How to turn off suggestions for you on Instagram

Instagram regularly displays profiles under the label “Suggested for you”. You cannot completely turn off these suggestions with a single button, but you can remove or limit them and show Instagram that there are certain people you would prefer not to see. You can do this by removing individual suggestions, switching off contact syncing, deleting shared contacts and checking your Facebook or Messenger connection.

This feature is designed to help you discover new people. However, it does not always feel useful. Sometimes you may see old acquaintances, colleagues, people you have deliberately chosen not to follow or profiles that simply do not interest you. Fortunately, you have more control than you might initially think.

In this guide, we clearly explain what suggested people are, how to remove them and which settings you can change to receive fewer unwanted suggestions.

What are “suggested people” on Instagram?

Suggested people are profiles that Instagram recommends based on what Instagram knows about your account and how you use the app. This does not necessarily mean that these people have searched for you. Instagram is mainly trying to predict which accounts might interest you.

You can find these suggestions in several places:

• Under “Suggested for you” when you follow someone.
• In your inbox, such as when you want to send a new message.
• On your profile page or while viewing other profiles.
• Under notifications from new accounts.
• In some cases, among recommendations for accounts similar to profiles you already follow.

Instagram may use information including:

• Mutual friends or followers.
• Your contacts, if you have shared them with Instagram.
• Accounts you view, follow, like or exchange messages with.
• Your connected Facebook or Messenger account.
• Your location and language settings.
• Your search history and accounts you frequently open.

This is also why suggestions can sometimes feel surprisingly close to home. If Instagram can access your contacts, or if your Facebook and Instagram accounts are connected, the app can more easily display people you know outside Instagram.

Can you remove suggested people on Instagram?

Yes, you can remove individual suggested people. Instagram usually provides a button beside the suggested profile. You might see an X, a three dots icon or the option “Not interested”. By tapping it, you tell Instagram that you no longer want to see that profile as a suggestion.

It is important to know that this removes one suggestion. It does not switch off every suggestion. Instagram can still recommend other profiles later, particularly if your contacts, searches or followers give it a reason to do so.

It is therefore best to think of this as tidying up while guiding Instagram. You remove what you do not want to see and give Instagram a small signal for future recommendations.

How do you remove “Suggested for you” on Instagram?

Do you want to remove a profile from “Suggested for you”? Follow these steps:

1. Open Instagram.
2. Go to your profile, inbox or the location where the suggestion appears.
3. Find the suggested profile that you want to remove.
4. Tap the X, the three dots icon or the option beside the name.
5. Select “Not interested”, “Remove” or a similar option.

Instagram will then be less likely to display that specific profile again. In many cases, the profile immediately disappears from the list. However, similar profiles may continue to appear if Instagram believes they match your interests.

Does the same person appear again anyway? Check whether that person is in your mobile contacts, whether you have searched for them before or whether you share many followers. Factors like these can cause Instagram to keep suggesting someone.

Can you turn off suggested people on Instagram?

There is no switch that allows you to completely turn off all suggested people on Instagram. You can, however, ensure that Instagram uses less information for suggestions. As a result, recommendations often become less personal and less noticeable.

The most important steps you can take are:

• Delete synced contacts.
• Switch off contact syncing.
• Disconnect your Facebook or Messenger account.
• Interact less with accounts you no longer want to see.
• Continue marking unwanted suggestions as “Not interested”.

1. Delete synced contacts

Instagram can use the contacts on your mobile to recommend people you may know. If you have previously allowed contact syncing, Instagram may suggest profiles belonging to people whose phone number or email address is saved on your device.

Here is how you can limit this:

1. Open Instagram and go to your profile.
2. Tap the menu in the top right corner.
3. Go to “Settings and privacy”.
4. Go to “Accounts Center”.
5. Look for settings concerning your information, permissions or contacts.
6. Switch off contact syncing.
7. Delete any contact information that has already been uploaded, if that option is available.

The exact menu names can change slightly because Instagram occasionally moves settings. If you cannot find the relevant option, search within the settings for terms such as “contacts”, “upload contacts” or “manage contacts”. For official guidance, you can also visit the Instagram Help Centre.

Please note that simply switching off contact syncing does not always delete contacts you shared previously straight away. You should also check whether you can separately remove uploaded contact information.

2. Disconnect Facebook and Messenger

A connected Facebook account can result in additional suggestions. Instagram and Facebook are both part of Meta, so linked accounts are sometimes used to display people you may know or similar profiles.

Here is how you can check this:

1. Open Instagram.
2. Go to your profile and tap the menu.
3. Open “Settings and privacy”.
4. Go to “Accounts Center”.
5. Tap your name or “Accounts”.
6. Check which Facebook or Messenger accounts are connected.
7. Remove the connection if you do not want this information used.

After disconnecting, you may still receive suggestions, but Instagram will have less information from Facebook on which to rely.

3. Adjust your behaviour

Instagram learns from your activity in the app. If you frequently view the profiles of people you do not actually want to see, similar accounts may continue to appear. Likes, comments, follows and searches also have an effect.

These actions can help make your suggestions less intrusive:

• Only follow accounts that genuinely interest you.
• Stop viewing profiles that you no longer want to receive as suggestions.
• Like fewer posts from accounts that are not relevant to you.
• Use “Not interested” more often for unwanted suggestions.
• Remove searches that you no longer want to see again.

