Instagram Instants launched on May 13, 2026, giving users a way to share unedited photos with followers that disappear after 24 hours.
The feature serves as a quick-sharing tool for raw snapshots from daily life. Some users like the spontaneous format, while others say Instants add too much temporary content to their inboxes.
Instagram users can hide Instants from their inbox through the app’s profile menu. They need to open their profile, tap the three-line menu and go to “Content preferences.”
The “Hide Instants in Inbox” option removes Instagram Instants from the inbox view once enabled.
Users who only want to stop alerts can turn off Instant push notifications separately. To do this, they should open Settings, go to Notifications, select Instant, and set both Instant and emoji reaction alerts to Off.
Read: Instagram Instant Feature Launches For Disappearing Photos
Instagram also allows users to temporarily mute the inbox view. They can open Direct Messages, press and hold the Instant stack, then swipe right to hide it. To restore it, they can swipe left on the same area.
