Have you ever opened your Instagram profile and seen “Discover People”? It shows you new accounts to follow based on your interests friends and activity. Instagram want to help you connect with more people but not everyone like this feature. If you are wondering how to turn off Discover People on Instagram you are not alone. Many user want a cleaner profile without random suggestion. Luckily there is a simple way to remove them.
I remember the first time I noticed it. Every time I visited my profile Instagram kept showing me random people to follow. Some were influencers some were old classmates and others were just strangers. It felt a little annoying because I like to keep my Instagram simple. I use it to follow my close friends family and favorite brands not to get random suggestions.
One day I decided I had enough. I wanted a clean profile without distractions. So I looked for a way to turn off the “Discover People” feature. Guess what? It took me just one minute! And now I am going to show you exactly how to do it too.
If you are tired of seeing unwanted suggestion do not worry I have got you covered. Let’s go step by step and remove the “Discover People” section so you can enjoy Instagram your way!
Disable the “Discover People” Section in One Simple Step
I remember when I first got frustrated with Instagram “Discover People” feature. Every time I opened my profile I saw a list of suggested users some familiar some completely random. It felt like Instagram was trying to push me into following people I did not know. I like to keep my feed clean and only follow accounts that truly interest me. Thats when I decided to remove it. It was easier than I thought! Here is how you can do it too.
Access Your Profile
- Open the Instagram app on your phone.
- Tap on your profile icon at the bottom right corner. This will take you to your profile page.
Locate the “Discover People” Section

- Look at the top of your profile page.
- You will see the “Discover People” section near the “Edit Profile” and “Share Profile” buttons.
I used to ignore it at first but over time it became an eyesore. Seeing it pop up every time I checked my profile was distracting and I wanted a cleaner experience.
Disable the Feature
- Next to the “Edit Profile” button you will see a small icon that looks like a person with a “+” sign.
- Tap on this icon once.
- The “Discover People” section will disappear from your profile instantly!
It felt so satisfying when I finally removed it. My profile looked cleaner and I no longer saw unnecessary recommendations.
Want it back?
If you change your mind tap the person icon again. Instagram will restore the “Discover People” section.
And that’s it! No more distractions just a simple clutter-free Instagram experience.
Extra Tips to Personalize Your Instagram Journey
Instagram is fun but sometimes it shows things you do not want to see. I remember scrolling my feed and seeing random unrelated posts. It was frustrating! I also kept getting messages from strangers I did not know. That’s when I decided to take control and customize my experience. If you are wondering how to turn off Discover People on Instagram I have got you covered! Here is how you can make Instagram work the way you want.
1. Manage Suggested Posts and Reels
Instagram suggests posts and Reels based on what it thinks you like. But sometimes these suggestions are way off! I once got endless cat videos even though I never searched for them. If you want to stop seeing things that don’t interest you follow these steps.
Hide Individual Posts

- See a post you do not like? Tap the three dots at the top right.
- Select Not Interested to tell Instagram you do not want to see similar posts.
I did this a few times and Instagram finally got the hint! My feed started showing posts I liked.
Refine Your Reel Feed
- Watching Reels and seeing something you do not enjoy? Tap the three dots on the video.
- Choose “Not Interested” to see fewer Reels like it.
After doing this for a few days my Reels started showing videos I cared about! It felt great to control what I was seeing.
2. Limit Who Can Interact with You
Tired of random people sending you messages or tagging you in weird posts? I was too! I once got a tag in a post from someone I did not even know. Here is how you can control who can interact with you on Instagram.
Adjust Message and Story Reply Settings

- Go to your profile and tap the three horizontal lines (menu) at the top right.
- Tap Settings > Notifications > Following and Followers.
- Scroll to “Account Suggestions” and turn it Off to stop getting follower suggestions.
Now I only get messages from people I know. No more random messages from strangers!
Manage Tags and Mentions
- In the Settings menu tap Privacy.
- Select “Tags” to decide who can tag you in posts.
- Tap “Mentions” to control who can mention you in comments or stories.
After I changed these settings my notifications became so much cleaner! No more useless tags or unwanted mentions.
Now my Instagram feels more personal, peaceful, and exactly how I want it to be! If you want even more control over your profile, check out how to remove category on Instagram to customize your account further.
Conclusion
After following these steps my Instagram finally feels clean and distraction free. No more unwanted suggestions no more random tags and no more messages from people I do not know. It feels like my space again the way I want it.
I remember the first time I turned off the “Discover People” feature. It was like removing clutter from my room. My profile changed to appear simpler neater and more personal in an instant. I was not pushed to follow strangers. I could focus on what mattered.
These small changes will give you full control of your Instagram. By adjusting these settings you can manage your feed. You can also remove suggestions and stop unwanted interactions. If you are looking for a way to how to turn off Discover People on Instagram these steps will help you create a more personalized and distraction free experience.