How To Limit Comments on Instagram: Control Your Privacy

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Karen Lin

Instagram 101 | Nov 14, 2024

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Keeping your Instagram post public and open to comments is an excellent strategy for reaching a wider audience. It also exposes your posts to spammers and trolls, which led many to wonder how to limit comments on Instagram.

Instagram introduced the limit feature in 2021 to protect users from abuse and harassment.

With this feature, Instagram app users can:

  • Limit comments and DM requests during spikes of increased attention
  • Send strong warning to those posting offensive comments
  • Filter comments and DM requests using hidden words

No one wants their post bombarded with hateful or inappropriate comments. So if you’re up for a bit of crowd-control on Instagram, limiting comments is the way to do it. Don’t worry. It is not complicated, and we’ll walk you through every step!

Close up of mobile phone showing Instagram account.

Step-by-Step Guide on How To Limit Comments on Instagram

Here’s our step-by-step guide on how to limit comments on Instagram:

  1. Go to your Instagram app profile tab and tap the menu icon (at the top-right corner of the screen).
  2. Select the Settings icon. 
  3. Tap Privacy > Limits (Marked as Off). Here, you can toggle to limit:
    • Accounts that Aren’t Following You: Instagram thinks most of these accounts are fake, spam, or created to harass. This option is to toggle it on by default. 
    • Recent Followers: The reason behind this is simple. If someone just followed you, they probably don’t know enough about you to leave behind a meaningful comment. So, by default, this option is on.

Below it is an option for “How Long to Limit.” The default is 1 week. You can adjust this time to anywhere from 1 day to 4 weeks. Select Set Reminder”.

  1. Finally, you want to tap on “Turn On” at the bottom of the screen, which is pretty much it. Simple enough, huh? You’ll then see a brief message informing you that you’ve turned on limits. 

You’d have set your Instagram account to hide the comments of those who aren’t following you. Also for those who only recently started following you. Their messages will remain hidden for the specified period until you choose to approve them manually.

This is an effective tool for curbing abuse and trolls. So use it if you’re experiencing any kind of harassment on Instagram. Limiting comments won’t affect your reach or engagement on the Instagram app. So don’t worry on that front!

How To Limit Comments on IG: Controlling Who Can Comment on Your Posts

Note that the above guide only allows you to temporarily limit comments on Insta from those who don’t follow you. But what about those who’ve been following you for a while?

For how to limit comments on Instagram from certain people, follow these steps:

  • Step 1: Again, this is only possible on a mobile app (both Android and iOS). So open the Instagram app
  • Step 2: Go to your profile by tapping the thumbnail of your display picture in the bottom-right corner.
  • Step 3: Next, tap the hamburger menu at the top-right corner of the screen and navigate to “Settings” > “Privacy.” 
  • Here, there are three settings that you can change:
    • Hide Comments: Instagram filters out comments it considers offensive and abusive. It places them in a hidden folder until you approve them. This feature automatically hides offensive comments on Insta left on your photos, reels, and videos. 
    • Advanced Comment Filtering: Toggling on this option takes comment filtering to the next level. The Instagram app will block Offensive or inappropriate words from appearing on your posts. Instagram will place them in a separate folder until you review them and see if they’re worth approving.
    • Hidden Message Requests: This option will be off by default. Toggle it on to filter offensive messages to a hidden folder.

Below the three options is a section for managing custom words for messages and comments. You can enter any words you find offensive, inappropriate, or don’t want to see on your posts.

Once you’ve entered your custom words, you must toggle “Hide Comments” and “Hide Message Requests.” Any comment or message containing your added words will be automatically placed in a hidden folder until you review them.

How To Block Comments on Instagram 

Remember, not every troll or spammer is new or uses offensive words. So even with the two options mentioned above, you’ll still have some users slipping through the cracks. So, if you want to know how to limit comments on Instagram by specified users, follow these steps: 

Step 1: Again, open the Instagram app and navigate to settings by tapping your profile picture

Step 2: Tap the hamburger menu at the top-right corner and go to “Settings” > “Privacy.” 

Step 3: From here, tap on “Comments.”

Mobile phone, laptop and book under lock and chain.

You can manually search any user by their name and block them here. Just tap on the “block” icon next to their name. Then they won’t be able to comment on any of your posts in the future. 

To unblock them, tap the “unblock” icon. Instagram will then release them from Instagram app jail.

How To Limit Comments on One Instagram Post

All the steps we’ve covered so far limit comments on Insta. Every change you make affects your entire Instagram account, not just individual posts. 

How About Limiting Comments on One Instagram Post? 

