Prevent Instagram from Showing Your Likes in the Friends Tab

If you’re concerned about your privacy on Instagram, you might want to stop your likes from appearing in the Friends tab. Recently, Instagram introduced a feature in the Reels section that shows the Reels you’ve liked or commented on to your friends. By “friends,” Instagram means people you follow back. While this feature aims to enhance social interaction, many users find it intrusive, as it exposes their activity without explicit consent.

The good news is that you don’t have to live with it. Instagram allows you to disable this setting quickly and easily. In just a few simple steps, you can keep your Reels activity private, ensuring that only you can see what you like or engage with, while maintaining full control over your account.

How to Stop Instagram from Sharing Your Likes in the Friends Tab

Instagram’s Friends tab, located at the top of the Reels page, automatically shows Reels your friends liked or commented on—and in return, displays your liked and commented Reels to them. If you value your privacy, you can change this setting in a few simple steps.

Update Instagram – Make sure your app is up to date.
Go to Your Profile – Tap your profile icon at the bottom right.
Open Settings – Tap the three-line menu at the top right, then select Settings & Activity to access privacy controls.
Adjust Activity Visibility – Scroll to Activity in the Friends tab and tap it.
Choose Who Can See Your Likes – Under Who can see your likes and comments on Reels, select No one to hide your activity completely.

Once done, your likes and comments will no longer appear in the Friends tab for others. You can still view your friends’ activity by tapping the Friends tab at the top of Reels—your privacy settings won’t affect what you can see.

Why You Should Stop Instagram from Sharing Your Likes in the Friends Tab

If you value your privacy, stopping Instagram from sharing your likes in the Friends tab gives you more control over your online activity. Instagram often enables new social features automatically, meaning your interactions may already be visible to people you follow back unless you adjust the settings.

Protect Your Privacy – Sometimes you like a video purely for personal enjoyment. If your activity is public, others may misinterpret it, leading to unnecessary misunderstandings or awkward conversations.
Reduce Social Noise – Hiding your likes makes your Instagram experience calmer. Friends won’t receive algorithm suggestions based on your activity, and you can enjoy Reels without worrying about public reactions.
Avoid Embarrassment – Liking unusual or humorous content may invite teasing. Turning off this feature keeps your activity private.
Keep Your Digital Life Personal – Not every interaction needs to be shared. Social media should let you enjoy content without constantly displaying your preferences to others.

Extra Privacy Tips for Instagram

Stopping Instagram from sharing your likes in the Friends tab is just one step. Regularly reviewing other privacy settings gives you full control over your account activity.

Set Your Account to Private – Only approved followers can see your posts and stories, protecting personal moments from strangers.
Manage Story Visibility – Hide stories from specific followers when sharing personal content with selected friends only.
Control Comments – Limit who can comment on your posts and Reels. Restricting comments reduces spam and unwanted interactions.
Approve Tagged Posts – Enable tag approval so unwanted photos or videos don’t appear on your profile without consent.
Be Cautious with Features Like Blends – Blends may share your interests with friends unexpectedly. Avoid joining or disable them if privacy matters.
Update Instagram Regularly – New privacy tools are added silently. Updating ensures you can disable features before they share your information.
Turn Off Activity Status – Hide your online presence so others won’t know when you’re active, allowing stress-free browsing.
Review Connected Apps and Websites – Remove unused connections to prevent old apps from accessing your account activity.

Using these tips together ensures maximum privacy and a safer, calmer Instagram experience.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hide my likes from everyone on Instagram?

Yes. By adjusting the Activity in the Friends tab settings, you can select No one to hide your liked and commented Reels from all friends.

Will hiding my likes stop me from seeing my friends’ activity?

No. You can still view what your friends liked or commented on in the Friends tab. The change only affects what they see about you.

Does setting my account to private hide likes too?

Setting your account to private prevents strangers from seeing your posts and stories, but hiding likes in the Friends tab specifically controls visibility of your activity to friends.

Can I control who comments on my Reels?

Yes. Instagram allows you to restrict comments to followers or selected people, helping you maintain privacy and reduce unwanted interactions.

Will updating Instagram affect my privacy settings?

Sometimes. New features may be enabled automatically, so it’s a good idea to review privacy settings after every update to ensure your preferences are intact.

Can I prevent tagged posts from appearing on my profile?

Yes. Enable the tag approval option in settings to review posts before they appear on your profile.

Conclusion

Protecting your privacy on Instagram doesn’t have to be complicated. By stopping your likes from appearing in the Friends tab, you take control over who can see your activity, avoid misunderstandings, and enjoy a calmer, more private experience. Combining this with other privacy settings—like controlling comments, managing story visibility, and reviewing connected apps—ensures your account stays secure and personal. Social media should let you enjoy content without feeling exposed or pressured.