How to Hide Instagram Story From Specific Person Without Blocking

Ever find yourself wanting to share a fun moment on your Instagram Story, but then a specific person pops into your head and you think, “Hmm, maybe not for them“? We’ve all been there! Whether it’s a nosy relative, a colleague you’d rather keep your weekend shenanigans from, or an ex you just don’t want seeing your glow-up, the good news is you don’t have to resort to a full-blown block. Instagram has a super handy feature that lets you hide your stories from specific eyes without them ever knowing.

Why You Might Want to Hide Your Story

There are countless reasons why you might want to curate your audience for certain stories. Maybe you’re posting about a surprise party, sharing a personal moment, or just want to vent without certain people getting the wrong idea. Blocking someone can feel drastic and might even cause awkwardness if they realize. This “hide story” feature is your perfect middle-ground solution for maintaining your privacy and peace of mind.

The “Hide Story From” Feature: Your Secret Weapon

This little gem is built right into Instagram’s privacy settings. It allows you to select individual accounts that won’t see any of your future stories. The best part? They won’t get a notification or any indication that they’ve been excluded. It’s like a secret club, and you’re the bouncer!

Step-by-Step Guide to Hiding Your Story

Ready to take control? Here’s how to do it:

1. Open Instagram: Launch the app on your phone.
2. Go to Your Profile: Tap on your profile picture in the bottom right corner.
3. Access Settings: Tap the three horizontal lines (hamburger menu) in the top right corner, then select “Settings and privacy.”
4. Find “Hide Story From”: Scroll down and under “Who can see your content,” tap on “Hide story and live.”
5. Select Your People: You’ll see a list of all your followers. Simply tap on the circle next to each person you want to hide your stories from. A blue checkmark will appear.
6. Confirm: Once you’ve selected everyone, tap “Done” (or the checkmark, depending on your device) in the top right corner.

And just like that, you’re done! From now on, any stories you post will be invisible to those selected individuals. You can always go back and unselect them if you change your mind.

What Happens When You Hide Your Story?

It’s important to understand the implications of using this feature so you can use it effectively and avoid any surprises.

They Won’t Know (Probably)

The beauty of this feature is its discretion. The people you hide your stories from will not receive any notification. From their perspective, it will simply look like you haven’t posted any stories. They can still see your feed posts, send you DMs, and view your profile, unless you take further action like restricting or blocking them.

What Else You Should Know

• It’s for Stories Only: This setting only applies to your Instagram Stories and Live videos. It does not affect your regular feed posts, Reels, or DMs.
• Future Stories: Once set, this applies to all *future* stories you post. If you’ve already posted a story and then hide it from someone, they might have already seen it if they were online.
• Un-hiding is Easy: If you ever want someone to see your stories again, just follow the same steps and uncheck their name.
• Close Friends List: For the opposite effect, remember Instagram also has a “Close Friends” list, which allows you to share stories *only* with a select group, while everyone else (including those you’ve hidden stories from) won’t see them.

When to Use This Feature

This feature is perfect for situations where you want to maintain a certain level of connection without oversharing. Think about situations like:

• Keeping professional life separate from personal life.
• Navigating post-breakup dynamics.
• Avoiding unsolicited advice from certain family members.
• Sharing content that might be too niche or specific for everyone.

Alternatives to Hiding Your Story (Briefly)

While hiding your story is great, sometimes you might need more control:

• Restrict: This hides their comments on your posts from others, sends their DMs to message requests, and they can’t see when you’re online. They still see your stories unless you hide them.
• Block: The most extreme option. They can’t see anything on your profile, find you in search, or interact with you.
• Private Account: If you want to control who follows you entirely, making your account private is an option, but it applies to everything.

So there you have it! No more stress about who’s seeing what on your Instagram Story. Use this discreet feature to create the Instagram experience that’s right for you, without the drama of blocking.

FAQs

Q: Will the person know if I hide my Instagram story from them?

A: No, Instagram does not notify users when you hide your stories from them. They will simply not see your stories in their feed.

Q: Can I hide my Instagram story from someone who doesn’t follow me?

A: Yes, if your account is public, you can hide your story from anyone, even if they don’t follow you. If your account is private, only your followers can see your stories (unless you hide them from specific followers).

Q: Does hiding my story affect my feed posts or Reels?

A: No, the “Hide Story From” feature only applies to your Instagram Stories and Live videos. Your regular feed posts and Reels will still be visible to them.

Q: Can I hide my story from someone temporarily?

A: Absolutely! You can add and remove people from your “Hide Story From” list at any time. The changes are immediate.

Q: Is there a way to hide my story from everyone except a few people?

A: Yes, this is where the “Close Friends” feature comes in handy. When you post a story, you can choose to share it only with your Close Friends list, and no one else will see it.