SocialGlyphsHow to Read Instagram DMs Without Showing 'Seen' (Turn Off Read Receipts)
Stop showing 'Seen' on Instagram DMs. Turn off read receipts for every chat or just one, plus the catch most people miss and what still shows.
Instagram lets you turn off the “Seen” label on DMs, so you can read messages without the pressure to reply instantly. You can do it for everyone or for one chat.
Turn off read receipts for all chats
- Open your profile and tap the menu (three lines).
- Tap Messages and story replies.
- Tap Show read receipts.
- Switch Read receipts off.
From now on, people won’t see “Seen” when you open their messages.
Turn off read receipts for one person
- Open the chat.
- Tap the person’s name at the top.
- Tap Privacy & safety.
- Switch off Read receipts.
Mix and match
| You want | Do this |
|---|---|
| Hide “Seen” from everyone | Turn off the account-wide switch |
| Hide “Seen” from one person | Turn it off inside that chat only |
| Hide from everyone except your best friend | Account-wide off, then turn it on inside your friend’s chat |
The catch: a setting inside a chat can override the account-wide one. If someone still sees “Seen” after you turned receipts off, check that chat’s Privacy & safety screen.
What still shows
- It’s mutual: you stop seeing when others read your messages.
- Your green dot can still show you’re online — turn off Activity Status for that.
- Messages already marked Seen stay that way.
Old tricks that don’t work well anymore
Reading in airplane mode used to hide “Seen”, but Instagram can sync your read status when you reconnect. Reading from the notification preview still works for short messages, but the setting above is the only reliable way.
Frequently asked questions
If I turn off read receipts, can I still see when people read my messages?
No. It's mutual — with your read receipts off, you won't see 'Seen' on messages you send either.
Can I turn off read receipts for just one person?
Yes. Open the chat, tap their name, go to Privacy & safety and switch off Read receipts for that chat only.
Does turning off read receipts hide old 'Seen' labels?
It applies from when you change the setting. Messages already marked as seen stay seen.
Does airplane mode still work to read Instagram DMs secretly?
It's unreliable now, because Instagram can sync the read status once you reconnect. Turning off read receipts is the dependable way.
Do read receipts work differently in group chats?
With your receipts off, your name won't appear in the 'Seen by' list in group chats.
Affan Ahmed is an SEO specialist with a BSc in Computer Science who has worked in search and social media marketing since 2022. He tests every symbol and feature on SocialGlyphs on his own phone before writing about it.
