How to Unmute Someone on Instagram  

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Instagram lets users take a break from others by blocking, unfollowing or muting them. Among the three, muting is the most subtle option if you want less exposure without the social fallout. Many people use this feature when the algorithm shows them content they don’t connect with, but still want to keep following that account or when they know the person in real life but prefer not to see their posts online.

What if you’re ready to view their content again and want to lift the mute? Here’s how to unmute someone on Instagram.

Understanding Instagram’s Mute Feature

Muting someone on Instagram hides their activity from your feed without requiring you to unfollow them. This discreet option reduces your exposure to a person’s shared material without alerting them. They can still access your shared posts, like and comment freely, but you won’t see their updates. People often mute others when they want to curate the content they consume or minimize annoying entries.

Many confuse it with the restrict feature, which is a soft block that limits someone’s interactions by hiding their comments from others and moving their DMs to the request tab. The comments they make on your posts are only visible to them unless you approve them. They also limit access to you, since they can’t see whether you’re active or have read their message. 

While it has a similar effect to unfollowing in terms of removing their posts from your feed, muting preserves the connection and can be undone at any time, all without the person ever knowing. Unfollowing may not notify them, but they will be alerted if you follow them again. Muting is ideal if you want to maintain the follow but don’t want to see their updates. Currently, you can hide five types of content — posts, stories, notes, activity bubbles and instants.

How to Unmute an Account by Search

Since you can’t browse someone’s posts on your newsfeed when they’re on mute, you need to visit their profile directly. 

1. Go to the person’s Instagram profile.

Search for the person you are already following and open their page.

2. Tap the “Following” button.

Once you get to their profile, you’ll see a Following button with a small down arrow.

3. Select “Mute.”

Tap Mute to open a screen with several content toggles.

4. Choose what you want to restore.

You can manually choose which types of content you want to view again, curating what appears in your feed. For example, you might choose to see their posts but keep their stories, notes and instant updates hidden. This flexibility is helpful if you’re still easing into the media you want to consume from them.

5. Turn the toggle to unmute.

Slide the switch to the left until it turns gray. A black toggle indicates the account is still muted, while a gray toggle indicates unmuted and visible again.

6. Unmute everything.

This step is optional, but if you want to access all the content they share again, make sure every switch is gray and positioned to the left, not black.

How to Unmute Messages

Muting someone is a great way to prevent constant distractions, especially from non-urgent group chats or particularly chatty individuals. If you previously muted someone’s messages but are now ready to receive them again, here’s how to enable notifications again.

1. Open Instagram messages.

Tap the paper airplane icon located at the center of the bottom navigation bar. 

2. Find the message thread.

Look for the conversation from the person you muted.

3. Check for the muted icon.

Muted accounts often show a light gray bell icon with a diagonal line across it.

4. Open the conversation.

Tap the message thread, then tap their name at the top.

5. Tap “Unmute.”

This opens a screen where you can choose which notifications to receive.

6. Toggle the notifications you want.

You can toggle messages and calls if you want to receive both from the person. If you prefer more control, you can keep message notifications on while silencing calls or do the opposite — allow calls while keeping messages turned off so you only get urgent alerts.

Remember that the gray toggles to the left mean they are now unmuted, while the black toggle means they’re still on silent.

You’ll know the user is no longer muted when the bell icon no longer has a diagonal line across it.

Tips for Managing Your Instagram Feed

If you want to learn more about curating the perfect feed, here’s how you can do it. 

Best Practices for Muting and Unmuting

Muting accounts on Instagram is a helpful way to manage your newsfeed without unfollowing someone. It allows you to stay connected while reducing content that feels overwhelming or irrelevant.

A good practice is to mute users temporarily rather than unfollowing them immediately — especially if they’re friends, colleagues or brands you may want to check in on later. Periodically reviewing your muted list can also help you decide whether to unmute accounts and refresh your stream with updates you may want to see again.

Using Close Friends and Favorites

Instagram offers other tools to personalize your experience beyond muting. The Close Friends feature lets you share stories with a selected group of people, making it easier to post more personal updates without broadcasting them to your entire follower list.

Meanwhile, the Favorites option lets you prioritize updates from specific accounts so they appear higher in your feed. Together, these features help you balance what you share and what you see, creating a more intentional and enjoyable browsing experience.

Stay Updated With Instagram Changes

Because Instagram regularly updates its interface and features, the steps for managing settings like muting, favorites or notifications may occasionally change. Checking the app’s Settings and activity section or reviewing official updates on the platform, can help you stay informed about new tools and adjustments. Staying aware of these changes ensures you can continue customizing your feed and alerts to suit your preferences best.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here’s what other people are asking about the mute feature on Instagram.

How do I unmute someone else’s story on Instagram?

Go to the person’s profile and tap the Following button. Select Mute, then turn off the Stories toggle to make it gray. Once the switch is off, their stories will appear in your feed again.

How do you see who you muted on Instagram?

To reveal the full list of people you’ve muted, go to your profile and tap the three-line menu in the top right corner. The Settings and activity feature will pop up. Scroll down to the “What you see” section and tap Muted accounts. You’ll see the number of people you’ve muted displayed on the right. 

If you want to restore someone’s content, tap the Unmute button next to their name and choose which updates you want to view again — such as posts, stories, notes, activity bubbles, location updates or instants.

How to unmute people’s posts?

Open the person’s profile and tap Following, then select Mute. Turn off the Posts toggle so it switches from black to gray. Once the button is gray, their uploads will start appearing in your feed again.

Can I unmute someone on Instagram?

Yes. You can restore someone’s posts, stories or messages at any time by visiting their profile or message thread and turning the relevant notification toggle back on. The person will not be alerted when you mute or unmute them.

Is muting on Instagram different for iPhone and Android apps?

No. Muting on Instagram is fundamentally the same on iPhone and Android, as the core functionality, privacy settings and options to hide posts, stories or notes are identical. However, there may be minor differences in the user interface.

Take Control of Your Instagram Experience

Instagram is just one of the platforms that keep you in touch with everything and everyone. However, the constant access can sometimes mean seeing content you’d rather avoid or consuming more than you intend. Thankfully, tools put you back in control. They let you curate your feed and notifications so you only consume what truly matters, without cutting people off entirely.

By using these settings thoughtfully, you can enjoy the platform on your own terms, reducing distractions and focusing on content that inspires or entertains you, while keeping your Instagram experience balanced and intentional.