Whether you’re using Instagram on an Android or an iPhone, the goal is to make your scrolling easy and fun. But sometimes, you might feel overwhelmed by all the ads, celebrity news, and random stuff that pops up, making it hard to keep up with your actual friends. This guide will show you how to tweak your Instagram feed so you can focus more on the people you really care about, like seeing posts from your friends or marking them as favorites, without all the extra noise.
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See only posts from people you’re following on Instagram
Instagram gets that sometimes you just want to see the latest stuff from the people you follow, in the order they posted it. They have this “Following” feed option for that. It switches your feed from showing you things based on what you like to just showing you posts from the people you follow, one after the other.
Accessing the “following” feed
- Open your Instagram app.
- Click on the Instagram logo at the top left of your screen.
- A menu drops down; pick “Following” from there.
After you choose “Following,” your feed will update to show you the newest posts from your friends. This is the simplest way to make sure you’re catching up with your friends’ lives without the algorithm deciding what you should see first.
Prioritizing content with Instagram’s “Favorites”
Besides the “Following” tab that shows everything in order, Instagram has a “Favorites” feature. It lets you pick certain accounts whose posts you want to see more often.
How to use the “Favorites” feature
- Open Instagram and tap on the Instagram logo at the top of your home feed.
- In the dropdown menu, look for “Favorites” and select it.
- If it’s your first time, Instagram will ask you to add accounts by tapping “Add to Favorites”.
- You can add people by searching for them or choosing from a suggested list.
Once you’ve got your “Favorites” list set, you can check out their posts in the “Favorites” feed, starting with the newest. Their posts will also show up higher in your regular feed with a star on them, making it easier to spot updates from your best buds.
Instagram keeps it cool by not telling people when they’re added or removed from your “Favorites,” so you can adjust your list anytime without any awkwardness.
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Creating a “Close Friends” list for stories
Instagram Stories let you see what your friends are doing right now. But with so many stories to watch, you might miss the ones from your closest friends. Instagram’s “Close Friends” feature helps you fix that by letting you make a private list for the stories you really don’t want to miss.
How to create a “Close Friends” list on Instagram
- Go to your profile by tapping the profile icon at the bottom right.
- Tap the menu icon at the top right, then choose “Close Friends” from the menu.
- You’ll see some suggestions, but you can also look for friends on your own.
- Add them to your “Close Friends” list by hitting the “Add” button next to their name.
Once you’ve got your “Close Friends” list, you’ll see a green ring around their stories, making them stand out. When you post a story, you can choose to share it just with your “Close Friends,” making your sharing a bit more private.
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Using Instagram’s mute feature to tailor your feed
If your feed feels too crowded, Instagram’s mute feature lets you hide posts or stories from people you’re not as interested in, without having to unfollow them. It’s a neat way to keep your feed focused on friends.
How to mute a person on Instagram
- Find a post from the person you want to mute.
- Tap the three dots at the top right of the post.
- Choose “Mute” from the menu.
- Decide if you want to mute their posts, stories, or both.
Muting someone means you can still see their profile and posts whenever you want, but they won’t clutter your feed. And they won’t know you’ve muted them, so it’s a polite way to manage what you see.
Setting up notifications for friends’ posts
If you really don’t want to miss anything from your close friends, you can turn on notifications for their posts. This way, you’ll get a heads-up every time they share something new.
How to turn on post notifications for a friend
- Visit your friend’s profile page.
- Tap the “Following” button.
- In the menu, click “Notifications”.
- Turn on notifications for “Posts”, “Stories”, and “IGTV” as you like.
With notifications on, you won’t miss updates from your friends. Just remember, it might get a bit much if you follow a lot of people.
Managing your follow list for a curated feed
To make sure you mostly see posts from your friends, take a look at who you’re following and maybe unfollow people or accounts you’re not interested in anymore.
Steps to curate your follow list
- Head to your profile by clicking the profile icon at the bottom right.
- Tap “Following” to see everyone you’re following.
- Go through the list and unfollow anyone you’re not keen on following anymore.
Cleaning up your follow list helps the Instagram algorithm show you more of what you like, namely your friends’ posts. It’s a good idea to periodically review this list to keep your feed relevant.
Is it possible to adjust how Instagram show contents on your home feed?
A lot of Instagram users wonder if they can change what shows up in their feed. The short answer is yes. The Instagram algorithm tries to show you stuff you’ll like, based on how you interact with posts. By knowing how it works, you can tweak your feed to see more from your friends.
Engage with your friends’ content
- Like their posts by double-tapping or pressing the heart icon.
- Leave comments on their posts.
- Share their posts with others or on your story.
- Save their posts by tapping the bookmark icon.
By interacting with your friends’ posts, you tell Instagram’s algorithm that you value these connections, helping their content show up higher in your feed.
Here’s the point
For most Instagram users, just hopping over to the “Following” tab is the easiest way to catch the latest from people they’re following in real-time, free from algorithmic sorting. If you’re looking for a more curated experience, adding friends to your “Favorites” list bumps their posts up in your main feed and fills the “Favorites” tab with just their updates, creating a personalized spot for you to enjoy.
Remember, though, Instagram doesn’t have a way to show posts only from your followers right now. The focus is more on whom you follow and your interactions, shaping your social experience based on what you like and engage with.
