How to get rid of vanish mode on instagram
How to Use Vanish Mode on Instagram (and Why You Should)
By Keyede Erinfolami
Updated
Vanish Mode on Instagram adds a new level of privacy to chats. Here's how to use the feature...
You know how they say "the internet never forgets"? Now it can! With Instagram’s Vanish Mode, you can have private chats that disappear after the recipient has read them.
In this article, we'll take you through how to use Vanish Mode on Instagram to have conversations that leave absolutely no traces.
What Is Vanish Mode?
Vanish Mode launched on Facebook Messenger in 2020, but it has been added to Instagram's messaging features as well. The feature allows users to create and join temporary chat threads that are automatically erased when the chat ends.
Instagram Vanish Mode is very similar to Snapchat's self-erasing feature, but it will only work when you turn it on manually. Also, the feature only works for chats with two people—it doesn’t work in group chats.
Eager to get in on this? Let's check out how the disappearing message feature works!
How to Use Vanish Mode on Instagram
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To activate Vanish Mode:
- Open your Instagram app and click on the chat icon.
- Select an existing message or create a new message thread, then scroll to the bottom of your chat.
- Swipe up from the bottom of your screen and release your finger to activate Vanish Mode.
- Once it is activated, Instagram will go into dark mode and some shushing emojis will fall from the top of your screen to signal that you are in Vanish Mode.
Your chat buddy also gets notified with a message on the screen that they are chatting in Vanish Mode. Go ahead and send your Instagram direct messages as normal.
How to Turn Off Vanish Mode on Instagram
To close the Vanish Mode feature:
- Open a chat where you have enabled Vanish Mode.
- Swipe up from the bottom side of your screen again, and hold your screen until you see Release to turn off Vanish Mode.
- Swipe all the way up, and Vanish Mode will be disabled.
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Once you close your chat window, all seen messages will disappear.
If the feature does not appear to work in your app, make sure it's up-to-date. If you have the latest version on Instagram and still cannot access Vanish Mode, it may not be available in your region.
How Does Vanish Mode Work?
Before you start using Instagram's Vanish Mode, here are a few important things to note...
You can only use Vanish Mode in one-on-one chats—it won't work in group chats. Also, you'll only be able to use Vanish Mode with contacts you follow or have made recent contact with. If the other person takes a screenshot of your messages in Vanish Mode, you'll get notified immediately and vice versa.
Only messages and media that you send after enabling Vanish Mode will disappear.
Other messages you send when Vanish Mode is off will remain permanent unless you choose to unsend them. If you're unsure, here's how to unsend DMs on Instagram.
If you send messages by mistake without turning on the Vanish Mode feature, your messages will show up like every other message. Vanish Mode will not automatically hide messages you send by mistake.
Why You Should Use Vanish Mode
Vanish Mode is perfect for you if you're worried about snoopers looking through your chats. If safety and privacy are important to you (as we're sure they are), then you should take advantage of the feature.
You can also use Vanish Mode if you want to have a private chat with another Instagram user. For example, if you're planning a surprise party for a friend or a loved one, you can share the details with other parties with Vanish Mode, so that there are no chances of leaking information.
Break Out Of Your Messaging Shell
All seen pictures, text, memes, stickers, or GIFs shared in Vanish Mode are gone forever as soon as you end the chat.
As always, you can block anyone and also report a conversation if you do not feel safe. Feel free to break out of your e-shell and express yourself with this feature.
How to Disable Vanish Mode in Facebook Messenger & Instagram « Smartphones :: Gadget Hacks
Facebook recently implemented "Vanish Mode" into Messenger and Instagram, which lets you have an end-to-end encrypted conversation in a chat that will disappear as soon as you leave the thread. As cool as it sounds, it's easy to enable accidentally, and a friend could force you into using it. In some cases, that may not be ideal since everything you or the recipient said will disappear.
Any text written or media shared in Vanish Mode stays in Vanish Mode. That means if you or your fellow chatter enables the end-to-end encrypted option, everything you or they say during that time will disappear unless one of you takes a screenshot. And typical of E2E chats, whenever you take a screenshot, the other user will get an alert saying you took one.
- Learn More: How Vanish Mode Works on Messenger & Instagram
Unfortunately, there's bad news: there's no account-wide kill switch for Vanish Mode on Messenger or Instagram. As of right now, as long as you and the people you're chatting with have updated apps, Vanish Mode is just a swipe away.
If you're chatting with a user who doesn't have the feature yet, Vanish Mode will not show up, which is at least a little reassuring. And while you can use Vanish Mode from Instagram-to-Instagram and Messenger-to-Messenger chats, it's not yet possible with Instagram-to-Facebook or Facebook-to-Instagram chats just yet.
So what can you do about Vanish Mode if you don't like it? You may not like the answers, but they're all we have right now. Option 6 below may be of particular interest to you, as long as you have an Android device — even if it's not your primary phone or tablet.
Option 1: Chat to a Different Profile
First, since I just mentioned it, you can chat with someone from another platform.
