The Ultimate 2025 Guide: 3 Proven Ways To Hide View Counts On Your Instagram Posts And Reels

Are you tired of the pressure that comes with public view counts on your Instagram content? As of the latest updates in December 2025, Instagram continues to give users more control over their feed, including the ability to hide the number of views and likes on both new and existing posts and Reels. This feature is a game-changer for content creators and casual users alike who want to focus on quality and connection rather than public performance metrics. This comprehensive guide will walk you through the three most effective and current methods for achieving a cleaner, less performance-driven profile. Whether you’re preparing to upload a new Reel or want to adjust an older video post, we have the exact steps you need to take to hide those view counts immediately.

Method 1: Hiding View Counts Before You Post (The Advanced Settings Trick)

The most common and effective way to hide the view count on a new video post or Reel is to toggle a setting in the "Advanced Settings" menu before you hit the final "Share" button. This setting is often bundled with the "Hide Like Count" option, which, for video content, also controls the public visibility of the view count.

Step-by-Step for New Posts and Reels:

• Create Your Content: Start creating your Instagram post or Reel as you normally would, including adding your video, applying filters, and writing your caption.
• Access Advanced Settings: On the final screen where you write your caption and tag people, scroll all the way down to the bottom.
• Tap "Advanced Settings": This option is usually located just above the "Share" button. Tap on it to open a new menu.
• Toggle the Count: Inside the Advanced Settings menu, look for the option that says "Hide Like and View Counts on This Post" or a similar phrase.
• Activate the Feature: Toggle the switch to the ON position.
• Finalize and Share: Go back and share your post or Reel. The number of likes and the total view count will now be hidden from the public. Only you, the creator, will be able to see the metrics.

Pro Tip: This setting is applied on a post-by-post basis. It is not a global setting, meaning you must repeat this process for every new piece of content you wish to keep the view count hidden on. This gives you granular control over which content you want to display public metrics for.

Method 2: Adjusting View Counts on Existing Posts and Reels

What if you have a video that’s already been posted, and you now want to hide the view count? Fortunately, Instagram allows you to retroactively adjust this setting at any time, giving you the power to manage your older content’s public image. This is a crucial feature for creators looking to "reset" the public perception of an older post that may have underperformed initially.

The Three-Dot Menu Adjustment:

• Navigate to Your Post: Go to your Instagram profile and find the specific video post or Reel you want to modify.
• Tap the Menu Icon: Look for the three horizontal dots (...) in the top-right corner of the post. Tap this icon to open the options menu.
• Select the Hide Option: In the menu that appears, you will see an option that says "Hide Like Count" or sometimes "Hide Like and View Counts."
• Confirm the Change: Tap this option. The view count (and like count) will immediately disappear from public view.

Note on Video vs. Photo: For standard video posts and Reels, the "Hide Like Count" feature is the mechanism that also hides the view count for the public. For photo posts, you will only be hiding the like count, as photos do not have a public view count metric in the same way videos do. This is a key distinction for maintaining topical authority.

Method 3: Understanding the Nuances of View Count Privacy (Reels vs. Posts)

While the methods above cover the vast majority of content, it’s important to understand the subtle differences in how Instagram treats view counts across its various content formats. Understanding these nuances is essential for any serious content creator or user concerned with their digital well-being and privacy settings.

The Reels Tab View Count Test

In recent updates, Meta (the parent company of Instagram) has been testing even more specific privacy controls for Reels. One test involves an option that would enable creators to hide the view count display specifically in their Reels tab on their profile. This means that even if the view count is hidden on the individual Reel, a summary view count might still appear on the profile's dedicated Reels grid unless this specific setting is available and toggled off.

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• Check for Creator Tools: If you are a creator, navigate to Settings and Privacy -> Creator Tools and Controls.
• Look for 'View Counts on Profile': Some users, particularly those with Business or Creator accounts, have reported a setting here that allows them to turn off view counts on their profile grid for photo posts. This is a less common global setting but is worth checking if you want a more blanket solution.

Why Hide View Counts? The Digital Well-Being Angle

Instagram initially introduced the ability to hide like counts (and by extension, view counts) as part of a push for digital well-being. The goal was to reduce the social pressure and anxiety associated with public performance metrics. By hiding these numbers, users can:

• Reduce Performance Anxiety: Focus on creating content they love, not content they think will "go viral."
• Improve Content Quality: Shift the focus from quantity of engagement to quality of storytelling and connection.
• Control Public Perception: Prevent the public from judging a post's value solely on its initial view count. A post with a hidden count encourages viewers to engage with the content itself, not the metric beneath it.
• Maintain Privacy: While view counts are not strictly a privacy concern, controlling their visibility is a form of content control, allowing you to manage what information about your content's performance is public.

Final Takeaway: The ability to hide view counts on Instagram is a powerful tool for maintaining control over your content’s narrative. Always ensure your Instagram app is updated to the latest version to guarantee access to these privacy features. By utilizing the Advanced Settings before posting and the three-dot menu for existing content, you can curate a more mindful and less stressful presence on the platform, making your content creation journey more enjoyable in 2025 and beyond.