Real talk? I used to follow like 800 accounts. My feed was chaos – cooking videos, political rants, cat memes, and my cousin’s baby photos all fighting for attention. Then I realized half these accounts made me annoyed or distracted. Sound familiar? That’s when I finally learned how to unfollow people properly. Turns out, figuring out how do i unfollow someone on instagram is simple once you know the ropes, but Instagram doesn’t exactly advertise how.
Exactly How to Unfollow Any Account (iOS, Android & Desktop)
Funny how Instagram makes following one-tap but hides unfollowing. Here’s what actually works in 2024:
Unfollowing on Your Phone
| iOS Steps | Android Steps |
|---|---|
| 1. Open Instagram and find the profile | 1. Navigate to the user's profile page |
| 2. Tap "Following" (blue button) | 2. Press the "Following" button |
| 3. Hit "Unfollow" instantly | 3. Select "Unfollow" immediately |
| No confirmation pop-up! It disappears immediately | |
Honestly, Android users sometimes tell me they see an extra confirmation step. Never happens on my iPhone though – wonder why?
Unfollowing on Instagram Website
Desktop users, you’ve got it easiest:
- Go to the profile
- Look for the "Following" button near their bio
- Click it → "Unfollow" appears → Click again
Yeah, it’s two clicks instead of one. Mildly annoying when cleaning up 50+ accounts.
Pro Tip: That tiny "Following" button? It’s Instagram’s psychological trick. They made it passive so you forget you can leave. Sneaky.
What Actually Happens When You Unfollow?
Let’s clear up paranoia:
- No Notification: Instagram absolutely does NOT alert them (tested this with my sibling’s account)
- They Might Notice: If they manually check their followers? Yeah. But busy accounts? Unlikely.
- Your Past Likes: Stay on their posts forever unless you remove them
- DMs Remain: Your message history stays intact in both inboxes
My ex-colleague unfollowed me last month. Only noticed because I was checking who engaged with my vacation post. Felt weird but life moves on.
When to Unfollow vs. Mute (The Smart Choice)
| Situation | Unfollow | Mute |
|---|---|---|
| Your boss posts 10x/day | 🚫 Too risky | ✅ Hide posts/stories secretly |
| Annoying meme account | ✅ Who cares? | 🚫 Why mute strangers? |
| Your best friend’s baby spam | 🚫 Friendship fallout | ✅ Silence stories temporarily |
How to mute? On their profile → Tap ⋮ → "Mute". Lifesaver for weddings where you’re forced to follow relatives.
Cleaning Up Your Following List Fast
Want to unfollow 100+ accounts? Brace yourself:
- Instagram’s Limit: Max ~200 unfollows/day before temporary blocks
- Manual Sorting: Go to Your Profile → Following → Scroll forever
- Third-Party Apps: Apps like "Cleaner for IG" help (but risk account flags)
Tried mass-unfollowing last year. Got blocked after 3 hours. Instagram thought I was a bot. Not worth it.
Why Unfollow Anyway? Valid Reasons
- "They post 30 stories a day and I miss important stuff"
- "My feed feels negative after their political rants"
- "We broke up 6 months ago and it’s painful seeing their posts"
- "I followed for a giveaway and forgot"
Don’t feel guilty. My feed improved massively after unfollowing 200 inactive accounts.
Warning: Unfollowing then refollowing repeatedly? Instagram might freeze your account. Seen it happen to influencers.
FAQ: Real Questions People Actually Ask
Can they see I unfollowed if we have mutual friends?
Only if they stalk your profile or use follower-tracking apps. Otherwise, nope.
Do I disappear from their followers list immediately?
Yes! Instantly. But cached data might show you for a few hours.
How do I unfollow someone without blocking?
Just unfollow normally! Blocking is separate and more aggressive.
What if I accidentally unfollow?
Go back to their profile → Tap "Follow" again. No harm done.
Can businesses tell if I unfollow them?
Analytics tools show follower drops, but not who left. So probably not.
My Personal Unfollowing Strategy
Every 3 months, I:
- Check accounts I haven’t liked/commented on in 60 days
- Unfollow brands I haven’t bought from
- Mute overly active friends instead of unfollowing
Last cleanup: Unfollowed 37 accounts. Zero regrets. My feed is now just travel photos and cooking videos. Bliss.
What Nobody Tells You About Unfollowing
Instagram’s algorithm punishes inactive relationships. If you never engage with an account? Their posts disappear anyway. So unfollowing just makes it official.
Searched "how do i unfollow someone on instagram" for this guide? Bet you found outdated info saying there’s a confirmation pop-up. There isn’t anymore. Instagram changes things constantly.
Final thought: Social media should serve you. Curating your following isn’t rude – it’s self-care. Now go fix that feed.
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