How to Hide Followers on Instagram? (5 Efficient Ways)

| Updated on February 19, 2025

The line between sharing personal lives on Instagram and being a victim of privacy violations is quite thin, and unfortunately, many IG users find themselves stuck on this dark side, which involves stalking and unwanted DMs from anonymous users

This privacy hazard is not only limited to them but also extends to their social circle through their followers list, from where adversaries and hackers spam the followers in an attempt to mimic the network or even identity. 

So to not expose your followers to this danger, it’s best to keep the followers list hidden. Therefore, in this write-up I’ve discussed how to hide followers on Instagram and outlined ways to keep the spammers at bay. 

Can You Hide Your Friends List on Instagram?

Instagram is a comprehensive platform that offers its users high-end privacy features, such as the IG green circle. However, as of February 2025, it does not provide the option to hide followers from members. 

In case you are struggling with how can I hide followers on Instagram, then there are some workarounds that you should definitely try. These workarounds cannot fix the exact issue, but they can really assist in preventing the overall concern. So, without any delays, scroll ahead to find out nitty-gritty of how to hide Instagram followers!

How to Hide Followers on Instagram?

Hiding followers on Instagram remains a distant dream, as there’s no direct option available on the app to do so. Hence, to put your search for ‘how to hide the followers on Instagram’ to a halt, I have listed five convenient and effective ways, using which you can easily mask Instagram followers effortlessly. 

Make Your Account Private

Switching your account type to private is the safest and easiest way to hide Instagram followers. A private account enables only the people you allow to view and interact with your content and followers list. Here is how to hide Instagram followers by switching your account settings to private! 

  1. Go to Instagram and head over to the Profile Section
    Go to Instagram and head over to the Profile Section
  1. Press the Hamburger Icon in the top-right corner. 
    Press the Hamburger Icon in the top right corner
  1. Scroll and tap to Account Privacy.
    Scroll and tap to Account Privacy
  1. Hit the Toggle ON for Private Account.
    Hit the Toggle ON for Private Account
  1. Tap Switch to Private to change your account to a private IG profile. 
    Tap Switch to Private to change your account to a private IG profile

Remove Certain Followers  

Oftentimes, many people in our IG friend list are no longer active or in touch with us. In this scenario, the best solution is to remove them from your list, and Gram helps in this, as it divides the followers into three categories: 

1. Accounts you don’t follow back

2. Least interacted with

3. Deactivated accounts

For removing followers from your account,

  1. Navigate to the Profile Section.
    Upon opening the Instagram application, go to the Profile Section
  1. Hit the Followers tab.
    Hit the Followers tab
  1. Move on to Deactivated Accounts
    Navigate to Deactivated Accounts
  1. Search for the account you’d like to remove.
    Search for the account you’d like to Remove
  1. In this confirmation pop-up, choose Remove
    In this confirmation pop up choose Remove

Restrict Specific Individuals

Another way to safeguard your followers on Gram is by restricting certain accounts. Now, if you are not that well-updated on Instagram, you might end up thinking about what does IG restrict feature means. 

This feature limits interactions with individuals without having to block or remove them from your list. This is how you can do it!

  1. Navigate to the Profile menu, and then press the Hamburger icon.
    Press the Hamburger Icon in the top right corner
  1. Scroll down to How Others Can Interact With You. Once done, hit the Restricted option. 
    Scroll down to the How Others Can Interact With You Once done hit the Restricted option
  1. In this option, hit Next.
    In this option hit Next
  1. In the Search Bar, type in the username or the name of the profile.
    In the Search Bar type in the username or the name of the profile
  1. Find the one from the many listed below, and click on Restrict next to it. 
    Find the one from the many listed below and click on Restrict next to it
  1. Ensure you have restricted the profile if it appears on this list.
    Ensure you have restricted the profile if it appears on this list

Temporarily Limit People 

Instagram also allows you to limit interactions with people from 1 day to 6 days, or from 1 week to 4 weeks. This is very useful, as this way you don’t have to worry about seeing them in your feed or receiving their comments. To do this, follow the steps mentioned below.

