How to Hide Likes on Instagram: Your Posts and Others' (2026 Guide)

Quick Answer

To hide like counts on other people's posts: go to Settings and activity → Accounts Center → Posts (or Settings → Account → Posts on older versions) and toggle on Hide Like Counts. To hide likes on your own posts, tap the three dots on any post and select Hide like count. Both options are free, reversible, and don't notify anyone.

What "Hiding Likes" Actually Does on Instagram

Instagram lets you control like-count visibility in two directions:

Hide like counts on posts you see — The number of likes disappears from posts in your feed, on profiles, and in Reels. You can still tap "Liked by [name] and others" to see the exact count.
Hide like counts on your own posts — Other people see your post without a visible like count. They can still tap to reveal it, but the number doesn't appear at a glance.

Hiding likes does not remove likes. People can still like your posts, and the total count still exists — it's just not displayed prominently.

Step-by-Step: Hide Like Counts on Other People's Posts

On iPhone or Android

Open Instagram and tap your profile picture in the bottom-right corner.
Tap the three-line menu (≡) in the top-right corner.
Tap Settings and activity.
Tap Accounts Center.
Under "Settings," tap Posts.
Toggle on Hide Like Counts.

On older versions of Instagram, the path may be Settings → Account → Posts → Hide Like Counts.

What Happens After You Enable This

Like counts disappear from posts in your Home feed, Explore page, and Reels tab.
You'll see "Liked by [username] and others" instead of a number.
Tap that text to reveal the exact count if you want to see it.
This setting only affects what you see. Other users still see like counts normally.

Step-by-Step: Hide Like Counts on Your Own Posts

Before You Post

Compose your post as normal (photo, carousel, or Reel).
On the final screen before sharing, tap Advanced settings at the bottom.
Toggle on Hide like and view counts on this post.
Tap Share.

After You've Already Posted

Open the post you want to modify.
Tap the three dots (⋯) in the top-right corner of the post.
Tap Hide like count.
Confirm. The like count is now hidden from everyone viewing the post.

To reverse it, follow the same steps and tap Unhide like count.

Does Hiding Likes Affect Engagement or the Algorithm?

Instagram has not confirmed that hiding likes directly impacts the algorithm. However, there are practical effects to consider:

Your posts still receive likes normally. The count is just hidden from display.
Engagement rate calculations still work — you can see exact numbers in your professional dashboard or by tapping the like text.
Social proof is reduced. Some creators report lower engagement when likes are visible because higher counts encourage more likes. Hiding them removes this signal.
Mental health benefit. Many users report feeling less pressure when like counts are hidden, both for their own posts and when browsing.

Hiding Likes on Reels

Reels follow the same rules. You can:

Hide like counts globally (affects Reels in your feed).
Hide like counts on your own Reels using Advanced settings before posting, or the three-dot menu after posting.

Note: Reels also show play counts separately. Hiding likes does not hide play counts. To hide play counts on your Reels, use the same Advanced settings toggle before posting.

Common Questions About Hiding Likes

Can people still see how many likes my post has if I hide the count?

Yes. Anyone can tap "Liked by [name] and others" to reveal the exact number. Hiding the count only removes it from the default display — it doesn't make the data inaccessible.

Will the person who posted know if I can't see their like count?

No. The "Hide Like Counts" setting is entirely on your side. The person who posted has no way to know whether you can see their like count or not.

Can I hide likes on someone else's post?

No. You can only hide like counts on your own posts or hide like counts from your own viewing experience. You cannot change how other people see a post they don't own.

Does hiding likes work on carousel posts?

Yes. The setting applies to all post types — single photos, carousels, videos, and Reels.

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