Well, that’s also possible. Here’s another step-by-step guide:

  • Step 1: First, you’ll have to open the post for which you want to limit comments. 
  • Step 2: Tap the comment icon (the speech bubble icon below the post, next to the like and kite-like share icons). 
  • Step 3: Now, tap the three dots in the top-right corner of the Instagram comment section. 
  • Step 4: A menu will appear with several options. The first option is “Manage Comments.” This option allows you to review your comments and select the ones you want to Delete, Restrict, or Block
  • Step 5: Select all the comments you don’t want to see and tap Delete.” Do the same for all the comments on Insta you want to restrict or block. Deleting completely erases the comment while restricting it only hides it from other people’s view. If you want to block users completely from ever commenting on your post, then select the “Block” option.
  • Step 6: The second option is “Turn Off Commenting.” Enabling this option means the Instagram comment section will disappear. It will hide old comments, and there will be no new comments. The comment icon will be nowhere to be seen. There will be a brief message below the like and share buttons reading “Comments Are Off.” 
  • Step 7: To return to the Instagram comment section, return to the post and tap Review Control.” A menu will pop up with the option to turn on comments. 
  • Step 8: Tap Turn On Commenting,” and your Instagram comment section will reopen.

How To Limit Comments on IG: Adjusting Privacy Settings

Image of a smartphone on a wooden surface with pink social media icons showing a user, comment, and heart symbol nearby.

You have to give Instagram credit for its effort to keep our feeds clean and organized. They have all the features you can ask for regarding comment moderation and post privacy. 

With privacy settings, you can decide who comments or doesn’t comment on your posts. You may restrict the Instagram comment section to only those you follow, those who follow you, or both. How about limiting comments on Insta by adjusting privacy settings? 

Adjusting Your Privacy Settings

Now we’ll walk you through how to limit comments on Instagram by adjusting your privacy settings. Many of the options are fairly self-explanatory, but here is what you need to do:

  • Step 1: Open your Instagram app and open any post on your Instagram profile. Make sure to turn on the Instagram comment section for the post. 
  • Step 2: Next, tap the comment icon (the speech bubble icon below the post). 
  • Step 3: Now, tap the three dots in the top-right corner of the Instagram comment section. 
  • Step 4: A menu will appear with several options. 
  • Here are the options you’ll see:
    • Hide More Comments
    • Manage Custom Word List
    • Allow Comments from
    • Change Privacy Settings
  • Step 5: Now, tap on “Allow Comments from.” This will open a privacy setting window with two options to play around with: 
  • Block Comments From: If you have a list of users you’d like to block from commenting on your posts. Just search them by name and tap Block” (located next to their profile). To unblock them, tap “Unblock,” and they can start commenting again.
  • Allow Comments From: This is where you get to choose who can comment on your posts. Is it everyone on the internet, those you follow, or both? 

“Allow Comments From” Options

This option lets users specify who can and can’t comment on Instagram posts. Here is a breakdown of the options available:

People You Follow and Your Followers: This option combines the last two. It allows both people you follow and those who follow you to comment on your posts.both people you follow and those who follow you to comment on your posts.

Everyone: Allowing everyone to comment means anyone with an Instagram account and active internet connection can comment on your posts. 

People You Follow: This option limits the ability to comment to only those you follow. When you unfollow someone, they lose the ability to comment on your posts, and vice versa. 

Your Followers: This option limits comments on Insta to the people who follow you. 

A male hand in front of two computer monitors holding a phone and looking at profile posts.

How To Remove Limited Accounts on Instagram

The last option we mentioned was “Change Privacy Settings.” This is useful if you want to know how to limit comments on Instagram from specific accounts. It’s also how to remove limited accounts on the Instagram app. This enables you to limit comments on Insta from accounts you’ve blocked, restricted, or muted. 

To access this option:

  1. Go to your profile page and click on any post you want to manage. 
  2. Then, click on the comment icon (the speech bubble icon) at the bottom of the post. 
  3. From there, click on the three-dotted line in the top-right corner of the Instagram comment section. 
  4. Then click Change Privacy Settings.” 

From this page, you can manage blocked, restricted or muted accounts. To remove an account from any of these categories, click “Remove” next to the account. It will then disappear from the list. Easy as that!

How To Limit Comments on IG Private Accounts

And lastly, how to limit comments on Instagram private accounts. The Instagram app also lets you set your account to private. This means only approved people can see and comment on your posts. To do this:

  1. Go to the “Privacy” settings on your profile.
  2.  Switch the “Private Account” option to “On.” 

Only people you approve of as followers can see and comment on your posts. It is a great way to limit comments on Insta, controlling who can see (and comment on) your posts.

How To Limit Comments on IG: The Final Word

Remember that you can control who gets to comment on your posts and how much access they have. Whether you want to block or filter specific accounts, change privacy settings, or set your account to private. How to limit comments on Instagram is an easy question to answer.

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FAQs

Now you have a better grasp of how to limit comments on Instagram. However, If you have other questions about the Instagram comment section, check out our frequently asked questions.  

Can I report abusive comments?

Yes, you can report comments that violate Instagram’s Community Guidelines. Simply: 

  • Select “Report” and choose the reason (e.g., “It’s offensive” or “It’s bullying”).
  • Tap the three dots next to the comment.

Can I delete all comments from my Instagram posts?

No, Instagram does not offer a feature where you can bulk delete comments. You will need to delete them one by one. However, to avoid this in future, you can turn off commenting altogether.

How do I turn off comments for Instagram reels or videos?

Turning off commenting on reels and videos is currently a similar process as regular posts. Follow the on-screen prompts to select who you would like your reel or video to reach.