StillfeedHow to turn off Reels on Instagram (and see Following in chronological order)
Instagram doesn't let you turn off Reels, and it keeps pulling you back to its recommended feed. Here's how to see only the people you follow, newest first, with Reels and Explore gone.
Quick answer: as of October 2026, Instagram has no setting to turn off Reels, and its Following feed resets every time you open the app. On iPhone, Stillfeed opens Instagram signed into your own account on the Following feed, with Reels and Explore removed. Messages, Stories and search keep working, and it's free.
Can you turn off Reels on Instagram?
Not in the Instagram app. Reels have their own tab, they fill the home feed between posts from people you follow, and Explore is mostly Reels too. Instagram's settings have no switch that removes them.
What Instagram does offer:
- "Not interested" on a Reel. It changes which Reels you're shown, not whether you see them.
- Time reminders. Instagram's time management settings can remind you to take a break. You can dismiss them with one tap.
- The Following feed. The closest thing to "Instagram without Reels", explained below.
How to see Following in chronological order
Instagram still has a feed of only the accounts you follow, newest first. It's just hidden:
- Open Instagram and go to the home feed.
- Tap the Instagram logo at the top of the screen.
- Choose Following.
You'll see posts from people you follow in chronological order, with no suggested accounts mixed in. The catch: the app goes back to the recommended feed the next time you open it, and the Reels tab is still one tap away. So you have to choose Following every single time, which is exactly when the habit wins.
How to remove Reels on iPhone
We built Stillfeed so the Following feed is where Instagram starts, every time. It's an in-app browser for iPhone that opens the real Instagram website, signed into your own account, and removes the endless parts before they reach your screen. As of October 2026, on Instagram it:
- opens on your Following feed, in chronological order;
- removes the Reels tab and blocks Reels pages;
- blocks the Explore feed, while search keeps working.
Your messages, Stories, profiles and posts from people you follow all stay. It's free from the first launch, with no trial and no Stillfeed account.
Set it up
- Download Stillfeed from the App Store and open it.
- Pick Instagram.
- Log in as you normally would. Your details go straight to Instagram, never to Stillfeed.
- Scroll your Following feed. Reels and Explore are already gone.
Stillfeed never changes your Instagram account, followers or posts, and it doesn't record what you see or type. Our privacy policy has the details.
Going further with Stillfeed Pro
Stillfeed Pro is optional. It adds:
- Stories and Feed blocking, if even the people you follow are too much some days;
- DMs-only mode, for when you only open Instagram to reply to someone;
- a daily time limit for Instagram and the other platforms.
Trade-offs to be honest about
- Reels don't open, even ones friends send. One shared Reel is how the swipe usually starts. If you need to watch one, use the Instagram app for that moment.
- It's the Instagram website, not the app. Instagram's mobile site looks much like the app but doesn't do everything the app does, so you may still want the app for posting.
- It only works inside Stillfeed. The official app is unchanged. Put Stillfeed on your home screen where Instagram used to be, and remove or limit the app.
- iPhone only. There's no Android version.
If you're weighing up leaving Instagram altogether, see Stillfeed vs deleting Instagram.
More on other platforms
Stillfeed removes Shorts from YouTube too, and works with TikTok, X, Reddit, Snapchat and LinkedIn. For every option side by side, including Screen Time and Safari, see how to block Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts on iPhone.
Common questions
Can you turn off Reels on Instagram?
Not inside the Instagram app. As of October 2026 there's no setting that removes Reels. On iPhone, Stillfeed opens Instagram with the Reels tab and Reels pages removed and Explore blocked, for free.
How do I see Instagram in chronological order?
In the Instagram app, tap the Instagram logo at the top of the home screen and choose Following: it shows posts from accounts you follow, newest first. The app switches back to the recommended feed the next time you open it. Stillfeed opens Instagram on the Following feed every time.
Will I still get my messages and Stories?
Yes. Messages and Stories work as normal in Stillfeed, and search still works even though the Explore feed is blocked. Stillfeed Pro can also hide Stories if you want.
What happens if a friend sends me a Reel?
Reels don't open in Stillfeed, including ones sent in messages. That's deliberate: one shared Reel is how the swipe usually starts. If you need to watch one, use the Instagram app for that moment.
Is it free?
Yes. Removing Reels and Explore and opening on the Following feed is free from your first launch, with no trial and no account. Stillfeed Pro is optional and adds Stories and Feed blocking, a DMs-only mode and a daily time limit.
