Introduction
Instagram’s ever-evolving interface continues to roll out new features designed to enhance social discovery and connection. One such feature that has recently gained prominence in 2026 is the “Friends” tab in Reels—a feature that displays public content your friends have liked, commented on, or created. While this addition aims to foster community engagement, many users find it intrusive and prefer to control their privacy.
This comprehensive guide will walk you through exactly how to manage, hide, or remove the visibility of the Friends tab on your Instagram account. Whether you’re concerned about privacy or simply prefer a cleaner interface, you’ll find detailed, step-by-step instructions tailored to both Android and iOS users.
What is Instagram’s Friends Tab?
Before diving into removal methods, it’s important to understand what you’re dealing with. The Friends tab in Reels is a relatively new Instagram feature that surfaced prominently in late 2025 and continues into 2026.
Key Characteristics of the Friends Tab
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Location | Top of the Reels interface, displayed as a navigation option alongside “Reels” |
| Content Type | Public content your friends have liked, commented on, created, or reposted |
| Additional Content | Recommendations from Blends you’ve initiated or joined with friends |
| Visibility | Shows profile pictures of friends who interacted, plus how they interacted |
| Activity Shown | Likes, comments, Reels creation, and shares from mutual followers |
Why Instagram Introduced This Feature
Instagram’s intention behind the Friends tab is to shift from purely algorithmic feeds to more relationship-driven content discovery. By showing what your friends engage with, Instagram aims to:inro+1
- Facilitate conversations about shared interests and content
- Create more personalized feed experiences based on trusted connections
- Increase engagement within existing friendship circles
- Mirror social patterns seen across platforms like Facebook and TikTok
Important Distinction: Two Types of “Friends” Features
It’s crucial to clarify that Instagram has introduced multiple features with the word “Friends” in their names in 2026. This can create confusion. Here’s what you need to know:
Friends Tab in Reels (This Guide’s Focus)
- Located in the Reels section at the top of your feed
- Shows public activity from your friends (likes, comments, reposts)
- Includes Blends recommendations
- Can be hidden with privacy settings (but not completely removed)
Friends List on Profile (New in 2026)
- Located on your profile alongside Followers and Following tabs
- Shows your mutual followers (people who follow you back)
- Replaced the posts counter
- Currently cannot be removed or disabled per Instagram’s design[youtube]
For this guide, we focus on controlling the Friends tab in Reels, where privacy controls are available.
Can You Actually Remove the Friends Tab?
Here’s the honest answer that every user wants to know: No, you cannot completely remove the Friends tab from your Reels interface.brandvm+1
However, you can take several actions to control it:virtualcodes+1
- Hide your own activity from appearing in your friends’ Friends tabs
- Mute specific people so their activity doesn’t show
- Opt out of Blends recommendations
- Adjust privacy settings to restrict what others see from your engagement
Think of it like privacy control rather than complete removal—you’re limiting what’s visible rather than eliminating the feature entirely.
Complete Step-by-Step Guide: How to Hide Your Activity in the Friends Tab
Follow these detailed instructions to prevent your likes and comments from appearing in your friends’ Friends tabs.
Step 1: Open Instagram and Navigate to Your Profile
- Unlock your phone and open the Instagram app
- Look for the profile icon in the bottom-right corner (it looks like a person’s silhouette)
- Tap the profile icon to navigate to your profile page
- You’ll see your profile information, bio, and your posts displayed
Device Note: This works identically on both Android and iOS devices.
Step 2: Access the Settings & Activity Menu
- On your profile page, look at the top-right corner of the screen
- You’ll see a hamburger menu icon (three horizontal lines ≡)
- Tap this menu icon
- A dropdown menu will appear with various options
- Scroll through the options until you find “Settings & activity” or “Settings & privacy”
- Tap on it to proceed
Pro Tip: If you’re having trouble locating this, it’s typically one of the first few options in the menu.
Step 3: Locate the “Who Can See Your Content” Section
- You’re now in the Settings & Activity menu
- Scroll downward through the available options
- Look for a section labeled “Who can see your content”
- This section contains all your privacy visibility controls
- You may need to scroll past other options like “Account,” “How you use Instagram,” and “Ads and Businesses”
Time-Saving Tip: If you don’t see it immediately, continue scrolling—it’s usually in the middle-to-lower portion of the settings menu.
