How to Turn Off Direct Messages on Instagram
By Kushagra Kumar, founder of Shre. Updated 1 July 2026.
If your Instagram inbox has become a source of stress, you have more control than you might think. Instagram cannot switch off DMs with a single global toggle for personal accounts, but it gives you several settings that decide who can message you and where their messages land.
This walkthrough covers message controls, how to stop requests from strangers, and how to quiet or block specific people. Settings shift between versions, so if a label looks different, look for the nearest match.
Instagram does not have one master switch to turn off all DMs, but you can control who reaches you. Use Message controls in Settings to send messages from people you do not follow into Requests, restrict or block specific accounts, and turn off story replies so fewer chats start.
Understanding message controls
The main place to manage DMs is Message controls (sometimes shown as Messages and story replies) in Settings and privacy. Instead of one on or off switch, it groups people into categories and lets you decide what each group can do.
- People you follow or are connected to.
- People who follow you.
- Others on Instagram, and people on connected apps like Messenger.
For each category you can choose whether their message goes to your main inbox, goes to Requests, or does not reach you as a chat request. Sending everyone you do not know to Requests is the closest thing to turning DMs off for strangers while still letting friends through.
Send stranger messages to Requests
To cut down on messages from people you do not know, route them away from your main inbox.
- Open Settings and privacy.
- Find Messages and story replies or Message controls.
- For the groups you do not want in your inbox, set their messages to go to Requests, or to not receive requests at all.
Anything in Requests stays out of sight until you choose to open it, so your main inbox only shows people you have accepted.
Turn off story replies and go private
A lot of DMs start as replies to your story. If you post stories often, limiting replies can noticeably quiet your inbox.
- In Message controls, look for Story replies and set who can reply, or turn replies off.
- Switching to a private account means only approved followers can see and reply to your posts and stories in the first place.
Going private is the broadest lever: it does not disable DMs, but it shrinks the pool of people who can start one.
Restrict, mute, or block individuals
When the problem is one or two specific accounts rather than everyone, handle them directly.
- Mute: silence notifications from a chat without the other person knowing.
- Restrict: quietly move someone's messages to Requests and hide whether you have seen them.
- Block: stop the account from messaging or finding you at all.
These options usually live in the chat itself or on the person's profile menu. Blocking is the firmest choice and is not announced to the other person.
For business accounts
Businesses and creators often cannot afford to shut messages off, because DMs are where sales and questions come in. If your goal is to handle volume rather than avoid it, automation is a better fit than a blanket off switch. Shre replies to messages automatically on the official Instagram API, so genuine inquiries get an instant answer while you keep control of your time. See the Instagram DM bot and Auto DM to learn more. If your DMs are broken rather than busy, check Instagram DMs not working.
Frequently asked questions
Can I turn off Instagram DMs completely?
There is no single switch that disables all DMs on a personal account. You can route unknown senders to Requests, go private, and block specific people to get close to that effect.
How do I stop strangers from messaging me?
In Message controls, set messages from people you do not follow to go to Requests, or to not send requests at all. Steps may vary by app version.
Does blocking someone tell them they are blocked?
No. Instagram does not notify a person when you block, mute, or restrict them. They simply lose the ability to message or find your account.
Will going private turn off my DMs?
Not exactly. Going private limits who can see your content and start a chat, but approved followers can still message you. Combine it with Message controls for more effect.
Related
Source and reference: Instagram Platform, Meta for Developers. Shre sends messages through the official Instagram Graph API within Instagram's rules.