How To Mute Instagram Stories: A Quick Guide

Oct 23, 2025 by Jhon Lennon 45 views

Hey guys! Ever find yourself bombarded with Instagram stories from people you'd rather not see? Maybe it's an ex, a frenemy, or just someone who posts way too much. Whatever the reason, Instagram has a handy feature that lets you mute stories without unfollowing the person. This means you can still stay connected (you know, for appearances) but avoid the constant stream of their daily updates. In this guide, we'll walk you through exactly how to mute someone's stories, why you might want to do it, and answer some common questions. So, let's dive in and reclaim your Instagram feed!

Why Mute Instagram Stories?

There are tons of reasons why you might want to mute someone's Instagram stories. Let's break down a few of the most common scenarios:

Avoiding Annoying Content: We all have those friends (or acquaintances) who post everything. Every meal, every workout, every thought that pops into their head. It can get overwhelming fast. Muting their stories lets you maintain the connection without the constant barrage of content.
Dealing with Exes: Fresh out of a breakup? Seeing your ex's stories can be a painful reminder. Muting them allows you to heal and move on without completely cutting ties (in case you want to be friends... eventually).
Managing Negativity: Some people just radiate negativity online. Constant complaining, arguing, or just generally bringing down the mood. Muting their stories can protect your mental health and keep your feed positive.
Staying Connected Without the Commitment: Maybe you want to stay connected with someone for professional reasons, or because you're obligated to (family, etc.). Muting their stories lets you maintain the connection without having to actively engage with their content all the time. It is also an excellent tool when you are involved in instagram marketing, letting you filter what you need to know without having to look at everything and anything that the platform throws your way.
Protecting Your Time: Let’s be real, watching Instagram stories can be a huge time suck. Muting accounts that don't bring you joy or value frees up your time for things you actually enjoy. And, well, it keeps you from constantly clicking on the next one in line without you even knowing where you are going.
Avoiding Spoilers: It can be quite helpful in keeping you from finding out that thing you really wanted to experience blind, for example, movies or series can be something that benefits from you not knowing what happens, so you can actually get surprised and feel happy about it. The same happens to games, as those tend to use stories to talk about what is going on in the community.

In short, muting Instagram stories is a powerful tool for curating your online experience and protecting your mental well-being. It's all about creating a feed that brings you joy and value.

How to Mute Someone's Instagram Stories: A Step-by-Step Guide

Okay, so you're ready to take control of your Instagram feed. Here's how to mute someone's stories in a few simple steps:

Method 1: From the Story Tray

Find Their Profile Picture: On the main Instagram feed, you'll see a row of profile pictures at the top – that's the story tray. Locate the profile picture of the person whose stories you want to mute.
Long Press: Instead of tapping the profile picture, press and hold it for a few seconds. This will bring up a menu.
Select "Mute": In the menu that appears, you'll see a few options. Tap on "Mute." Then, choose whether you want to mute just their story or both their story and posts. Keep in mind that muting posts is a bit more aggressive, as you will no longer see their feed content. It depends on what you want to achieve, as the story often is just about day-to-day things, while the feed usually contains content that the user thinks is worth sharing.
Confirmation: Instagram will confirm that you've muted the person's stories. You'll no longer see their stories in the story tray.

Method 2: From Their Profile

Go to Their Profile: Navigate to the profile of the person you want to mute. You can do this by searching for their username or tapping on their name in a post or comment.
Tap the Three Dots: In the top right corner of their profile, you'll see three vertical dots. Tap on these dots to open a menu.
Select "Mute": In the menu that appears, tap on "Mute." Again, you'll be given the option to mute just their story or both their story and posts.
Confirmation: Instagram will confirm that you've muted the person's stories.

Method 3: While Viewing a Story

Open Their Story: If you accidentally start watching a story from someone you want to mute, don't panic!
Tap the Three Dots: While the story is playing, tap the three vertical dots in the bottom right corner of the screen.
Select "Mute": In the menu that appears, tap on "Mute." You'll be able to choose to mute their story or their story and posts.
Confirmation: Instagram will confirm that you've muted the person's stories.

No matter which method you choose, muting someone's stories is quick and easy. You can always unmute them later if you change your mind.

What Happens When You Mute Someone's Stories?

Okay, so you've muted someone's stories. What exactly does that mean?

Their Stories Disappear: Their stories will no longer appear in the story tray at the top of your feed. You won't even see a grayed-out version of their profile picture.
They Don't Know: The person you've muted will not be notified that you've muted them. Instagram keeps this information private.
You Can Still See Their Profile: You can still visit their profile and see their posts and stories if you want to. Muting only hides their stories from your main feed.
You Can Still Message Them: Muting someone's stories doesn't affect your ability to message them. You can still chat and interact as usual.
They Can Still See Your Content: If you post stories or posts, the person you've muted will still be able to see them (unless they've muted or blocked you, of course).

In essence, muting is a silent way to filter content without causing drama or awkwardness.

How to Unmute Someone's Instagram Stories

Changed your mind? Want to see someone's stories again? Here's how to unmute them:

Go to Their Profile: Navigate to the profile of the person you want to unmute.
Tap the "Following" Button: If you're following them, you'll see a "Following" button near the top of their profile.
Select "Mute": In the dropdown menu that appears, tap on "Mute."
Toggle the Story Option: You'll see a toggle switch next to "Story." If it's turned on (blue), their stories are muted. Tap the switch to turn it off (gray). If you had muted posts as well, you might want to turn that setting back on, as well.

That's it! Their stories will now reappear in your story tray.

FAQs About Muting Instagram Stories

Still have questions? Here are some frequently asked questions about muting Instagram stories:

Does muting someone unfollow them?
- No, muting someone does not unfollow them. You'll still be connected, and you'll still see their posts in your feed (unless you've muted those too).
Can someone tell if I've muted them?
- No, Instagram does not notify users when someone mutes them. It's a completely private action.
If I mute someone's stories, can they still see my stories?
- Yes, unless they've also muted or blocked you. Muting is a one-way street.
Will muting someone stop them from messaging me?
- No, muting only affects stories and posts. You can still message each other as usual.
Can I mute multiple people at once?
- Yes, you can mute as many people as you want. There's no limit.
Is there a way to mute all stories?
- Unfortunately, no. Instagram doesn't have a feature to mute all stories at once. You have to mute each account individually.

Conclusion

Muting Instagram stories is a simple yet powerful way to curate your online experience. Whether you're trying to avoid annoying content, heal from a breakup, or simply protect your mental health, muting can help you create a feed that brings you joy and value. So go ahead, take control of your Instagram feed and start muting those stories today! Your mental well-being will thank you for it. And remember, it's not rude – it's self-care!