To hide likes on other people's posts, open your profile, tap the menu icon (three lines) in the top right, tap Like and share counts under "What you see," and turn on Hide like & share counts. That one switch removes the numbers from every post and Reel in your feed.
To hide likes on your own posts, you work one post at a time. Before you share, tap More options at the bottom of the final screen and turn on Hide like counts on this post. For a post that is already live, tap the three dots on it and choose Hide like count to others. You will still see your own totals.
Both settings can be reversed at any time, and neither one deletes a single like. Below you'll find the exact steps for the app and for instagram.com, what changes for your audience, and what to do when the option won't show up.
| What you want to do | Where to go | Setting name |
|---|---|---|
| Stop seeing like counts on everyone else's posts (app) | Profile > Menu > What you see > Like and share counts | Hide like & share counts |
| Stop seeing like counts on everyone else's posts (computer) | More > Settings > What you see > Like and share counts | Hide like & share counts |
| Hide likes on a new post (app) | Final share screen > More options | Hide like counts on this post |
| Hide likes on a new post (computer) | Final share screen > Advanced settings | Hide like and view counts on this post |
| Hide likes on a post that's already live | Three dots on the post | Hide like count to others |
Why people hide likes on Instagram
Instagram made hidden like counts available to everyone in 2021 after testing it for a couple of years. The reasons people turn it on fall into two groups.
Less pressure, less comparison
A public number under every photo invites scorekeeping. You compare your post to a friend's, or a new post to your last one, and a "low" number can make you want to delete something that was perfectly fine. Hiding counts on your own posts takes that scoreboard away from your audience. Hiding counts on other people's posts takes it away from you.
Focus on numbers that tell you more
For creators and brands, likes are the shallowest signal on the platform. A save means someone wants to come back. A share means someone put their name behind your post. A profile visit or follow means the post did its job. When the like count isn't staring at you, it's easier to judge a post by those deeper numbers in your insights instead.
How to hide likes on other people's posts
This setting only changes what you see. Other people still see like counts unless they turn the setting on themselves.
In the Instagram app (iPhone and Android)
- Tap your profile picture in the bottom right to open your profile.
- Tap the menu icon (three lines) in the top right.
- Scroll to What you see and tap Like and share counts.
- Turn on Hide like & share counts.
Posts and Reels in your feed now show names, such as "Liked by [username] and others," instead of a total.
On instagram.com
- Click More in the bottom left, then click Settings.
- Under What you see, click Like and share counts.
- Turn on Hide like & share counts.
How to hide the like count on your own posts
There's no single switch that hides counts across everything you've already published. You set it per post, either while you're creating it or afterward.
On a brand-new post
- Create your post as usual and go through editing until you reach the screen with the caption box.
- Tap More options at the bottom of that screen. On older app versions and on instagram.com, this is labeled Advanced settings.
- Turn on Hide like counts on this post (on desktop: Hide like and view counts on this post).
- Go back and tap Share.
On a post that's already on your profile
- Open the post from your profile grid.
- Tap the three dots in the top right.
- Tap Hide like count to others. On instagram.com the option reads Hide like count.
To undo it, open the same menu and choose Unhide like count to others.
What about Reels?
Reels go through the same share screen, so look for the toggle under More options before you post. For a Reel that's already live, open it from the Reels tab on your profile and use the three-dot menu. Menu labels move around between app versions, so if you don't see the option, update the app first.
Does hiding likes hurt your engagement?
Hiding the count changes what people see, not what gets recorded. People can still like the post, the likes still count, and they still appear in your insights. Instagram has not said that hiding counts lowers how widely a post is shown.
What changes for your audience
Some creators find people engage a little more naturally when there's no visible total to react to. Others miss the social proof a big number gives a post. Neither effect is guaranteed, so if you're curious, try it on a handful of posts and compare saves, shares and comments with your usual results.
You still have all your data
If your account is public, you can open View insights on any post to see likes, comments, saves, shares and reach. Hiding the count only removes it from the public view.
| Who | Like count visible | Hidden on that post |
|---|---|---|
| You (the poster) | Yes | Yes, you still see the total |
| Your followers and other viewers | Yes | No, they see names like "Liked by [username] and others" |
| Your insights | Full numbers | Full numbers |
Plan your posts with ViralFarm
If you're thinking about likes this much, you probably care about posting consistently too. ViralFarm lets you schedule Instagram posts, carousels, Reels and Stories from a browser, alongside TikTok, Pinterest, LinkedIn, Threads, Facebook, YouTube and X. You can also generate carousel slideshows from a link or a topic and edit them before they go out.
Hiding the like count is still an in-app setting, so open a scheduled post after it publishes and use the three-dot menu if you want its count hidden. While you're polishing your profile, the free Instagram bio generator and Instagram font generator can help.
Troubleshooting: when hiding likes doesn't work
The setting is missing
- Update the app. Settings get renamed and moved. An old version may still say "Advanced settings" or show the option in a different spot.
- Check you're on your own post. The "Hide like count to others" option only appears on posts you own.
- Look under "What you see." The feed-wide switch isn't under Privacy anymore; it lives in the What you see section of Settings.
- Try instagram.com. If the app hides the option, the website version sometimes shows it.
The toggle won't stay on
- Close and reopen the app, then check the setting again.
- Switch from Wi-Fi to mobile data (or the reverse) in case the change didn't sync.
- Log out and back in.
- If none of that helps, report it from the app with Report a problem in Settings.
Frequently asked questions
Can I still see who liked my post if I hide the count?
Yes. Hiding the count only affects what other people see. You can still open the list of people who liked your post and see the total.
Is hiding likes permanent?
No. You can unhide the count on any post from its three-dot menu, and you can turn the feed setting off in Like and share counts whenever you like.
Does hiding likes hurt my post in the algorithm?
Instagram hasn't said that it does. Likes are still recorded when the count is hidden, so the post is collecting the same engagement as before. Judge results by your insights rather than guesses.
Can I hide likes on Reels?
Yes. Use the toggle on the Reel's share screen before posting, or the three-dot menu on a Reel that's already live. If you don't see the option, update the app.
Can I hide likes on all my old posts at once?
No. Instagram only offers the setting per post for content you share. The one global switch, Hide like & share counts, controls what you see on other people's posts.
Does hiding likes also hide views?
On the share screen, the desktop setting is labeled "Hide like and view counts on this post," so it covers view counts on that post too. The feed-wide setting hides like and share counts on content from other accounts.
Will people know I hid my likes?
There's no notification. Viewers simply see names instead of a number under the post.
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