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 them, limit them and show Instagram that there are certain people you would prefer not to see. You can do this by removing individual suggestions, turning off contact syncing, deleting shared contacts and checking your Facebook or Messenger connection.<\/p>\n\n
This feature is designed to help you discover new people. However, it does not always feel useful. Sometimes you see former acquaintances, colleagues, people you intentionally do not follow or profiles that simply do not interest you. Fortunately, you have more control than you might think at first.<\/p>\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n
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 searched for you. Instagram is mainly trying to predict which accounts might interest you.<\/p>\n\n
You can find these suggestions in several places:<\/p>\n\n
Instagram may use information such as:<\/p>\n\n
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 show you people you know outside Instagram.<\/p>\n\n
Yes, you can remove individual suggested people. Instagram usually provides a button next to 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.<\/p>\n\n
It is important to know that this removes only one suggestion. It does not turn off all suggestions. Instagram can still suggest other profiles later, especially if your contacts, searches or followers give it a reason to do so.<\/p>\n\n
It is best to think of this as cleaning up while guiding Instagram. You remove what you do not want to see and give Instagram a small signal for future recommendations.<\/p>\n\n
Want to remove a profile from “Suggested for you”? Follow these steps:<\/p>\n\n
Instagram will then be less likely to display that specific profile again. In many cases, the profile disappears from the list immediately. However, similar profiles may continue to appear if Instagram believes they match your interests.<\/p>\n\n
Does the same person still come back? Check whether that person is in your phone contacts, whether you searched for them before or whether you share many mutual followers. Factors like these can cause Instagram to keep suggesting someone.<\/p>\n\n
There is no switch that allows you to completely turn off all suggested people on Instagram. However, you can make sure Instagram uses less information for suggestions. As a result, the recommendations often become less personal and less noticeable.<\/p>\n\n
The most important actions you can take are:<\/p>\n\n
Instagram can use your phone contacts to recommend people you might know. If you previously allowed contact syncing, Instagram may suggest profiles belonging to people whose phone number or email address is saved on your phone.<\/p>\n\n
Here is how to limit this:<\/p>\n\n
The exact menu names may change slightly because Instagram moves settings occasionally. If you cannot find the setting, search for terms such as “contacts”, “upload contacts” or “manage contacts” within the settings. For official instructions, you can also visit the Instagram Help Center<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n Keep in mind that if you only turn off contact syncing, contacts you shared earlier may not be deleted immediately. You should also check whether you can remove uploaded contact information separately.<\/p>\n\n A connected Facebook account can result in additional suggestions. Instagram and Facebook are both part of Meta, so linked accounts are sometimes used to show people you might know or similar profiles.<\/p>\n\n Here is how to check:<\/p>\n\n After disconnecting, you may still receive suggestions, but Instagram will have less information from Facebook to use.<\/p>\n\n Instagram learns from your activity in the app. If you frequently view profiles belonging to people you do not actually want to see, similar accounts may continue to appear. Likes, comments, follows and searches also play a role.<\/p>\n\n These steps can help make your suggestions less intrusive:<\/p>\n\n Want to clean up your search suggestions as well? You can do this in your Instagram settings by clearing your search history. This can be especially helpful if the same names keep returning as soon as you type something in the search bar.<\/p>\n\n You cannot turn 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 to make suggestions.<\/p>\n\n Use this short checklist:<\/p>\n\n Then allow some time for the changes to take effect. Instagram does not always update suggestions everywhere at once. You may still see older names in your inbox while receiving fewer suggestions elsewhere.<\/p>\n\n Suggestions based on contacts usually appear because you gave Instagram access to your phone contacts. This allows the app to suggest people whose phone number or email address is saved in your contact list, or vice versa.<\/p>\n\n This is usually how you remove these contacts:<\/p>\n\n This means that people from your phone contacts will no longer be suggested automatically in the same way. Some people may still appear, such as when you have mutual followers or previously viewed their profile.<\/p>\n\n Also review the Instagram permissions on your phone. 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 contacts again.<\/p>\n\n Even after you remove suggestions or delete contacts, Instagram can still display new profiles. This is because Instagram considers more than one factor. The app evaluates several signals at the same time.<\/p>\n\n You may continue seeing suggested people because of:<\/p>\n\n New users, updated profiles and popular accounts in your area can also cause different suggestions to appear again. This does not mean your settings are not working. It mainly means Instagram is continually trying to fill new recommendation spaces.<\/p>\n\n If you definitely do not want to encounter a specific person again, you can block them. This is a stronger action than removing a suggestion. Use blocking primarily when you are sure you no longer want contact or visibility between you and that person.<\/p>\n\n Instagram sometimes displays suggestions when you want to send a new private message. You may see names on your DM screen even if you do not intend to message that person.<\/p>\n\n These suggestions may be based on:<\/p>\n\n The same principle applies here: completely removing everything is usually not possible, but you can limit it.<\/p>\n\n If an old chat or name keeps appearing, deleting the conversation and clearing your search history may help. Remember that Instagram may still display suggestions if you have many mutual connections.<\/p>\n\n Tap the X, the three dots menu or the option beside the profile, and then choose “Not interested” or “Remove”. The profile will then disappear from that suggestion list.<\/p>\n\n You cannot turn them off completely. You can limit suggestions by deleting contacts, turning off contact syncing, disconnecting Facebook and reducing interactions with profiles you no longer want to see.<\/p>\n\n Instagram continues suggesting new profiles based on what you like, view, follow and search for. Mutual followers, contacts and connected accounts can also influence these suggestions.<\/p>\n\n Yes, blocked users usually stop appearing as suggestions. Blocking is especially useful when you are sure you no longer want to see that person or allow them to view your profile.<\/p>\n\n 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”.<\/p>\n\n No. If you remove a suggested profile or choose “Not interested”, that person does not receive a notification.<\/p>\n\n 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 permanently turn off the feature completely.<\/p>\n\n By managing your settings carefully, you can gain much more control. Turning off contact syncing, deleting shared contacts and reviewing your Facebook connection often make a noticeable difference.<\/p>\n\n2. Disconnect Facebook and Messenger<\/h3>\n\n
\n
3. Adjust your behaviour<\/h3>\n\n
\n
How can I turn off suggested people on Instagram?<\/h2>\n\n
\n
How do you remove suggestions based on contacts?<\/h2>\n\n
\n
Why do I keep seeing suggested people?<\/h2>\n\n
\n
Suggestions in Direct Messages, DMs<\/h2>\n\n
\n
\n
Frequently asked questions, FAQ<\/h2>\n\n
How do you remove Suggested for you on Instagram?<\/h3>\n\n
How can I turn off suggested people on Instagram?<\/h3>\n\n
Why do new suggestions appear after removing old ones?<\/h3>\n\n
Can I block someone to prevent suggestions?<\/h3>\n\n
Are suggested contacts the same as search results?<\/h3>\n\n
Can someone see that I removed them from my suggestions?<\/h3>\n\n
What you can do to limit Instagram suggestions<\/h2>\n\n