Do you want to read Instagram messages without being seen or letting the other person know? Well, we all wish to read messages without marking them as read, especially when we’re busy at work or need time to respond. However, Instagram shows the “seen” remark as soon as you read the message, which can be annoying for many of you. Plus, unlike WhatsApp, Instagram doesn’t let you hide read receipts. Anyway, we still have a couple of tricks to view Instagram DMs without marking them as read. Here are four ways to read Instagram direct messages without seen on Android and iPhone.
There are several ways to check Instagram DMs without sending out the read receipts. You can either use Instagram’s restrict feature, disable your internet, or even use third-party services. Read the steps in detail below.
1. Read Instagram Messages Without Being Seen by Restricting
Back in 2019, Instagram introduced a feature to restrict people to curb bullying on the platform. When you restrict a person, Instagram hides their comments on your posts from other people, and their messages are moved to the requests section. Here’s more on restricting on Instagram.
Now, reading messages in requests doesn’t mark them as seen. The other person never knows whether you’ve read their message or not. So, an easy way to read Instagram direct messages without being seen is to restrict the other person and then check the messages in the requests section, as follows:
- Open Instagram on your phone.
- Head to the person’s profile whose direct messages you want to read without marking them as seen.
- Click the three-dot menu at the top right corner.
- From the available options, select Restrict.
- Click on Restrict Account to confirm
- Now, click the Message button on the person’s profile.
- You’ll now able to read all the Instagram messages without letting the other person know.
2. Turn Off Wifi/ Data to Hide Instagram Read Receipts
Turning off the internet of the simplest ways to read any Instagram message without marking it as seen. However, it doesn’t work well for images or videos. Also, the messages will be marked as read as soon as you go back online.
- Disable your phone’s mobile data or WiFi connection to make it offline.
- Now, go to Instagram’s direct messages tab. Read the received message.
- Now, Android users can go to their phone’s Settings > Apps > Instagram > Force Stop it so that it no longer runs in the background.
- You can now go back online, and the message won’t be marked as seen unless you open the Instagram app.
- For iPhone users, I’ll suggest staying offline until you’re ready to deal with the message because as soon as you go online, it’ll be marked as read.
3. Disable Internet and Log Out
This is very similar to the trick above. However, it doesn’t carry the risk of marking the message as seen if you accidentally go online or Instagram connects to the internet in the background
4. Read Instagram DMs Secretly using Third-Party Services
Several third-party services let you connect and read your Instagram messages without letting the other user know. For instance, AirGrow lets you read messages without sending read receipts. It also has the option to send your DMs over email.
However, we generally don’t prefer this method as other methods are fairly easy. Also, they bring certain privacy risks- use only if you can trust these third-party services about your data.
Wrapping Up- Hiding Read Receipts on Instagram
These were some quick ways to see or read Instagram direct messages without marking them as seen on Android and iPhone. I hope this will help you read conversations without notifying the other person and gives you enough time to respond if you’re busy. Do let me know if you have any other method in your mind. Stay tuned for more such tips, tricks, and how-tos.
