Best iPhone apps to hide Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts but keep your DMs (2026)
Several iPhone apps hide Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts while keeping DMs. Most work in one of two ways: an in-app browser (SocialLite, UNDOOMED, Awhile, LoomWeb, minulo) or a Safari extension (ScrollGuard, Nope). SocialLite and minulo can also lock the official apps with Screen Time and send you to their Reels-free view.
This page is written by the developer of minulo. Facts about other apps come only from their App Store descriptions and US ratings as of 2026-10-02.
| App | How it works | Networks | Price | Keeps DMs | Other | US ratings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| minulo | Opens each network's official website inside the app and hides chosen parts. Can also lock the official apps with Screen Time and send you to minulo instead. | Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, X, Threads, Facebook, Pinterest, Reddit, LinkedIn, Snapchat (10) | Hiding is free. Pro adds schedules, lock mode and multiple block lists. | Yes | iPhone, Mac, Chrome | 0 |
| SocialLite | A focused view of social networks inside the app; can block the official apps with Screen Time and redirect to SocialLite (per its release notes). | Instagram, YouTube, Snapchat, X, Reddit and others (TikTok not mentioned) | Free app; in-app purchases available. | Yes | — | 8,031 |
| UNDOOMED | Opens each network's mobile website in its own private browser and filters the page. | Instagram, Threads, Reddit, Facebook, X, YouTube, LinkedIn (no TikTok or Snapchat) | Many features free; Plus and Pro add more. | Yes (Messages Only mode) | — | 103 |
| ScrollGuard | A Safari extension that hides feeds, Reels, Stories and Explore on social media websites. | Social media websites in Safari | Free with Premium features. | Not stated | Requires iOS 18 | 103 |
| Nope | A Safari Web Extension for instagram.com and youtube.com. | Instagram, YouTube | Fully free: no subscriptions or in-app purchases. | Yes | Chrome extension | 2 |
| Awhile | Loads instagram.com in its own in-app browser and hides chosen parts. | Instagram only | Filtering is free; Premium is €2.99/month or €9.99 once. | Yes | — | 2 |
| LoomWeb | A browser for social media with per-site settings. | Instagram, YouTube, X, Facebook | Free with a Pro tier. | Yes (DMs-only option) | Requires iOS 18 | 29 |
| WallHabit | Blocks Reels and Shorts or whole apps, and asks you to hold a button before unlocking (the description does not detail how Reels are blocked). | Not listed | Free with in-app purchases. | Not stated | Requires iOS 18 | 33 |
Which app hides Instagram Reels but keeps DMs?
SocialLite, UNDOOMED, Awhile, LoomWeb, Nope and minulo all say DMs keep working while Reels are hidden. Awhile covers Instagram only; Nope covers Instagram and YouTube; UNDOOMED, LoomWeb and minulo cover several networks. minulo supports 10, including TikTok and Snapchat.
Can any of these apps remove Reels inside the official Instagram app?
Only WallHabit says it can block parts of apps such as Reels and Shorts, and its description does not explain how. The other apps show Instagram in their own browser or in Safari rather than changing the official app. minulo takes a different route: it can lock the official Instagram app with Screen Time, and when you try to open it, it sends you to minulo, where Reels are hidden.
Which option is completely free?
Nope says it is fully free, with no subscriptions or in-app purchases, and covers Instagram and YouTube in Safari. In minulo, hiding Reels, Shorts and suggested posts is free on all 10 networks; only schedules, lock mode and multiple block lists are paid.
What is a good SocialLite alternative?
SocialLite has by far the most ratings (8,031 in the US). If you want another app that keeps DMs and hides short videos, UNDOOMED and minulo cover the most networks. minulo also covers TikTok, Threads, Pinterest and LinkedIn and has a Chrome extension, but it is new and has no US ratings yet.
Is minulo safe to log in with?
You log in on each network's official web page inside minulo. minulo does not receive or store your ID or password, and it has no account of its own. Usage analytics are anonymous and not linked to you.