Step 4: Select “Activity in Friends Tab”
- Within the “Who can see your content” section, locate and tap “Activity in Friends tab”
- This option specifically controls whether your likes and comments appear in the Friends tab
- Tapping this option opens a new screen with visibility choices
Important: Don’t confuse this with other activity settings—you’re specifically looking for the Friends tab option.
Step 5: Change Your Visibility Setting to “No One”
- After tapping “Activity in Friends Tab,” you’ll see visibility options
- The available options typically include:
- Followers you follow back
- Close Friends
- No one
- Select “No one” to completely hide your activity
- A confirmation message may appear—confirm your selection
What This Does: Once set to “No one,” your likes and comments on Reels will no longer appear in your friends’ Friends tabs. Your activity remains private and invisible to others.
Visual Summary Table
| Step | Action | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Open Instagram | Home screen |
| 2 | Tap profile icon | Bottom-right corner |
| 3 | Tap hamburger menu | Top-right of profile |
| 4 | Select Settings & Activity | Menu dropdown |
| 5 | Scroll to Who can see your content | Settings menu |
| 6 | Tap Activity in Friends Tab | Privacy section |
| 7 | Select “No one” | Visibility options |
Alternative Methods to Control the Friends Tab
Beyond hiding your activity entirely, Instagram offers additional controls to customize your Friends tab experience.
Method 2: Mute Specific People from Appearing
If you don’t want to hide all your activity but prefer to exclude certain people from seeing it:
- Go to Settings & Activity
- Look for “Close Friends” or “Muted Accounts” options
- Add specific people to your muted list
- Their activity (or visibility of yours) will be limited accordingly
Method 3: Switch Between Account Types
Some users report that changing your account type may affect Friends tab visibility:[youtube]
- Switch from Personal account to Business account or Creator account
- Go to Settings & Activity → Account → Switch to Professional Account
- Business and Creator accounts sometimes have different privacy defaults
Note: This method’s effectiveness varies based on your region and Instagram’s current rollout schedule.
Method 4: Clear Cache or Reinstall the App
If the Friends tab appears but the privacy settings don’t load properly:
- For Android:
- Go to Settings → Apps → Instagram
- Tap “Storage & cache”
- Select “Clear cache”
- Reopen Instagram
- For iOS:
- Delete Instagram from your phone
- Restart your device
- Reinstall Instagram from the App Store
When to Use: This is a troubleshooting method if settings aren’t responding properly.
Method 5: Update to the Latest Instagram Version
Ensure you have the most recent Instagram version:[youtube]
- iPhone: Open App Store → Search “Instagram” → If “Update” appears, tap it
- Android: Open Google Play Store → Search “Instagram” → If “Update” appears, tap it
Why This Matters: New privacy controls and settings adjustments are regularly rolled out in app updates. Older versions may not have access to the latest controls.
Additional Privacy Controls: Blends Management
The Friends tab often includes recommendations from Blends—a feature that creates shared content feeds between you and specific friends. To further control what appears in your Friends tab:
How to Opt Out of Blends
- Open your Friends tab in Reels
- Look for any Blends recommendations
- Tap and hold (or right-click) on the Blends section
- Select “Remove” or “Hide”
- The recommendation will be removed from your view
Alternatively:
- Go to Settings & Activity
- Search for “Blends” or “Recommendations”
- Toggle off any Blends you don’t want to see
Understanding Your Privacy vs. Your Friends’ Experience
An important clarification: When you set your Friends tab activity to “No one,” this affects what others see, not what you see.
| Setting | What You See | What Your Friends See |
|---|---|---|
| Followers you follow back | Full Friends tab with all friends’ activity | Your likes and comments in their Friends tab |
| No one | Full Friends tab with all friends’ activity | No indication of your activity |
Key Point: Hiding your activity doesn’t eliminate your access to the Friends tab—you’ll still see what your friends are engaging with. You’re simply preventing them from seeing your interactions.
Troubleshooting: Why You Might Not See These Options
If you’re unable to locate the Friends tab or activity settings, consider these reasons:
Regional Rollout Delays
Instagram rolls out features gradually by region. The Friends tab and its associated controls may not be available in:
- Your specific country or region
- Your account type (personal vs. business)
- Older app versions
Solution: Update your app and wait for full rollout to your region.