Would you also like to tidy up your search suggestions? You can do this in your Instagram settings by clearing your search history. This can be particularly useful if the same names continue to appear as soon as you type something in the search bar.

How can I turn off suggested people on Instagram?

You cannot switch them off completely, but you can significantly limit the recommendations. It is best to adjust several settings at the same time. Removing a single suggestion helps at that moment, but it does not immediately change the information Instagram uses as the basis for its suggestions.

Use this brief checklist:

• Delete contacts that you have shared with Instagram.
• Switch off contact syncing so that new contacts are not uploaded again.
• Disconnect your Facebook account from Instagram if you want fewer suggestions from your Facebook network.
• Unfollow accounts that are not relevant to you.
• Avoid repeatedly viewing unwanted profiles.
• Select “Not interested” for every unwanted suggestion.

Then allow some time for the changes to take effect. Instagram does not always update suggestions everywhere simultaneously. You might still see older names in your inbox while receiving fewer suggestions elsewhere.

How do you remove suggestions based on contacts?

Suggestions based on contacts generally appear because you have given Instagram access to the contacts on your mobile. This allows the app to suggest people whose phone number or email address is saved in your contact list, or vice versa.

This is generally how to remove these contacts:

1. Go to your profile.
2. Tap the menu in the top right corner.
3. Open “Settings and privacy”.
4. Go to “Accounts Center”.
5. Look for “Manage contacts” or “Upload contacts”.
6. Delete all synced contacts.
7. Then switch off contact syncing.

This means that people in your mobile contacts will no longer be automatically suggested in the same way. Some people may still appear, such as when you have mutual followers or have previously viewed their profile.

You should also check the Instagram permissions on your mobile. On iPhone and Android, you can often control whether Instagram can access your contacts through your device settings. Removing that access reduces the chance of accidentally sharing your contacts again.

Why do I keep seeing suggested people?

Even after you remove suggestions or delete contacts, Instagram can continue to display new profiles. This is because Instagram does not consider only one factor. The app evaluates several signals at the same time.

You may continue to see suggested people because of:

• Accounts you frequently view or search for.
• Profiles you chat with, comment on or whose posts you like.
• Mutual followers or friends.
• Contact information that has not yet been completely removed.
• A Facebook connection that remains active.
• New accounts that Instagram considers similar to accounts you already follow.

New users, updated profiles and popular accounts in your area can also cause different suggestions to appear. This does not mean that your settings are not working. It mainly means that Instagram is continually trying to fill new recommendation positions.

If you genuinely do not want to encounter a specific person again, you can block them. This is a stronger action than removing a suggestion. Use blocking mainly when you are certain that you no longer want contact or visibility between you and that person.

Suggestions in Direct Messages, DMs

Instagram sometimes displays suggestions when you want to send a new private message. You might see names on your DM screen even if you do not intend to message that person.

These suggestions may be based on:

• Your contacts.
• Mutual followers.
• Your search history.
• People you have chatted with previously.
• Accounts you frequently open.

The same principle applies here: completely removing everything is generally not possible, but you can limit it.

• Switch off contact syncing.
• Delete contacts that were previously synced.
• Remove searches that continue to appear.
• Do not message accounts that you do not want to see in your suggestions.
• Use “Not interested” wherever Instagram provides that option.

If an old chat or name keeps appearing, deleting the conversation and clearing your search history may help. Remember that Instagram may continue to display suggestions if you have many mutual connections.

Frequently asked questions, FAQ

How do you remove Suggested for you on Instagram?

Tap the X, the three dots menu or the option beside the profile, then select “Not interested” or “Remove”. The profile will then disappear from that suggestion list.

How can I turn off suggested people on Instagram?

You cannot switch them off completely. You can limit suggestions by deleting contacts, switching off contact syncing, disconnecting Facebook and interacting less with profiles that you no longer want to see.

Why do new suggestions appear after removing old ones?

Instagram continues to suggest new profiles based on what you like, view, follow and search for. Mutual followers, contacts and connected accounts may also have an influence.

Can I block someone to prevent suggestions?

Yes, blocked users generally no longer appear as suggestions. Blocking is particularly useful if you are certain that you do not want to see that person again or allow them to view your profile.

Are suggested contacts the same as search results?

No. Search results appear when you enter something in the search bar. Suggested contacts are recommendations that Instagram displays automatically, such as in your inbox, on profiles or under “Suggested for you”.

Can someone see that I removed them from my suggestions?

No. If you remove a suggested profile or select “Not interested”, that person will not receive a notification.

What you can do to limit Instagram suggestions

The “Suggested for you” feature on Instagram is based on information Instagram has about your account, contacts and activity. You can remove individual suggestions, but you cannot completely switch off the feature permanently.

By managing your settings carefully, you can gain much more control. Switching off contact syncing, deleting shared contacts and checking your Facebook connection can often make a noticeable difference.

If you want to tidy up more than your suggestions, reviewing your followers can also help. For guidance, read our article on how to delete all followers on Instagram in a considered and efficient way.

Would you also like to take a more considered approach to your own profile? Explore our Instagram services. Many users combine a tidy profile with greater visibility, such as when they buy Instagram followers, buy Instagram likes or buy Instagram views.

The best approach is straightforward: remove unwanted suggestions when you see them, switch off unnecessary connections and pay attention to the profiles you frequently view. This makes Instagram feel calmer, more relevant and less likely to display people you would prefer not to keep encountering.