How to block certain hashtags on instagram

Instagram is giving users more ways to tweak their suggested posts amid a backlash to the app’s aggressive shift toward recommendations. The app is testing a new option that will allow users to use keywords and emoji to mute certain topics from appearing in suggested posts.

The change will block posts in which the users’ keywords, which can include emoji as well as words and phrases, appear in the caption or hashtag for a post. “You can use this feature to stop seeing content that’s not interesting to you,” Instagram writes in a blog post. Users can customize their filter words from the app's settings. The company notes that people can also opt to snooze all recommendations entirely.

Instagram is also testing a new way to weed out unwanted posts from the app’s Explore section. With the change, users can select multiple posts at a time and mark them all as “not interested.” This will hide those posts, and block out similar recommendations in the future, according to the company.

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How to block certain hashtags on instagram

While both new options require a bit of extra work, the changes could bring some relief for users’ who have been frustrated by the quality of Instagram’s recommendations as the app has taken increasingly aggressive steps to become more like TikTok. Instagram’s top exec Adam Mosseri said last month the company would tone down the number of recommended posts and halt its experiment with a full-screen feed. Both changes have been deeply unpopular, prompting viral memes criticizing the company’s efforts to copy TikTok.

Regardless of criticism, Meta’s leaders have been clear that they intend to shift both Facebook and Instagram’s feeds from mostly friend content to more posts from AI-driven recommendations. But the new controls could help the company eventually improve the quality of those suggestions, which might make them more palatable to users in the long run.

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Did you know that Instagram marketers who use nine or more hashtags per post get more than 2.5x the engagement of those who only use one hashtag?

Without a doubt, hashtags are critical to building followers and engagement and contribute to your entire marketing strategy. However, they can make your feed look unappealing and spammy.

So how do you keep your Instagram feed pretty and clutter-free? EASY! After finding the perfect set of hashtags for your post, learn how to hide hashtags with one of the four simple methods below.

Want to 2.5x your Instagram likes & comments? Perfect your hashtag strategy with this free guide. Get it now!

Contents: How to Hide Hashtags on Instagram hide

1 Should You Hide Instagram Hashtags?

1.1 Which one works better, Caption or Comment?

2 Hashtag Hack #1: Hide Hashtags on Instagram in the First Comment

2.1 Here’s how to hide Instagram hashtags with Tailwind:

3 Hashtag Hack #2: Use the Instagram Dots Method to Hide Hashtags

4 Hashtag Hack #3: Hiding Instagram Hashtags in the Caption

4.1 Use Tailwind’s Instagram Hashtag Lists to Hide Your Hashtags

5 Hashtag Hack #4: Add Conversational Hashtags in Your Caption, Hide the Rest

6 Hashtag Hack #5: Use Tailwind to Find, Hide Hashtags & Schedule Instagram Posts!

6.1 Start a Free Trial of Tailwind for Instagram!

7 Pin It for Later 📌:

Should You Hide Instagram Hashtags?

There’s no harm in hiding your Instagram hashtags to neaten things up. Whether you put your hashtags in your caption directly or move them to the first comment, your content will still appear in hashtag discover feeds if relevant to the hashtag topic.

So, there is no need for concern as you’re pondering how to lower your hashtags on Instagram. It’s just a matter of choosing the right method for you!

Which one works better, Caption or Comment?

We understand that looks are not everything; sometimes, you want to do what is best for your content. So which one is better? Which one gives you more visibility? Our teammates Alisa Meredith and Melissa Megginson took over YouTube to give you answers. Take a look!



Now that you’ve made up your mind, keep reading, we’ll give you some hashtag hacks on how to make the most out of them!

Hashtag Hack #1: Hide Hashtags on Instagram in the First Comment

The cleanest method to hide hashtags on Instagram is by tucking them into the first comment. Just have your list of hashtags ready to go, and add them as a comment after making your post live.

Does this sound too manual for your liking? Tailwind does the work for you!

When you add hashtags to your Instagram caption in Tailwind’s Instagram planning app, you’ll see a checkbox to hide your hashtags in the first comment. This allows you to move your hashtags from the end of your caption to the first comment on the post.

That’s it! No more cluttered captions, no more remembering to return to a post and add your hashtags. Your post is ready for engagement the moment it goes live!

Here’s how to hide Instagram hashtags with Tailwind:

  • Upload your image or video to the Tailwind Instagram planning app, craft your caption, and then type the # symbol to get predictive hashtag suggestions.
  • Click to choose or add frequently-used hashtags from your list.
  • Check the box to move those comments from your caption to your 1st comment.
  • Click “add to queue” to automatically schedule your Instagram post for the best time.

Now, doesn’t that make you look professional!? 👏 Get the Tailwind Instagram Planner for iOS and Android today!

How to block certain hashtags on instagram
How to block certain hashtags on instagram

How to block certain hashtags on instagram
How to block certain hashtags on instagram
@HappyArkansan

Hashtag Hack #2: Use the Instagram Dots Method to Hide Hashtags

One of the classic methods of hiding hashtags is Instagram dots.

This is a cuter way of saying adding a series of periods between the end of your caption and your hashtag list so that they’re hidden beneath the “More” button for your followers.

Here’s how to do it:

  • Type up your caption
  • After the punctuation at the end of your last sentence, make sure there are no spaces. Then hit return
  • On the new line, put one period, and then hit return again
  • Keep repeating until you have plenty of Instagram dots between your caption and your hashtag list
  • Paste in your hashtags and press publish!