App Version Issues
The feature requires an updated version of Instagram.
Solution:
- Check your App Store or Google Play Store for updates
- Uninstall and reinstall Instagram if updates aren’t showing
- Restart your device before reinstalling
Account Type Limitations
Business and Creator accounts sometimes have different feature availability.
Solution:
- Switch to a Personal account temporarily to access settings
- Or contact Instagram Support if you need creator-specific help
Cache and Storage Issues
Corrupted app data can hide settings options.
Solution:
- Clear app cache (see Method 4 above)
- Reinstall the application entirely
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: If I set activity to “No one,” will my friends know I removed them?
No. Instagram doesn’t notify users when you change privacy settings. Your friends simply won’t see your new likes and comments in their Friends tabs—they won’t receive an alert about the change.
Q2: Does hiding my Friends tab activity affect my overall Instagram engagement?
No. Your engagement metrics (likes, comments, saves) continue to count toward your account’s visibility and the algorithm. You’re only hiding this specific activity from the Friends tab.
Q3: Can I hide my activity selectively from certain friends?
Not directly through Instagram’s interface. You’d need to either:
- Set activity to “No one” (hides from all)
- Create a Close Friends list and adjust visibility there
Q4: Is the Friends tab different from Close Friends Stories?
Yes. Close Friends is a separate feature used for Stories, allowing you to share Stories with a select group. The Friends tab in Reels is completely different and applies to all your public interactions.[inro]
Q5: Will Instagram eventually let me remove the Friends tab completely?
Possibly. If enough users request removal, Instagram may add a toggle to hide the tab entirely. Currently, this isn’t available. Monitor Instagram’s update notes for potential future changes.
Q6: Do business and creator accounts handle the Friends tab differently?
Potentially. Features sometimes roll out differently across account types. If you have a Creator or Business account and the privacy controls appear different, try switching to a Personal account for access to standard privacy settings.
Best Practices for Managing Your Instagram Privacy in 2026
Beyond just managing the Friends tab, here are comprehensive privacy recommendations:
Regular Privacy Audits
- Monthly: Review your “Who can see your content” settings
- Quarterly: Check your followers list for unwanted accounts
- After updates: Verify settings haven’t reset after app updates
Balance Privacy with Engagement
Remember that hiding all your activity may impact:
- Visibility with friends who want to see what you’re enjoying
- Community building if you’re a content creator
- Algorithm recommendations tailored to your interests
Consider:
- Showing activity only to Close Friends rather than “No one”
- Keeping some activity visible while hiding specific Reels
Protect Your Overall Account
- Use a strong password (mix of letters, numbers, symbols)
- Enable two-factor authentication (Settings → Security → Two-Factor Authentication)
- Review login activity (Settings & Activity → Your Activity → Logins)
- Audit connected apps that have access to your account
Stay Updated
- Enable notifications for Instagram updates about new privacy features
- Follow Instagram’s official blog for changes and explanations
- Check your Settings & Activity monthly for new options
The Future of Instagram’s Friends Feature
As of February 2026, Instagram continues evolving the Friends feature across its ecosystem. Here’s what experts anticipate:[brandvm]
- More granular controls for activity visibility
- Potential toggle to hide the Friends tab entirely (if user demand continues)
- Cross-platform integration with Facebook’s similar features
- Enhanced Blends functionality for shared interest discovery
Stay vigilant about updates—future versions of Instagram may offer additional removal or customization options.
Conclusion
While Instagram doesn’t currently allow you to completely remove the Friends tab from your Reels interface, you have substantial control over your privacy and what others see from you. By following the step-by-step instructions in this guide, you can:
✓ Hide your likes and comments from the Friends tab
✓ Mute specific people’s activity
✓ Opt out of Blends recommendations
✓ Maintain a more private Instagram experience
The key is recognizing the distinction between removing the feature (not currently possible) and controlling your visibility (entirely possible). By implementing these privacy settings, you can enjoy Instagram’s social features while maintaining the privacy boundaries that matter to you.
Remember to revisit these settings periodically, especially after major Instagram updates, as settings sometimes reset or new options become available.