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In addition to Instagram’s built-in feature to turn off read receipts, there are a few workarounds to reading Instagram Direct Messages without the pesky “seen” label. Here’s how you may do it.
In early 2024, Instagram added the option to disable read receipts. To turn them off for all chats, tap your profile icon at the bottom-right of the app, then select the three-bar menu at the top-right and chooseSettings and privacy. ChooseMessages and story replies, then tapShow read receiptsand turn the slider off.
To turn off read receipts for a specific chat, open it and tap the other party’s name at the top. ChoosePrivacy & safetyfrom the list of options, then disable theRead receiptstoggle and they won’t be sent for that person.
While this is the best method for disabling read receipts on Instagram, there are other methods you can try if the situation calls for it.
2. Restrict and Unrestrict the Sender’s Account
If you’ve received a message that you’d like to read without the sender knowing, you canenable restrict mode on Instagramtemporarily and unrestrict them once you’ve read the message.
To restrict an account, go to their profile and tap thethree horizontal dotslocated in the top right corner of the screen. TapRestrictfrom the menu that appears.
Now, any new messages from the restricted account will appear in theRequestsfolder, and the peskySeenlabel will no longer show up when you open the chat. Once you’ve read the message, follow the same steps as above, but this time, chooseUnrestrictfrom the menu that appears.
3. Go Offline Before Opening the Message and Then Log Out
Another straightforward trick to reading Instagram Direct messages without setting off read receipts is to go offline before you open it.
To turn off Wi-Fi or cellular data on your iOS device, swipe down from the top-right corner of the screen to open theControl Center. Depending on what you’re using, tap theWi-Fiandcellular dataicons.
Similarly, on an Android device, swipe down from the top of the screen to access the notifications panel and tap theWi-Fiandcellular dataicons. It’s worth mentioning here that this method will only work if you disable Wi-Fi or cellular data after you’ve received the message you’re attempting to read.
After you’ve disabled your internet connection, simply launch Instagram and read the message.
One of the most crucial steps of this method is logging out of your Instagram account once you’ve read the message. You can do so by heading to your Instagram profile by tapping yourprofile picturein the bottom right corner of the screen. Tap thethree-line iconin the top right corner of your screen and go toSettings and privacy>Log out.
Without doing this, Instagram may send the read receipt as soon as yourestore your internet connection.
A foolproof way to read an Instagram Direct Message without triggering read receipts is through notification previews. Before you tweak your device’s notification settings, it’s important to adjust Instagram’s notification settings and ensure you have the right settings enabled.
To do so, tap thethree-lined iconon Instagram and tapSettings and privacy. TapNotificationsunder theHow you use Instagramheader and then chooseMessages. Finally, selectOnunder theMessages from individual and group chatsheader.
To enable notification previews on an iOS device, go toSettings > Notificationsand tapShow Previews. you’re able to now choose between two options:AlwaysorWhen Unlocked.
It’s worth mentioning that you should choose the first option for extra privacy. Otherwise, anyone who happens to glance at your device, even when it’s locked, could easily read your messages. If you’d like the notifications to appear on your lock screen without displaying any content unless you unlock it, choose the second option.
Now, keep scrolling until you findInstagramunderNotification Styleand toggle on theAllow Notificationsswitch.
To enable notification previews on an Android device, head to your device’sSettingsand tapApps. Keep scrolling and chooseInstagramfrom the list of apps. TapNotificationsand switch the toggle on forAllow notifications. Depending on your preference, tapLock screenorPop-up.
Unless the message is exceptionally long, you should be able to read it without the sender knowing, since you don’t need to open the Instagram app. Just be careful not to accidentally tap on the message while reading it.
In most cases, we recommend using the built-in toggle to disable read receipts, as it’s the most reliable. These other methods will help you read messages without worrying about read receipts giving you away, when needed.