So if you're on Instagram, chat with the person via their Facebook profile. If you're on Facebook Messenger, chat with the person via their Instagram profile. This may not always be an option if the other person hasn't set up cross-app messaging via Accounts Center or doesn't have a secondary account.
Option 2: Swipe Up
Second, just turn Vanish Mode off in each chat whenever it appears in the conversation. You can disable it the same way it's activated, but it's slightly different whether you're on Android or iOS.
- iPhone: Swipe up on the screen from the bottom of the chat until the circle fills up, then let go. This applies in both Messenger and Instagram chats.
- Android: In a Messenger chat, swipe up from the bottom of the chat until you see the Vanish Mode text, hold in place until the circle fills up, then let go. For Instagram chats, it works more like in iOS: Swipe up on the screen from the bottom of the chat until the circle fills up, then let go.
However, there is a problem with this method: it only works on your end. Disabling Vanish Mode in the chat on your end only disables it for you. If you don't do anything else, the next time they send you a message, Vanish Mode will turn back on for you if they're stilling using it on their end.
To prevent this from happening, send them a text after disabling it. If you never want to use it with them, send them something like, "Please, let's not use Vanish Mode anymore in this chat. I don't like it."
Option 3: Tap the Button
The third option is even easier than the others. Whenever you're in an active Vanish Mode chat, there will be a button at the top of the thread that says "Turn Off Vanish Mode." Tapping that is much easier than swiping up on the chat.
As with Option 2, it only works on your end. Disabling Vanish Mode in the chat on your end only disables it for you. If you don't do anything else, the next time they send you a message, Vanish Mode will turn back on for you if they're stilling using it on their end.
To prevent this from happening, send them a text after disabling it. If you never want to use it with them, send them something like, "Please, let's not use Vanish Mode anymore in this chat. I don't like it."
Option 4: Use an Older Version (Android Only)
Vanish Mode works on the latest versions of Messenger and Instagram, and it might even work on some older versions that were available before Vanish Mode was released via a server-side update. However, older versions will remove Vanish Mode capabilities; only you're trading off other new features for old-school Facebook and Instagram.
If your only concern is removing Vanish Mode, it may be worth trying. If not, I suggest sticking to one of the other options above because getting rid of other good features will make for a crappy experience.
On Android, you can find old APKs of Messenger and Instagram on sites like APKPure and APKMirror. If you need help with installing an older version, check out our guide on sideloading Android apps.
Option 5: Use Your Browser
If you don't care for the Messenger or Instagram apps that much but still want to message people without any Vanish Mode intrusions, try the web app versions in your browser. I would not suggest using messenger.com in your browser because it only works in desktop mode, making it impossible to even view chats. However, instagram.com will give you more of an app-like experience, sans Vanish Mode.
Option 6: Use the Lite App
Instagram doesn't have one, but Messenger does have a "Lite" version on Android, which gives you only the necessary things needed to message others. As of right now, Vanish Mode does not work in Messenger Lite, and you can use it in conjunction with the regular Messenger app.
Best of all, signing into Messenger Lite will kill Vanish Mode in the full Messenger app. Whenever someone tries to send you a Vanish Mode message, they'll get an alert saying that they "need to install the latest Messenger app on iOS or Android to use vanish mode.
"
And if you're on iOS but have an Android phone or tablet collecting dust, you can sign in to Messenger Lite on that and keep the device powered up to prevent Vanish Mode from working in your iOS app.
Don't Miss: Go Incognito on Instagram by Turning Off Your Green Dot Activity Status
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How to remove Disappearing Messages on Instagram* and enable it
October 31, 2021 Likbez Technologies
Just one swipe of your finger and you are there.
What you need to know about Instagram's Disappearing Message Mode*
To improve the security of your conversations, Instagram* has a special Disappearing Message Mode that can be used in one-on-one or group chats. When this feature is enabled by any of the participants, it is automatically activated for the rest. You can understand this by the design - the theme will change to black.
All messages sent in this way disappear from the history after your interlocutor views them and closes the dialogue. In a group chat, the message remains visible until all participants have read it and left the chat.
In addition, to protect privacy, Instagram* does not display message content in notifications on the lock screen, and monitors screenshots and screen recordings. If one of the interlocutors tries to do this, a corresponding note will appear in the chat, and other participants will immediately know about it.
You can only reply to disappearing messages in this mode.
When switching to regular correspondence, they will be unavailable, which is logical. At the same time, as well as regular messages, these can also be complained about, even if they are deleted.
How to remove Disappearing Messages on Instagram*
Signing out is not done with a button, but with a long gesture, so it's not entirely obvious at first glance.
To turn off disappearing messages, swipe up from the bottom and hold your finger on the screen. Release it when the progress bar turns from gray to blue.
You will immediately understand that you have switched to the normal mode of correspondence by the appearance that has become white.
How to turn on Disappearing Messages on Instagram*
If you need to send private information, it's best to do it in this mode.
To do this, just swipe up from the bottom in the same way and release your finger when the gray ring turns blue. The dark interface will tell you that everything worked out.
