Instagram read-only mode could prevent accidental likes, comments and follows while browsing profiles. The feature remains experimental, with no confirmed launch date.
CALIFORNIA: Instagram is exploring a feature that could make browsing other people’s profiles less awkward by preventing accidental likes, comments and follows. The proposed Instagram read-only mode would temporarily restrict interactions while users explore posts on another account.
The feature was uncovered by app researcher Alessandro Paluzzi, who shared screenshots on October 3, 2026, suggesting that the option could become part of Instagram Plus, a potential paid subscription offering.
However, Instagram has clarified that the feature remains an internal exploration and is not being tested with the public.
How would Instagram’s new browsing feature work?
According to the screenshots shared by Paluzzi, users entering the proposed mode would be able to browse profiles without performing several common actions.
The restrictions would prevent users from liking posts, leaving comments, following accounts or sending direct messages.
Users would also be unable to view Stories while the setting was active.
These limitations could help prevent accidental interactions, particularly when someone is scrolling through older photographs or posts.
For example, accidentally liking a picture published several years ago could become less of a concern if interaction buttons were disabled during browsing.
Will the feature be available to everyone?
The screenshots suggest that Instagram read-only mode could be considered as a benefit for Instagram Plus subscribers.
However, Meta has not confirmed whether the feature will become part of a paid subscription or eventually be offered more widely.
An Instagram spokesperson told Engadget that the concept was an internal exploration rather than an external test.
This means users cannot currently activate the feature through Instagram’s publicly available app.
There is also no confirmed release date.
Could the feature make Instagram browsing more private?
The proposed setting could reduce visible interactions by stopping users from accidentally engaging with posts or accounts.
However, it should not be confused with anonymous browsing or a guarantee of complete privacy.
The screenshots only indicate restrictions on specific actions, including likes, comments, messages, follows and Story viewing.
Instagram has not announced broader privacy protections or confirmed whether the feature would affect other account activity.
Impact to expect
If introduced, Instagram read-only mode could provide users with greater control over how they browse profiles, particularly when exploring older posts. It could also become a distinctive subscription feature, although its potential effects on privacy and user behaviour would depend on how Meta eventually implements it.
For now, the idea remains an unreleased concept. Instagram users should wait for an official announcement before expecting the option to appear in their accounts.
