Go to the person's profile, tap Following, tap Mute and switch Notes off. If your version doesn't list Notes there, check Settings > Muted accounts, or press and hold the note area at the top of your inbox.
Unmuting is silent. The person isn't told when you mute their notes, and they aren't told when you unmute them either, so you can change it as often as you like without anyone knowing.
Notes are the short updates that sit at the top of your DM inbox, above your chats. They expire after 24 hours (Instagram Help Center), so once you've unmuted someone, you'll see their next note rather than anything they posted while they were muted.
How notes get muted without you noticing
A lot of people searching for this never meant to mute anyone. Pressing and holding a note brings up a short menu, and Mute notes is right there. It only takes a slightly long tap while scrolling your inbox to hit it.
The other common route is muting someone's posts or stories from their profile and switching Notes off at the same time without reading the list. Either way, nothing on your screen tells you their notes are muted. They just stop appearing, and it's easy to assume the person has stopped posting them.
So if one friend's notes have vanished while everyone else's still show, a mute is the first thing I'd check. It takes less than a minute to rule out.
Unmute notes from the person's profile
- Tap the search icon and find the person, or tap their name in a chat, to open their profile.
- Tap the Following button under their bio.
- Tap Mute.
- Switch Notes off. Leave Posts and Stories as they are if you still want those muted.
- Go back to your inbox. Their next note will show at the top with everyone else's.
Some versions of Instagram don't show Notes in that Mute list yet. If it's missing, use the muted accounts list below, or go to your inbox and press and hold the space where their note would appear to see your options.
Unmute from your muted accounts list
This route is handy when you can't remember who you muted, because the list shows everyone in one place.
- Go to your profile and tap the menu (three lines) in the top corner to open Settings.
- Find Muted accounts. Scrolling works, but typing 'muted' into the settings search is quicker.
- Tap the person you want to unmute.
- Turn off the mutes you no longer want, including Notes if it's listed.
While you're in that list, read every name on it. It's easy to find an account you muted ages ago and forgot about, and this is a good moment to decide whether you still want each mute in place or would rather unmute, unfollow or leave things as they are.
Instagram moves settings around between updates. If a menu name looks different in your version, search the app's settings for the key word, such as 'muted' or 'notes'.
What a mute hides, and what it leaves alone
Muting someone on Instagram isn't one switch. It's a set of separate switches, which is why people unmute one thing and still miss another.
| Content | Hidden by a profile mute? | Where to change it |
|---|---|---|
| Posts | Yes, if you muted posts | Their profile > Following > Mute |
| Stories | Yes, if you muted stories | Their profile > Following > Mute |
| Notes | Yes, if you muted notes | Their profile > Following > Mute, or press and hold their note |
| Messages | No, messages have their own mute | Inside the chat, tap their name and look for the mute option |
The part people miss: unmuting their notes does nothing to a muted chat, and muting a chat does nothing to their notes. If you can't hear from someone and you can't see their notes either, check both places.
Unmuted but still no note?
If you've switched the mute off and their note still isn't showing, one of these is usually why:
- They haven't posted a note. Not everyone uses them, and there's nothing to show until they do.
- It's expired. Notes disappear after 24 hours, so a note from yesterday may already be gone. If you're wondering where older ones go, here's whether you can see old Instagram notes again.
- They share notes only with Close Friends. If you're not on that list, their note won't show for you.
- They share notes only with followers they follow back. If they don't follow you, you won't see it.
- Your app needs updating. Close it, update it from your app store and open your inbox again.
If a note isn't meant for you, there's no setting that changes that, and that's how it should be. Choosing an audience for a note is the poster's call. You can do the same with yours, and here's how hiding your Instagram notes from one person works if you'd like to.
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Muting notes again, or just one chat
Changed your mind? Muting someone's notes is just as quiet as unmuting them. Press and hold their note at the top of your inbox and tap Mute notes. Their notes stop appearing for you, and they're not told.
If it's the messages that are bothering you rather than the notes, mute the chat instead. Open the conversation, tap their name at the top and look for the option to mute messages. Their notes stay visible and their messages stop buzzing your phone.
And if you want to see less of someone across the board, you can mute posts, stories and notes together from their profile, without unfollowing them.
My take
If it were my account, I'd use mute rather than unfollow for anyone I see too much of, because it's quiet and easy to undo. Then I'd check Muted accounts every few months, since it's easy to forget who's in there.
For a business account, I'd be careful about muting customers or collaborators at all. Their notes are often where you'll spot a quick question, a launch or a good moment to say hello, and you'll miss all of that if they're muted and forgotten.
Related guides live in the Instagram Help: 81 Guides to Followers, Hashtags, Money, Accounts and Fixes.
Frequently asked questions
Does someone know if I unmute their notes on Instagram?
No. Instagram doesn't tell people when you mute or unmute them, so unmuting their notes is completely silent.
Why isn't Notes in the Mute menu on their profile?
Some versions don't show it there yet. Check Settings > Muted accounts, or press and hold the note area at the top of your inbox to see your options.
Does muting notes also mute their messages?
No. Messages have their own mute inside the chat. Muting or unmuting notes doesn't change it.
Can I unmute notes for everyone at once?
There isn't one switch for everyone. Open Settings > Muted accounts and unmute each person you want to hear from again.
How long do Instagram notes last?
Notes expire after 24 hours, according to Instagram's Help Center. After that they're no longer shown at the top of the inbox.
