likes → toggle off "Hide Like and View Counts." To unhide likes on a specific post, go to the post, tap the three-dot menu, and select "Unhide Like Count." The like count will become visible again immediately.