How To Mute Instagram Stories: A Quick Guide

Nov 8, 2025 by Admin 45 views

Tired of seeing the same stories on your Instagram feed? Want to declutter your viewing experience and focus on the content that truly matters to you? If you're wondering how to stop seeing stories on Instagram, you've come to the right place! In this guide, we'll walk you through the simple steps to mute those unwanted stories, giving you more control over your Instagram experience. So, let's dive in and learn how to curate your feed to your liking!

Why Mute Stories on Instagram?

Before we get into the how-to, let's talk about why you might want to mute stories in the first place. There are plenty of reasons! Maybe you're following a lot of people, and your feed is just too cluttered. Or perhaps there are certain accounts that post stories constantly, and you just need a break. It could also be that you want to prioritize content from friends and family over brands or influencers. Whatever the reason, muting stories can be a great way to customize your Instagram experience.

Another reason for muting stories can be to reduce the feeling of FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out). Sometimes, seeing a constant stream of other people's seemingly perfect lives can be draining or even trigger anxiety. Muting accounts that tend to trigger these feelings can be a healthy way to manage your mental well-being and enjoy Instagram on your own terms. Also, let’s be real, sometimes you just need a break from seeing what that one acquaintance from high school is up to every single day, right?

By muting stories, you regain control over your feed, ensuring you only see content that brings you value and joy. This can lead to a more positive and engaging experience on the platform, allowing you to focus on what truly matters to you. Plus, you're not unfollowing anyone, so you can always unmute them later if you change your mind. It's a win-win!

Steps to Mute Stories on Instagram

Okay, let's get down to the nitty-gritty. Here's how to mute stories on Instagram. It's super easy, I promise!

Method 1: Muting from the Feed

This is probably the most straightforward way to mute someone's stories. Here's what you do:

Open Instagram: Fire up the app on your phone.
Find the Story: Scroll through your feed until you see the profile picture of the person whose stories you want to mute. Their profile picture will have a colorful ring around it if they've posted a story.
Long Press: Press and hold on their profile picture. A menu will pop up.
Select Mute: In the menu, you'll see options like "View Profile," "Send Message," and, of course, "Mute." Tap on "Mute."
Choose Mute Story: Another menu will appear, asking if you want to mute just their story or their posts and story. Select "Mute Story." If you want to mute their posts too, go for the "Mute Posts and Story" option.
Done!: You're all set! You won't see their stories in your feed anymore. But don't worry, they won't know you've muted them. It's our little secret.

Method 2: Muting from a Story

Alternatively, you can mute someone while you're actually watching their story. Here's how:

Watch a Story: Tap on the profile picture of the person whose story you want to watch.
Tap the Three Dots: While watching their story, look for the three vertical dots in the bottom right corner of the screen. Tap on them.
Select Mute: A menu will pop up. Choose "Mute."
Confirm Mute Story: Again, you'll be asked if you want to mute just the story or both the story and their posts. Select "Mute Story."
All Done: That's it! You've successfully muted their stories from within the story itself.

Method 3: Muting from the Profile

Finally, you can also mute someone directly from their profile page. This is useful if you want to be extra sure you've got the right person.

Go to the Profile: Search for the person's profile and tap on their username to go to their page.
Tap Following: Tap the "Following" button. Usually it's next to the "Message" button.
Select Mute: A menu will appear. Tap on "Mute."
Toggle Story: You'll see options to mute their posts and stories. Toggle the switch next to "Story" to the on position.
You're Good to Go: Their stories are now muted, and you won't see them in your feed.

How to Unmute Stories on Instagram

Okay, so you've muted some stories, but what if you change your mind? No problem! Unmuting is just as easy as muting. Here's how:

Unmuting from the Profile

The easiest way to unmute someone is from their profile. Here's what to do:

Go to the Profile: Navigate to the profile of the person you want to unmute.
Tap Following: Tap the "Following" button.
Select Mute: Tap on "Mute."
Toggle Story: You'll see that the switch next to "Story" is toggled on (meaning their stories are muted). Tap it to toggle it off.
Unmuted!: You'll now see their stories in your feed again. Welcome back!

Finding Muted Accounts

If you're not sure who you've muted, there's a way to find a list of all your muted accounts. However, Instagram doesn't have a dedicated list for just muted stories. Instead, you can find users you've muted posts from, which will effectively show you accounts you've likely muted stories from as well:

Go to Your Profile: Tap on your profile picture in the bottom right corner of the screen.
Tap the Hamburger Menu: Tap the three horizontal lines in the top right corner.
Go to Settings: Scroll down and tap on "Settings."
Tap Privacy: Find and tap on "Privacy."
Tap Muted accounts: Find and tap on "Muted accounts."
Review Accounts: Here, you'll see a list of accounts you've muted posts from. If you've muted someone's posts, you've likely muted their stories too.

From this list, you can navigate to their profiles and unmute their stories following the steps outlined above. It's a bit of a workaround, but it gets the job done!

Tips for Managing Your Instagram Feed

Now that you know how to mute and unmute stories, here are a few extra tips for managing your Instagram feed and making it a more enjoyable place to be.

Be Selective with Who You Follow

This might seem obvious, but it's worth mentioning. Think carefully about who you follow. Are they posting content that you genuinely enjoy and find valuable? Or are they just adding to the noise? Unfollowing accounts that don't resonate with you can make a big difference in the quality of your feed.

Use the Close Friends Feature

Instagram's "Close Friends" feature is a great way to share more personal content with a smaller group of people. If you have a lot of followers but only want to share certain things with your closest friends, this feature is perfect. It allows you to keep your main feed more curated while still sharing those everyday moments with the people who matter most.

Engage with Content You Like

Instagram's algorithm pays attention to the content you engage with. Like, comment, and save posts that you enjoy, and you'll start seeing more of that type of content in your feed. Conversely, if you consistently ignore certain types of posts, you'll see them less often.

Take Breaks from Instagram

Finally, don't be afraid to take breaks from Instagram altogether. Social media can be overwhelming, and sometimes the best thing you can do for your mental health is to step away for a while. You might be surprised at how refreshed you feel when you come back.

Conclusion

So, there you have it! You now know how to mute stories on Instagram and how to unmute them when you're ready. By muting stories, you can take control of your feed, reduce clutter, and focus on the content that truly matters to you. Remember, it's all about creating an Instagram experience that is enjoyable and beneficial for you. Happy scrolling!