  1. Once you have arrived at your profile, tap the Hamburger Menu present in the upper-right corner.
    Press the Hamburger Icon in the top right corner
  1. In the given menu, navigate to How Others Can Interact With You. Among the many options, choose Limit Interactions.
    Navigate to How Others Can Interact With You amongst the many options, choose Limit Interactions
  1. If you are on this menu, go one by one on each step
    If you are on this menu go on one by one on each step
  1. In Who to Limit, toggle on for Everyone but your Close Friends, Recent Followers, or Accounts that Don’t Follow You
    In Who to Limit, Toggle On for Everyone but your Close Friends Recent Followers or Accounts that Dont Follow You
  1. Now, in What to Limit, either select Some Interactions or Most Interactions.
    Now in What to Limit either select Some Interactions or Most Interactions
  1. On here, set a reminder: you can either choose a maximum of 4 weeks or 6 days
    On here set a reminder you can either choose a maximum of 4 weeks or 6 days
  1. Once you have set up everything, click on Turn On.
    Once you have set up everything click on Turn On

Block People from Your List

Blocking people from your Instagram is the last resort when it comes to hiding followers. However, this is the absolute way to keep people away from your profile. Once you block someone, they will not be able to see anything on your profile. They will even find “Instagram User” instead of your username on your profile. 

  1. Click to Followers, after going over to your Profile
    Click to Followers after going over to your Profile
  1. Search and redirect to the individual’s profile. 
    Search and redirect to the individuals profile
  1. In the top-right corner, press the Horizontal Ellipses (…).
    In the top right corner press the Horizontal Ellipses
  1. Amongst these options, choose Block.
    Amongst these options choose Block
  1. Again, select Block. Furthermore, you can also choose Block and Report.
    Again select to Block you can also choose Block and Report

Since the platform doesn’t offer to hide followers on Instagram, these workarounds will help you safeguard your followers list from prying eyes. Wondering why you must disguise your IG friend’s list? Keep reading to find out all about it. 

Reasons to Hide Instagram Followers

Here are a few reasons why you need to hide followers on Instagram; give it a good read!

  • Enhancing online privacy. 
  • Reduce social pressure.
  • Prevent spam followers.
  • Protect personal information.
  • Maintaining social exclusivity.
  • Avoid unwanted attention.

Furthermore, if you’re on the other end of the discussion and can’t access someone’s followers list on Gram, read below to decipher the possible reasons behind the issue. 

Why Can’t I See All of Someone’s Followers on Instagram?

Instagram is a varied platform that serves as a focal point for discussions about individual privacy and social life. Not everyone desires that their joyful and celebratory moments be discussed and create a buzz; thus, they may have opted to keep their followers private.

So, if you are panicking over not seeing someone’s followers on Instagram, it is likely because the other person has decided to hide its accounts by setting them to private or restricting access. 

Wrapping Up

As cyberattacks, frauds, and misuse of personal information continue to rise, concerns like how to hide followers on Instagram also keep on surfacing. While Instagram doesn’t offer any specific feature to hide your followers from your social circle, it does allow you to restrict particular users, temporarily limit people, and set your account to private, helping you maintain a peaceful experience. 

By following the steps mentioned above, you can effectively manage your online presence and interactions with ease. Remember that your Instagram use and experience should be peaceful, and free from unwanted restrictions and troubles!

FAQ

How do you see hidden followers on Instagram?

You can see the hidden followers on Instagram by navigating to the Profile Section>>Hamburger Icon>>How Others Can Interact With You>>Restricted. You can also check the Limit Interactions menu if you don’t find the person. 

Why to hide Instagram followers?

By hiding selective IG followers off your account, you can experience more comfortable and secure surfing with assured protection against scams that oftentimes happen on the platform. 

How to hide followers on Instagram?

There is no way to hide followers on Instagram; however, you can try its alternatives, such as restriction, limiting interactions, and switching to a private account.  


Muskan Saini

Social Media and Tech Expert


Related Posts
×