IG Likes Not Showing: Privacy Settings, Tech Issues and More

For many people, likes on Instagram are the key measure of how successful their posts are. The higher the number on your post’s like counter, the more confident and proud you are of your content. But imagine using likes as a source of validation only to face the dreadful issue of IG likes not showing. Suddenly, the app isn’t showing you how many people liked you and other people’s posts anymore. What’s happening, and how can you fix it?

There are a few possible reasons why you can’t see the Instagram like count on posts. Some reasons have to do with your privacy settings, while others are technical issues you can troubleshoot. Keep reading our guide to learn all the possible reasons you can’t see likes and how to fix each one.

Why Does My IG Not Show Likes?

There are many reasons why this can happen, but typically, it’s because you have the “hide like count” setting on.

In 2021, Instagram started allowing users to hide the like count not just on their posts, but other people’s, too. Meta—which owns Instagram—said in a statement that this was to give people more control over their Instagram experience. They said it was meant to “depressurize” their time on the app. Instead of focusing on getting as many likes as possible, people could simply have fun with their content. It was an amazing move for many Instagram users’ mental health.

So today, the platform’s users can switch on a setting that hides like counts. With this setting switched on, you won’t see the absolute number of people who have liked a post underneath it. Instead, you’ll only see just a few names with the phrase “and others” afterward.

You can still see who likes what on Instagram by clicking on the like section of a post. This shows you the list of people who liked it. However, this list will no longer show every single person who tapped the heart icon on that post.

Suddenly can’t see the usual like counts on posts and wonder, “Why does my IG not show likes?” There’s a high chance that it might be because you left the “hide like count” setting on. But don’t worry, it’s easy to switch it back off—just keep reading!

How To Not Show Likes on IG (Or Turn Them Back on Again)

Interested in hiding likes on Instagram (or making them visible again)? Here’s how to tweak the hidden likes setting according to your preference:

1. Open the Instagram app.

2. Click your profile photo in the lower-right corner of the screen to go to your profile.

3. Tap the hamburger menu (aka the three horizontal lines) at the top-right corner. This will open your personal Instagram settings.

4. Scroll until you see the “What you see” section. Under that, tap Like and share counts.

5. Switch on the toggle marked as Hide like and share counts.

With this toggle turned on, you won’t be able to see the numerical like count under other people’s posts. This also gives you the ability to hide your own like count on individual posts. Here’s how to do it right before you publish a post on your feed:

1. Import a photo or video you want to post and customize your caption, location, music, and more.

2. At the bottom of the “New post” page, click Advanced settings.

3. Switch on the toggle labeled Hide like and view counts on this post.

You can also switch off the like count retroactively for a post you’ve already published. Here’s how:

1. Open the Instagram app

2. Go to your feed and look for the individual post whose likes you want to hide.

3. Click the three dots on the upper-right corner of the post.

4. Select Hide like count.

And that’s how to not show likes on IG posts you publish. Easy right? Well, allowing others to see the likes again on the feed is even simpler. Just go back to these post and profile settings and toggle off the Hide like count switch.

IG Likes Not Showing: Other Possible Technical Reasons and What To Do

Are you seeing the like counter on your posts but not seeing the updated like count? For this situation, there are many technical reasons that could explain IG not showing likes in real time. Here are three of them and how you can fix each one.

1. You Have a Weak Internet Connection

If you have slow internet speed, your device might not be able to fetch and load the latest Instagram data. So, you may not see your updated like count right away.

A quick way to check whether you’re connected to a stable internet source is to refresh your Instagram app. At the top of the homepage, do a long downward swipe to refresh the page. If it doesn’t successfully refresh the page, you may be having internet issues.

Move closer to your Wi-Fi router or switch to a stronger, more stable connection altogether. With a faster internet speed, you’ll be able to see your updated like count. 

2. You’re Experiencing Performance Issues From an Outdated App

Instagram regularly comes out with updated versions of the app to fix glitches and bugs. If you’re experiencing performance issues, there’s a chance it’s because you’re using an outdated app.

If you have unexplainable performance and display issues on Instagram, double-check what version you’re on. If there’s a more recent version of the app available, download it immediately and check on your post’s like count again. Hopefully, it fixes the issue so you can see your updated likes.

3. There Are Temporary Server Issues on Instagram’s End

Sometimes, the issue with not seeing your likes might not even be in your control at all. Occasionally, Instagram will have temporary issues with its servers. These might be due to anything from regular maintenance updates to extremely high traffic. Users might not be able to load certain pages on the app.

If you can’t see likes due to server problems, all you can do is wait until Instagram irons it out. Check Instagram’s other social channels to see updates on server issues. You can look at sites like DownDetector or forums like Reddit to see real-time updates from other users, too.

Frequently Asked Questions

Get More Likes on Your Posts (Invisible or Not) With Path Social!

It’s easy to get caught up in why you can’t see likes on posts on Instagram. After all, for many people, driving plenty of likes is the ultimate goal on the platform.

But it’s also important to work hard to actually get those likes to begin with. Just because there’s a way to hide your likes, it doesn’t mean you should slack on driving engagement on posts. That’s something we at Path Social can help with.

We use a proprietary targeting algorithm to help promote your content to your key target audience. That promotes not just visibility and rapid follower growth for your page but engagement for your content, too. That means you’ll see more likes on your posts. Even when facing issues like IG likes not showing, you can rest assured these real followers engage with your content. Get loyal, engaged, 100% real followers on Instagram with Path Social today!