Can you block Reels but still watch ones friends send you?
Yes, inside limitd. Reels starts blocked, while Reels shared in DMs starts allowed. DMs are Instagram’s direct messages. You can also block shared Reels without blocking the conversation.
Choose whether to open shared videos
A video a friend sends may be something you want to watch. Or you may want to reply without watching it. You can simply leave the video unopened in Instagram, or use limitd to block opening shared Reels.
Meta explains how Reels can be shared in messages. Inside limitd, those shared videos have their own setting, separate from the main Reels feed.
Change the settings in limitd
Open your saved account’s settings:
- Under Intentional content, find Reels shared in DMs. Leave it Allowed to watch shared Reels, or choose Blocked to stop them opening.
- Choose separately whether Posts shared in DMs should stay Allowed.
- Under High-distraction content, check that Reels is Blocked.
These are the names of the two groups in settings. Your choices apply to this account, so check each account you use.
What stays available?
| Reels setting | Shared Reels setting | Text messages | Reels sent in chats | Posts sent in chats |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blocked | Allowed, as it starts | Stay available | Can open | Can open if Posts shared in DMs is Allowed |
| Blocked | Blocked | Stay available | Cannot open | Follow the separate Posts shared in DMs setting |
You do not need to unlock the main Reels feed to watch an allowed shared Reel.
Does opening one Reel let you keep watching?
The shared-Reels setting controls opening videos from a chat. It is not a one-video-only player. What happens when you swipe or a video ends can change with Instagram’s player.
If you want to avoid shared videos altogether, block Reels shared in DMs. That blocks opening them inside limitd; it does not delete the message or tell the sender that you’ve blocked it.
What about message alerts?
Shared-video settings do not turn notifications on. To get message alerts, turn them on in limitd and allow notifications on your iPhone. Follow the notification guide and test an alert.
For a broader message-focused setup, see keeping DMs available. If you haven’t added your account yet, start with the sign-in guide.
Where limitd fits
limitd lets you keep the main Reels feed blocked and choose separately whether to watch videos friends send.
See Instagram without Reels for the wider setup.
