How To Unread Messages On Instagram

As an active Instagram user, I’ve found myself in situations where I have opened messages I didn’t intend to read, or I wanted to keep the conversation unread to attend to it later. Luckily, Instagram has a feature that allows you to unmark messages as read. In this article, I will take you through the process of unreading messages on Instagram and other related topics.

Understanding Instagram Messages

Instagram messages, commonly referred to as Direct Messages (DMs), are private conversations between two or more users. They can be accessed by tapping the paper plane icon at the top right corner of the screen. Instagram messages are sent in real-time and can include text, photos, videos, and voice recordings.

By default, Instagram marks messages as read once you open them. However, you may want to unmark a message as read if you’ve accidentally opened it or want to keep it unread to attend to it later. Fortunately, Instagram allows you to unmark messages as read. Let’s dive into the steps.

Steps to Unsend Messages on Instagram

Unreading a message on Instagram involves unsending it. You can unsend messages on Instagram using the following steps:

1. Open the Instagram app and navigate to your DMs by tapping the paper plane icon at the top right corner of the screen.
2. Tap and hold the message you want to unsend.
3. Select “Unsend” from the options that appear.
4. Confirm that you want to unsend the message.

Once you unsend a message, it disappears from both your conversation and the recipient’s conversation. However, if the recipient has already read the message, they will still see it.

Unreading Messages on Instagram Privately

Sometimes you may want to unmark a message as read without the sender knowing. For instance, if you’re avoiding someone or trying to reduce your response time. Luckily, there’s a workaround to achieve this.

1. Turn off your internet connection before opening the message.
2. Open the Instagram app and navigate to your DMs.
3. Tap on the message you want to unmark as read.
4. Close the app entirely without turning on your internet connection.
5. Open the Instagram app again, and the message will still be marked as unread.

By following these steps, you can read messages on Instagram without marking them as read or letting the sender know that you’ve read them.

Unreading Multiple Messages at Once on Instagram

If you have several messages that you want to unmark as read, you can unmark them all at once by following these steps:

1. Open the Instagram app and navigate to your DMs.
2. Press and hold on the conversation that you want to unmark as read.
3. Select “Mark as Unread” from the options that appear.
4. The conversation will be marked as unread, and the messages will show as unopened.

Unreading Instagram Direct Messages on PC

If you prefer using Instagram on your PC, you can still unmark messages as read. Follow these steps to unmark messages as read on Instagram’s desktop version:

1. Open your web browser and log in to your Instagram account.
2. Click on the paper plane icon at the top right corner of the screen.
3. Select the message that you want to unmark as read.
4. Click on the three dots icon at the top right corner of the screen.
5. Select “Mark as Unread” from the options that appear.

Turning Off Instagram Message Notifications

If you’re receiving too many message notifications on Instagram, you can turn them off using the following steps:

1. Open the Instagram app and navigate to your profile.
2. Tap the three horizontal lines at the top right corner of the screen to access your settings.
3. Scroll down and select “Notifications.”
4. Tap “Direct Messages.”
5. Toggle off the switch next to “Notification Requests.”

By turning off the message notifications, you’ll still be able to receive messages, but you won’t receive notifications for them.

Retrieving Deleted Instagram Messages

If you accidentally delete Instagram messages and need to retrieve them, follow these steps:

1. Download a data recovery app like EaseUS MobiSaver or Dr. Fone.
2. Install and open the app.
3. Connect your phone to your computer.
4. Launch the data recovery app and select “Instagram.”
5. Preview the deleted messages and select the ones you want to recover.
6. Click on “Recover” to retrieve the deleted Instagram messages.

Preventing Messages from Being Marked as Read on Instagram

By default, Instagram marks messages as read once you open them. However, you can turn off this feature by following these steps:

1. Open the Instagram app and navigate to your profile.
2. Tap the three horizontal lines at the top right corner of the screen to access your settings.
3. Scroll down and select “Privacy.”
4. Toggle off the switch next to “Read Receipts.”

By turning off the “Read Receipts” feature, senders won’t know that you’ve read their messages.

Reporting Harassing Messages on Instagram

If you receive harassing messages on Instagram, you can report them using the following steps:

1. Open the Instagram app and navigate to the message you want to report.
2. Tap and hold on the message.
3. Select “Report” from the options that appear.
4. Follow the prompts to report the message.

Instagram takes harassment and bullying seriously, and they have policies in place to protect users from such behavior.

Key Takeaways

• You can unsend messages on Instagram by tapping and holding on the message and selecting “Unsend.”
• To mark a message as unread, swipe left on the conversation and select “Mark as Unread.”
• If you don’t want to receive notifications for message requests, you can turn off message notifications in the Instagram app’s settings.
• To retrieve deleted Instagram messages, you can use a data recovery app like EaseUS MobiSaver or Dr. Fone.
• To prevent messages from being marked as read on Instagram, you can turn off the “Read Receipts” feature in the app’s settings.
• If you receive harassing messages on Instagram, you can report them using the app’s reporting feature.

Conclusion

Unreading messages on Instagram is a useful feature that can come in handy if you want to take back a message or mark a message as unread. The platform offers several features that allow you to do this, such as unsending messages, marking messages as unread, and turning off message notifications. Additionally, if you accidentally delete Instagram messages, you can retrieve them using data recovery apps. Finally, if you experience harassment or bullying on Instagram, the platform has policies in place to protect users, and you can report harassing messages to the platform. With the steps outlined in this article, you can make the most of Instagram’s messaging features while keeping your privacy and safety intact.

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