It’s really important to make sure that you don’t include any extra spaces at the end of your sentences or after each Instagram dot. If you do, it will cancel out the line break and ruin the effect!

It used to be necessary to type out your caption with the line breaks on a separate word processing app like Notes. But now Instagram allows you to form line breaks in your caption directly through the Instagram app! Just click the “123” at the bottom left of your phone’s keyboard and tap “return” to jump to a new line.

Hashtag Hack #3: Hiding Instagram Hashtags in the Caption

Looking for tips on how to put your hashtags lower on Instagram captions?

There IS a way to put your hashtags in your caption while keeping your posts and feed looking good, and it works similarly to the Instagram dots method.

Simply format your caption so that it adds line breaks, pushing your valuable hashtags into the “more” section of the caption where they still do their job of increasing reach and engagement, but aren’t easy to see!

Remember, take out any extra spaces lingering after the punctuation at the end of your line breaks. It also includes after emojis in your captions!

As with the dots method, you can type out the caption with the line breaks directly on Instagram now. But just remember that any hidden spaces will cancel the line break.

How to block certain hashtags on instagram
How to block certain hashtags on instagram
This Instagram post from @harpermaven is too pretty be covered in hashtags! See how her formatting moves them below view?

Did you know? You can also compose captions with hidden hashtags in Tailwind! Just copy and paste in your caption and formatting, and then use Hashtag Finder to find the best hashtags for your Instagram post. 

Here’s a Tailwind hack that makes this incredibly simple and quick:

Use Tailwind’s Instagram Hashtag Lists to Hide Your Hashtags

Tailwind’s Hashtag Lists make hiding hashtags on Instagram captions unbelievably easy.

From Tailwind’s Instagram publisher, create a “Hashtag” list which in this case will actually store ONLY your formatting:

  1. In the Tailwind Instagram Publisher, click on the “#” button
  2. Now click the  “+” button. I called mine, “formatting.”
  3. Add line breaks and characters, symbols, or emojis on each line. In this hashtag list, I included a camera emoji, and then double asterisks, each on their own line. This will add a camera emoji to the end of my caption and then insert line breaks with asterisks on them to move my hashtags down and out of view!

The important thing to note is that you need to have SOMETHING on those lines in order to sustain the line break for publishing. You could use a dash, some ellipses, or an emoji, but make sure there is nothing else on that line (no spaces following the characters) or the line breaks will disappear when you post to Instagram, even if it looks fine in the Instagram scheduler.

Now you have a handy template that will save you time every time you schedule a post – AND keep those hashtags out of sight!

Type your caption, add your “hashtag” list plus hashtag recommendations or your premade hashtag list, and post!

Want to plan the perfect feed, find the best hashtags and post at the best times for your audience right from your phone? Its time to meet your new Instagram Smart Assistant from Tailwind - now available on Android and iOS. 

Hashtag Hack #4: Add Conversational Hashtags in Your Caption, Hide the Rest

Here’s a method on how to hide Instagram hashtags that make your post look spammy but keep the ones that create fun conversation.

Hashtags have been around so long that sometimes it just makes sense – and can feel a bit playful – to include them in the conversation!

With Tailwind’s Hashtag in first comment feature, only the hashtags at the END of your caption will be moved to the first comment.

So, go ahead and include some in the caption just for fun.

How to block certain hashtags on instagram
How to block certain hashtags on instagram

Hashtag Hack #5: Use Tailwind to Find, Hide Hashtags & Schedule Instagram Posts!

When it comes to hiding Instagram hashtags, do you prefer to put them in your caption or first comment – or a bit of both?

Now that you know how to hide hashtags on Instagram, grab a free trial of Tailwind for Instagram to try it on desktop – or on our new Instagram Planner app!

Start a Free Trial of Tailwind for Instagram!

  • Schedule photos and videos directly to your Instagram feed with Auto Post.
  • Optimize every post for more engagement with SmartSchedule and Hashtag Finder.
  • Automatically hide your post’s hashtags in the first comment to keep your caption clean & clutter-free.
  • Make your posts more discoverable with user tagging & location tagging.
  • Analyze what's working across every post and profile with smart analytics.

How to block certain hashtags on instagram
How to block certain hashtags on instagram

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How to block certain hashtags on instagram
How to block certain hashtags on instagram

How to block certain hashtags on instagram
How to block certain hashtags on instagram

How to block certain hashtags on instagram
How to block certain hashtags on instagram

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Can I hide certain hashtags on Instagram?

The cleanest method to hide hashtags on Instagram is by tucking them into the first comment. Just have your list of hashtags ready to go, and add them as a comment after making your post live.

How do I block hashtags?

Go to your Notifications tab..
Tap the gear icon..
Tap Muted, then tap Muted words..
Tap Add..
Type in the word or hashtag you'd like to mute. ... .
Select whether to enable this in Home timeline or Notifications, or both..
Select whether this is From anyone or From people you don't follow (for enabled notifications only)..

How do you control hashtags on Instagram?

Instagram app for Android and iPhone: Once you follow a hashtag, you'll see its photos and videos appear in feed. To unfollow a hashtag, tap the hashtag and then tap Following. You may need to tap Unfollow to confirm. Learn more about searching for hashtags and using hashtags on Instagram.

How do I block certain types of content on Instagram?

Go to your profile and select the menu button (3 horizontal lines) > Click Settings > Privacy > Comments > Use the toggle to turn on “Manual Filter” > Enter any words or phrases that you do not want to see, separating words and phrases with a comma.