You can't unfollow everyone on Instagram at once: there's no bulk unfollow button, and Instagram's help only describes unfollowing one account at a time. The fastest safe way is your Following list, tapping Following next to each name. Avoid mass-unfollow apps, because Instagram warns they can take full control of your account.
I know that's not the answer you wanted, but it's the honest one. Instagram has never offered a select-all option for the accounts you follow, and the apps that promise one want your login details, which is exactly what Instagram's help centre tells you never to hand over. The good news is that with the right method, you can clear a few hundred accounts in one sitting without putting your account at risk.
The fastest manual method
Working from your own Following list beats opening every profile. Here's how I'd do it:
- Go to your profile and tap Following at the top.
- Scroll the list. Next to each account there's a Following button.
- Tap it, confirm Unfollow if asked, and move on to the next one.
- Work in batches of a few dozen, then close the app and come back later.
- Check your Following total afterwards to make sure the unfollows stuck.
Instagram doesn't tell anyone when you unfollow them, so there's no flood of notifications going out while you work. You're the only one who sees the cleanup happening.
Why batches matter
Instagram does put temporary limits on accounts that repeat some actions too often. Its help pages mention it for flipping between public and private, and heavy unfollowing at speed looks a lot like the automated behaviour Instagram fights. If an unfollow suddenly doesn't go through, stop, leave it for a while, and pick up later. Pushing through is how a temporary limit becomes a longer one.
Why mass unfollow apps are a bad idea
Search the app stores and you'll find plenty of tools promising to unfollow everyone in one tap. Here's what Instagram's own help pages say about apps that ask for your login:
| What the app asks for | What Instagram says can happen |
|---|---|
| Your username and password, or an access token | The app can gain complete access to your account, see your private messages and post spam |
| Permission to act on your behalf | Instagram may remove activity it generated and limit parts of your account |
| Continued use | Your account may be disabled or terminated |
| Automated actions on your account | Instagram restricts accounts for data scraping, and handing your password to a third-party app is one listed trigger |
Instagram's warning is aimed at apps that sell likes and followers, but the mechanism's identical: you hand over your password and the app acts as you. If you've already used one, Instagram's advice is to change your password and remove the app from your connected apps.
Do you need to unfollow everyone?
Before you spend an evening tapping, it's worth asking what you're trying to fix. A full wipe is the right call for some problems and overkill for others.
| Your goal | Better option |
|---|---|
| A cleaner feed | Mute accounts you keep scrolling past. Instagram won't tell them, and you can unmute later |
| You've hit the following limit | Instagram caps following at 7,500, so unfollow inactive and spam accounts first rather than everyone |
| A fresh start for a rebrand | Unfollow in batches, keeping clients, partners and people you talk to |
| You want a break from Instagram | Deactivate instead of unfollowing everyone |
| You followed hundreds of giveaway accounts | Use shared activity to find accounts you've never interacted with and start there |
That last tip deserves a moment. In your Following list, tap Options (the three dots) next to an account and choose See shared activity. Instagram shows how long you've followed them and any likes, comments or tags between you. No shared activity at all usually means it's safe to let them go. It only works in the mobile app and on iPad.
If what you really want is time away, my guide on how to deactivate your Instagram account is a cleaner route than unfollowing everyone and following them all again later.
How to unfollow multiple people without losing the ones that matter
When you're unfollowing in bulk, it's easy to drop someone you'd rather keep. A simple order of work stops that:
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- Start with obvious spam, giveaway and inactive accounts.
- Next, brands and creators you no longer care about.
- Then accounts you've followed for years without any shared activity.
- Leave friends, family, clients and partners to last, and decide case by case.
For anyone in that last group, muting is often kinder than unfollowing. You get the quiet feed you're after, and nobody notices they've gone from your list.
Rebuilding after a big clear-out
If you're unfollowing everyone because the account's changing direction, plan who you'll follow next before you start. A Following list of zero looks odd on a business profile. Follow the people and brands that fit the new focus, and spend time engaging with them rather than just following. My guide to growing followers without posting every day walks through that side of it.
My verdict
There's no shortcut, and I'd stay well away from any app that claims to be one. Do it manually from your Following list, in batches, starting with spam and inactive accounts. Mute rather than unfollow the people you'd miss. It's slower, but your account's still yours at the end of it, and that's worth a couple of evenings.
Frequently asked questions
Can you unfollow everyone on Instagram at once?
No. Instagram has no bulk unfollow button, and its help centre only describes unfollowing accounts one at a time.
How do I unfollow multiple people on Instagram quickly?
Go to your profile, tap Following, and tap the Following button next to each account. Work in batches and take breaks so Instagram doesn't limit your account.
Are mass unfollow apps safe?
Instagram warns that apps asking for your login details can gain complete access to your account, and using them can lead to your account being limited, disabled or terminated.
Will people know I unfollowed them?
Instagram doesn't notify people when you unfollow them, though they may notice you're missing from their followers list.
What's the maximum number of accounts I can follow on Instagram?
Instagram doesn't allow anyone to follow more than 7,500 people, to help reduce spam.
