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Can You Hide Likes on Instagram?
Posted on 13th Jun, 2025.
TL;DR (The Short Version)
- You can hide your like count from others, so they won't see how many likes you receive on a photo.
- Hiding likes can reduce social pressure, improve mental health, and give you a level of personal control.
- Remember, if you're looking to bag a brand deal, showing off your engagement can actually help.
- Read on to find out how to hide your Instagram likes!
Back in the day, Instagram was a fun photo-sharing app to connect with friends and family. Now, Instagram can still be that, but it's also widely used as a place for content creators to kickstart and boost their careers. But with this growth has come increased scrutiny over how Instagram influences mental health, self-esteem, and social comparison.
One of the most talked-about features in this regard is the ability to hide likes. But can you actually hide likes on Instagram? If so, how does it work, and what are the implications?
Can You Hide Likes on Instagram?
Yes, Instagram now allows users to hide like counts on their own posts. This is not a default setting, so you have to enable it manually. The feature is available to all users, regardless of whether they have a personal, business, or creator account.
Hiding Likes on Your Own Posts
If you want to prevent others from seeing how many likes your posts receive, Instagram gives you two options.
Before posting:
When you are about to share a new photo or video, you can tap on Advanced settings at the bottom of the final screen before sharing. There, you will see the option to "Hide like and view counts on this post." Toggle it on, and your followers will not see the number of likes your post receives.
After posting:
If you change your mind after a post is already live, you can still hide the likes. Go to the post, tap the three dots in the upper-right corner, and select "Hide like count." This will immediately remove the visible like count from the post. You can reverse this at any time by selecting "Unhide like count."
Bear in mind that while others cannot see the number of likes, you can still view them yourself. When you tap "Others" beneath your post, you will be able to see a list of users who liked it, even though the exact count is hidden from your followers.
Why Hide Likes?
There are multiple motivations for hiding your likes. One of the most obvious factors is reducing social pressure and improving mental health. Hiding likes allows you to stop comparing yourself to other users or creators.
Plus, if you're a new influencer who hasn't quite hit your stride in terms of engagement yet (don't forget - you can purchase engagement for a headstart!), you might want to hide your likes while you work on getting more.
Why Not Hide Likes?
Aside from wanting to be transparent, budding creators might choose not to hide likes because it allows them to show off high engagement in order to snag a brand deal. However, even if you hide likes externally, you can still see the numbers, allowing you to screenshot and share this information with potential partners.
Another potential downside to hiding likes is that they can also serve as a form of social feedback. For some, seeing likes is a way to feel connected and validated. Removing that visibility might diminish the sense of community for certain users.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I hide my likes on Instagram from someone?
You can hide the like count on your own posts so that no one can see how many likes your posts receive. However, Instagram does not currently offer a feature to hide your activity (such as the posts you like) from specific users.
Why can't you see someone's likes on Instagram?
There are multiple reasons why you might not be able to see someone's likes on Instagram, but the two most common reasons are that they've hidden their like count, or their account is private. The latter would be you wouldn't be able to see any of their posts, stories, or activity.
So, can you hide likes on Instagram? Absolutely. The feature is easy to activate and flexible enough to customise to your needs. While hiding likes doesn't eliminate the influence of social media metrics entirely, it does provide a useful tool for those seeking a healthier, more mindful experience online.
Remember, however, that if you want to attract brand deals, it might be more effective to show off how many likes you achieve, so consider this before switching off your like count.
A Instagram post published by Smikky
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