How To Turn Off DMs on Instagram?

Engaging with others on Instagram is a beloved activity. However, the inundation of message notifications can prove to be a significant inconvenience. Are there options available to users who wish to disable direct messaging (DM) features? Can the DM function be selectively disabled for specific followers or groups?

Turning Off Instagram’s DMs                                                     

Instagram’s Direct Message (DM) feature offers a more intimate way for users to interact with one another on the platform, allowing for the exchange of photos, texts, and videos.

Despite its benefits, the constant influx of messages can be overwhelming, particularly when one needs to focus on other tasks. In such cases, Instagram offers users the option to temporarily disable the DM feature, effectively pausing the interactions. This can be accomplished by utilizing the following methods:

Method #1: Turn Off Message Requests

This method enables users to selectively block messages from unknown individuals or disable the DM feature entirely for all users on Instagram. For those who prefer to block messages exclusively from strangers, the following steps can be followed:

1. Launch the Instagram app on your mobile device.
2. Click on the profile icon located in the bottom right corner of the screen.
3. Locate the hamburger menu icon in the top right corner and select it.
4. Choose “Settings” from the list of available options.
5. Tap “Privacy.”
6. Select “Messages.”
7. Click on “Others on Instagram.”
8. Checkmark the option “Don’t receive requests.”

Furthermore, it is essential to remember to apply the same action for “People on Facebook” if the user has linked their Facebook account to Instagram.

For users who prefer to disable DMs from their followers on Instagram, the following steps should be followed:

1. Launch the Instagram app on your smartphone.
2. Click on the profile icon situated in the bottom right corner of the screen.
3. Locate the menu icon in the top right corner and tap on it.
4. Select “Settings.”
5. Click on “Privacy.”
6. Navigate to “Messages.”
7. Choose “Your followers on Instagram.”
8. Select “Don’t receive requests.”
9. Tap “Update Settings” on the pop-up screen to save changes.

It is highly likely that users may have linked their Facebook account to their Instagram profile. If this is the case, users should navigate to the “Facebook friends or people you’ve chatted with on Messenger” option and select “Don’t receive requests.” This action will prevent users from receiving message requests from all individuals on the platform.

Method #2: Turn Off Notifications

Disabling Instagram notifications provides users with the ability to take a break from the platform’s activities. In the event that users wish to stop receiving direct messages (DMs), they will need to deactivate the “Direct Messages and Calls” option within their notification settings on the Instagram app.

On the Instagram Mobile App

To disable DM notifications on the Instagram mobile app, users can follow the steps outlined below:

1. Launch the Instagram app on your mobile device.
2. Click on the profile icon located in the bottom right corner of the screen.
3. Tap on the hamburger menu icon situated in the top right corner.
4. Select “Your activity.”
5. Choose “Time spent.”
6. Click on the “Notification settings” option.
7. Select “Direct Messages and Calls.”
8. Toggle off all the requests and types of DMs that the user wishes to stop receiving.

Alternatively, users can opt to activate the “Pause All” option within their notification settings to halt all notifications from the Instagram app.

On the Instagram Browser Version

For desktop users, the steps to turn off DM notifications on Instagram are outlined below:

1. Open your preferred web browser and navigate to Instagram.
2. Click on your profile picture located in the top right corner of the screen.
3. Select “Settings.”
4. Click on “Push Notifications” found within the left-hand navigation panel.
5. Scroll down to “Messages” and “Messages Requests.”
6. Select “Off” for both options.

It is important to note that the Instagram mobile app provides more options for customization of DM notification settings, and thus, is recommended for a better user experience.

Method #3: Restrict Account(s) 

To restrict an individual’s account on Instagram and prevent them from sending you DMs, follow the steps outlined below:

Method 1:

1. Launch the Instagram app on your mobile device.
2. Click on the DM icon located at the top of the screen.
3. Select the conversation with the user you want to restrict.
4. Tap on their username at the top of the chat.
5. Tap “Restrict.”
6. Confirm your selection by tapping “Restrict Account” on the confirmation page.

Method 2:

1. Open the Instagram app.
2. Tap on the search icon located at the bottom of the screen.
3. Enter the username of the individual you want to restrict in the search bar.
4. Tap on their username to open their profile.
5. Click on the “Following” button located at the top of their profile.
6. Select “Restrict.”
7. Confirm your selection by tapping “Restrict Account.”

In the event that you find yourself being overwhelmed by the messages in your Direct Message inbox, there is a simple solution: blocking the sender entirely. To do so on the Instagram app on your mobile device, follow these steps:

First, launch the Instagram app on your mobile device and tap on the Direct Message icon at the top of the screen. From there, navigate to the conversation in question and tap on the username of the sender. Next, select the “Block” option, followed by the “Block user and other accounts they may have or create” option. Lastly, tap “Block” to confirm the action. If you need to access their profile again in the future, you can use the search button or your followers’ list.

On a PC, you can follow these steps to restrict the sender instead:

Navigate to Instagram on any web browser and go to the user’s profile. From there, click on the three dots at the top of the screen and select the “Restrict” option. Finally, click on “Restrict Account” to confirm the action.

Concluding Thoughts 

If you feel the need to temporarily step away from the chat feature on Instagram, disabling direct messages is an effective solution. However, it’s important to note that turning off DMs on Instagram requires more than a simple one-step process, and involves adjusting various settings within the app.

To disable direct messaging on Instagram, there are a few different approaches that can be taken. Each of these options is straightforward and can be easily implemented. I have provided a thorough discussion of these methods above, so feel free to choose the one that works best for you.

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