How to turn off Instagram Reels on iPhone and keep your DMs (every method, 2026)
We could not find any setting in Instagram's official help pages that turns off Reels for an adult account. The closest built-in options are the Following feed, a daily time limit reminder and Sleep mode, and iPhone Screen Time can only block the whole app. To hide Reels but keep DMs, use an app that shows Instagram with Reels hidden, such as minulo, UNDOOMED, Awhile, SocialLite, LoomWeb or Nope.
This page is written by the developer of minulo. Facts about Instagram and iPhone settings come from the sources listed below, checked on 2026-09-28. Menu names can change with app and iOS updates.
| Method | What it does | Limits |
|---|---|---|
| Following feed (tap the Instagram logo) | Shows posts from accounts you follow in time order, without suggested posts, going back 30 days. | The Reels tab is still there. |
| Daily time limit | Reminds you after the time you set. | A reminder, not a block. It covers all of Instagram, not just Reels. |
| Sleep mode (formerly Quiet mode) | Mutes notifications and auto-replies to DMs. | Does not hide Reels. |
| Teen Accounts | For teens: a reminder after 60 minutes a day and sleep mode from 10 PM to 7 AM. | Only for teen accounts. Reels are not removed. |
| iPhone Screen Time | Limits or blocks the whole Instagram app, or instagram.com in Safari. | It cannot block Reels only, and blocking the app also blocks DMs. |
| Apps that hide Reels (minulo, UNDOOMED, Awhile, SocialLite, LoomWeb, Nope) | Show Instagram in their own view or in Safari with Reels and suggested posts hidden; DMs keep working. | The official Instagram app is not changed. minulo can lock the official app with Screen Time and send you to minulo instead. |
Is there a setting to turn off Reels on Instagram?
We could not find one in Instagram's official help pages as of September 2026. The Following feed removes suggested posts from your feed, but the Reels tab stays.
Can Screen Time block only Instagram Reels?
No. Screen Time App Limits work on the whole app, and website blocking works on whole addresses. Blocking Instagram this way also blocks your DMs.
How do I hide Reels but keep DMs?
Use an app that opens Instagram with Reels hidden. minulo, UNDOOMED, Awhile, SocialLite, LoomWeb and Nope all say DMs keep working. minulo also covers 9 other networks and can lock the official Instagram app so you open minulo instead.
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