Unwanted Instagram message requests can fill your inbox fast, especially when strangers, spam accounts, or random group chats keep showing up. Instagram gives you separate controls for strangers, followers you do not follow back, group invites, filters, and individual accounts. Start with the broad request settings, then use the tighter controls only where you need them.
Turn Off Requests From Strangers
This stops new message requests from people you do not follow. Open Instagram and tap Profile or your profile picture in the bottom right. Tap Menu in the top right. Open Messages and story replies.
Tap Message requests. Choose Others on Instagram. Select Don't receive requests. If your app shows No one instead, select that.
Stop Requests From Followers You Do Not Follow Back
Use this with the strangers setting for the closest Instagram app control to shutting down new message requests broadly.
- 1.Tap Profile or your profile picture.
- 2.Tap Menu in the top right.
- 3.Open Messages and story replies, then Message requests.
- 4.Select Your followers on Instagram.
- 5.Choose Don't receive requests or No one.
Change Requests on Desktop
Instagram also lets you change message request delivery from a computer. On Instagram.com, click More in the bottom left, then open Settings.
Go to Messages and story replies, then choose Message controls. Pick the audience you want to change, such as Your followers on Instagram or Others on Instagram.
Set that audience to Don't receive requests wherever the option appears. Instagram lists desktop support for this setting; mobile browser support is not listed.
Block Random Group Requests
Use this when strangers are adding you to group chats. It targets group-chat requests rather than one-on-one message requests.
Open Instagram and tap Profile or your profile picture. Tap Menu. Open Messages and story replies. Tap Message requests.
Choose Who can add you to groups. Select Only people you follow on Instagram.
Filter Spam With Hidden Words
The most common cause of messy message requests is spam or scam accounts repeating the same unwanted phrases. Open Instagram, tap Profile or your profile picture, then tap Menu.
Go to Messages and story replies, open Message requests, and turn on Hide unwanted message requests. To add your own filters, return to Menu, open Hidden words, and tap Add words separated by commas.... Enter the words, phrases, numbers, or emojis you want Instagram to filter. Matching requests move into spam or hidden requests instead of your regular request view.
Limit Messages During a Spike
Limited interactions is for a sudden wave of unwanted messages, especially from Recent followers or Accounts that aren't following you. It is a temporary control, so use it during harassment or a spam spike.
Open Instagram, tap Profile or your profile picture, then tap Menu. Choose Limited interactions.
Select the groups you want to limit, such as Recent followers or Accounts that aren't following you. Choose the duration, then turn limits on. If this does not stop the problem, set Others on Instagram and Your followers on Instagram to Don't receive requests, then block the specific accounts still contacting you.
Block or Restrict One Person
Block is the stronger choice when one account keeps sending requests. From the account's profile, tap the three-dot menu in the top right, choose Block, then choose whether to block only that account or also other existing and new accounts they may have.
You can also block from a chat. Open the chat, tap the person's name at the top, then tap Block.
Restrict is softer because it does not stop the person from messaging you. From their profile, open the three-dot menu and tap Restrict, or go to Profile, Menu, tap Restricted below How others can interact with you, tap Next, then search for the account and tap Restrict next to their username.
Restricted messages go to Message Requests, and the person will not see your read or activity status. Blocked people are not notified and cannot find your profile, posts, or story.
Silence Instagram Notifications Instead
Open Settings on iPhone, tap Notifications, choose Instagram, then turn off Allow Notifications. From an existing iPhone alert, swipe left over the Instagram notification, tap Options, then tap Turn Off.
On Android, open Settings, go to Notifications, then tap App notifications. Choose Instagram and turn notifications off. From an Android notification, swipe down from the top, touch and hold the Instagram notification, tap Settings, then turn off All notifications or the relevant notification category.
Notification settings only stop alerts; Instagram can still receive and store message requests.
Skip Older Messenger Advice
This clears up old Instagram DM advice that no longer works. Skip instructions that tell you to manage Instagram requests through Facebook Friends, Messenger contacts, people with your phone number, or Others on Facebook. Cross-app communication between Facebook accounts and Instagram ended beginning in mid-December 2023. Use Instagram's current Messages and story replies and Message requests controls instead.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I turn off all Instagram DMs completely?
Instagram's current controls stop message requests from major groups, including people you do not follow and followers you do not follow back. Existing accepted chats can still continue unless you block the account. Restricting reroutes their messages to Message Requests but does not stop them from messaging you.
Will people know I blocked them on Instagram?
No. Blocked people are not notified, and they cannot find your profile, posts, or story.
Does Hidden Words stop message requests from being sent?
No. Hidden Words and Hide unwanted message requests filter suspected spam or matching terms into spam or hidden requests instead of stopping every request.
Do Instagram Teen Accounts handle message requests differently?
Yes. Teen Accounts use stricter messaging settings automatically. Teens can only be messaged by people they follow or are already connected to, and teens under 16 need parent permission to make those settings less strict after supervision is set up.