What You Can Change About Your Instagram Feed
Instagram lets you switch between different feed layouts and control what posts appear. You can toggle between the standard chronological feed (posts in the order they were posted) and the algorithmic feed (posts ranked by what Instagram thinks you'll engage with). You can also mute accounts, hide Stories, adjust notification settings, and filter which types of content show up. These changes happen in your phone's Instagram app settings or through account preferences — there's no single "change feed" button, but rather several separate controls depending on what you want to adjust.
The most common change people make is switching between feed types. Instagram defaults to showing you posts it thinks you'll like, ranked by engagement. If you prefer to see posts in the order they were posted, you can flip that setting. Other changes — like hiding someone's Stories or muting their posts — affect only that one account without unfollowing them.
Key Takeaways
- You can switch your main feed between algorithmic (ranked by engagement) and chronological (newest first) by tapping the Instagram logo at the top left of your feed.
- Muting an account hides their posts and Stories from your feed without unfollowing them or notifying them.
- You can adjust notification settings for specific accounts so you see their posts first or stop seeing them altogether.
- Feed preferences in Settings let you hide certain content types like Reels or posts from accounts you don't follow.
Switch Between Algorithmic and Chronological Feed
Open Instagram and look at the top left of your feed — you'll see the Instagram logo. Tap it once. A menu appears with two options: "Following" and "Favorites." Tap "Following" to see posts in chronological order (newest first). Tap "Favorites" to return to the algorithmic feed, which shows posts Instagram ranks by how much it thinks you'll interact with them.
The "Following" view shows only posts from accounts you follow, in reverse chronological order. The "Favorites" view includes posts from accounts you follow plus some posts from accounts you don't follow, ranked by Instagram's algorithm. If you don't see this menu when you tap the logo, make sure you're on the main feed screen, not inside a post or someone's profile.
Mute Posts or Stories From Specific Accounts
If you want to stop seeing posts from someone without unfollowing them, mute their account. Go to their profile, tap the three dots in the top right corner, and select "Mute." A menu appears with options: mute their posts, mute their Stories, or mute both. Choose what you want to hide. That person won't know you muted them, and you can unmute them anytime by going back to their profile and tapping the three dots again.
Muting is different from unfollowing — they'll still see your posts and you're still following them, but their content won't show in your feed. You can mute multiple accounts, and each one can have different settings (for example, you might mute someone's posts but not their Stories).
Adjust Notification Settings for Accounts You Follow
You can tell Instagram to show you posts from certain accounts first, or to stop notifying you about their activity. Go to an account's profile, tap the "Following" button (it shows you're already following them), and a menu appears. Select "Notifications" to choose what alerts you get: posts, Stories, Reels, or live videos. You can turn each type on or off individually.
If you want to see someone's posts higher in your feed, tap "Following" again and select "Favorites." This marks them as a favorite account, and Instagram will prioritize their posts in your algorithmic feed. You can have multiple favorite accounts, and Instagram will show their posts near the top of your feed.
Hide Content Types in Your Feed Preferences
Instagram's Settings menu lets you control what kinds of posts appear in your feed. Open Instagram, tap the three horizontal lines (menu icon) in the bottom right, and go to "Settings and privacy." Tap "Feeds and recommendations," then "Suggested posts" or "Suggested accounts." Here you can adjust how many suggested posts appear and from what types of accounts.
You can also hide specific content types. In the same Settings menu, look for "Muted words" to hide posts containing certain words or hashtags. This doesn't mute accounts — it hides posts that contain words you choose. For example, you could mute the word "spoiler" to avoid seeing posts with that word in the caption or comments.
Manage Reels and Other Content Formats
If you want fewer Reels in your feed, go to Settings and privacy, then Feeds and recommendations. Look for options related to Reels or video content. You can't completely turn off Reels, but you can reduce how often they appear by not engaging with them — the more you skip or ignore Reels, the fewer Instagram will show you.
Similarly, if you see posts from accounts you don't follow, that's Instagram's algorithm suggesting content it thinks you'll like. You can tap the three dots on any suggested post and select "Not interested" or "Hide." Doing this repeatedly trains Instagram to show you fewer posts from that type of account or content.
Use the Favorites List to Customize Your Feed
Create a Favorites list to see only posts from specific accounts. Go to an account's profile, tap "Following," and select "Favorites." Add as many accounts as you want. Then, when you're on your main feed, tap the Instagram logo at the top left and select "Favorites" to see only posts from those accounts, ranked by engagement.
This is useful if you follow many accounts but want a cleaner feed showing only the people or topics you care about most. You can change your Favorites list anytime by adding or removing accounts. The Favorites feed still shows posts in algorithmic order (ranked by engagement), not chronological order.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does muting someone notify them that I muted their posts?
No. Muting is private — the person you muted won't receive any notification. They can still see your posts and profile, and you're still following them. You can unmute them anytime without them knowing.
Can I see posts in chronological order on Instagram?
Yes. Tap the Instagram logo at the top left of your feed and select "Following." This shows posts from accounts you follow in the order they were posted, newest first. You can switch back to algorithmic ranking anytime by tapping the logo again and selecting "Favorites."
What's the difference between muting and unfollowing?
Muting hides someone's posts from your feed, but you stay following them and they can still see your posts. Unfollowing removes them from your followers list entirely. Muting is quieter and doesn't notify them; unfollowing does notify them if they check their followers list.
Why am I seeing posts from accounts I don't follow?
Instagram's algorithm suggests posts it thinks you'll like, even from accounts you don't follow. Tap the three dots on any suggested post and select "Not interested" to see fewer posts like it. Over time, Instagram learns what you want to see.
Can I hide all Reels from my feed?
Instagram doesn't offer a complete off switch for Reels. However, you can reduce how many appear by skipping or ignoring them — the algorithm will show you fewer Reels if you don't engage with them. You can also tap the three dots on individual Reels and select "Not interested."