Read also 🧐
- 20 must-have apps for Instagram users*
- How to get the most out of Instagram* if you are looking for a job
- How to link Instagram* to Facebook* and VKontakte
- Why I'm not getting Instagram notifications* and how to fix it
*Meta Platforms Inc. activities. and its social networks Facebook and Instagram are prohibited in the territory of the Russian Federation.
How to turn off disappearing messages on Instagram
On Instagram, users can send messages that self-destruct over time. Other data that has been sent is also deleted independently. If you can't find the settings on Instagram to turn off this disappearing message mode, this guide will help you.
Content
- What are disappearing messages on Instagram?
- How to turn off disappearing messages on Instagram
- Accidentally turning on disappearing messages can happen at any time, because disappearing messages turn on as quickly as they turn off:
- Why Instagram does not turn on disappearing messages mode
- How to limit requests for correspondence on Instagram
- How to reply to stories with a text message on Instagram
- How to send a disappearing photo or video on Instagram
- Video tutorial
What are disappearing messages on Instagram?
This feature is not available in all countries.
In applications, it is not available for residents of Japan and in some European countries. After activating the function, users can send messages, videos, photos and other content to each other, which disappears after certain actions. This happens when one of the participants leaves the chat or turns off this feature after a while. The mode is available for applications on Android and IOS. It is disabled by default in any client.
To activate it, you need to change the chat settings through the application settings. Disappearing messages have some characteristics and may differ from messages on other social networks.
- Posts in a chat conversation where disappearing messages are enabled cannot be copied. They also cannot be archived or sent to another participant;
- In this chat, you can only chat with Instagram users and not in any other. This type of message is sent only in a chat for two, does not work in Facebook messengers;
- Users with whom you have previously corresponded will not be able to communicate with you in this mode.
The application recommends activating this mode only if you trust the person you are writing to.
Read also: how to post a video longer than 1 minute on Instagram.
How to turn off disappearing messages on Instagram
The user may have accidentally activated the disappearing messages mode in the app. At the same time, his screen in the chat turns black. And the basic functions of the chat are significantly limited. In this mode, a lot of things are impossible from what is possible in regular Instagram correspondence. But turning off Disappearing Messages is pretty easy—every Disappearing Chat has a big button at the top called Turn Disappearing. After clicking on it, you are again transferred to a regular chat, where you can continue your usual correspondence.
Now your messages will not be deleted and limited in scope. Chat with deleted messages with a black background, when it turns off, the background will change to white, and this will indicate that you have turned off this mode.
Accidental activation can occur at any time, because disappearing ones turn on as quickly as they turn off:
- Go to chat with interlocutors on Instagram;
- We choose a person with whom we want to communicate;
- Drag the chat window up and down with your finger until a message appears that we have enabled the desired mode.
At the top there will always be a button that disables the deleted messages mode on Instagram.
Why doesn't Instagram enable Disappearing Messages
Instagram users may not find Disappearing Messages in their apps. This happens for one reason - your smartphone does not have the latest version of Instagram. You need to update the application through the Play Market or the App Store. Check your account settings. For this application or for all at once, automatic updates can be turned off. If so, enable them again and start the update manually. Disappearing messages will appear in the app after the phone restarts.
May need to clear the Instagram cache. For Android devices, there are quite a lot of instructions on how to do this on the Internet. Consider clearing the cache for an IOS application. There is no feature in the app itself. But still, you can do it:
- Select the "Settings" button on the phone;
- Go to basic settings;
- Click on the "iPhone storage" line;
- Select from Instagram apps;
- Next, click on the "Delete" button.
You will need to confirm the deletion of the application. Then select the App Store icon on the phone screen and enter the name of the application in the search. After starting the uninstall process, the program files will be deleted along with the application cache. And the new Instagram will be loaded with all the latest updates.
How to limit message requests on Instagram
In the default app, each user can send requests to chat and chat. In a social network, it often happens that there are too many requests.
It comes to the point that a person needs to reject or accept such notifications for a long time. But you can block these requests in the settings. After that, only those who are on your friends list will be able to request it.
- In your account, click on the menu button at the top;
- Select the settings button at the bottom of the screen that appears;
- Click on the "Privacy" button;
- Select the line "Messages";
- Then change the checkbox to Only those you follow.
Only the accounts you have subscribed to will send correspondence requests. All others will receive a notification when sending that the user does not accept applications. For them, now the only way to communicate is other social networks or mobile communications. As well as comments under the posts with a request to subscribe to them to go to the correspondence.
How to reply to stories with a text message on Instagram
You can reply to other people's stories with a text comment or suggestion.
This need often arises among users and subscribers. Or just sometimes you need to ask a question on the topic of the video.
- Go to the story you want to answer;
- At the bottom, click on "Send a message" or click on the icon with the camera;
- Attach the suggested image and write your message below it;
- If there is no form for sending a message at the bottom of the story view window, then the account owner has disabled this option;
- You can try to write to the author in Direct.
Go from this section to the news in the lower left corner and write to your account. If messages are blocked here, you will have to look for additional ways to contact this profile. Including through other applications and social networks.
How to send a disappearing photo or video on Instagram
In addition to text messages, you can send files to Instagram - videos and photos. And they will also be deleted after a certain time.
