Instagram DMs without the feed
Open your conversations. Leave the feed behind.
Use Instagram for direct messages (DMs), search and profiles. limitd blocks the feed, Reels scroll, Stories, Explore and suggested accounts on profiles from the start. Reels and posts sent in chats stay open unless you block those too.
Android coming soon
Scan with your iPhone camera to open limitd in the App Store.
What stays available?
New accounts open straight to your messages. You can still search, look at profiles and open posts.
| What you want to open | When you first add an account |
|---|---|
| DMs | Open; new accounts start here. |
| Search | Open, with the photo and video grid blocked. |
| Profiles | Open; you can see post grids and open individual posts. |
| Reels and posts shared in DMs | Open; you can choose to block each kind separately. |
| Feed and Reels scroll | Blocked. The Reels tab stays hidden while blocked. |
| Stories | Rows of Stories and places to open them are hidden in Feed, Search, profiles and DMs. |
| Suggested sections | “Suggested for you” sections on profiles blocked. |
You can also block shared Reels, shared posts, individual posts and profile grids in each account's settings.
Open on DMs, with the tabs you want
- Choose Add account and sign in to Instagram inside limitd.
- New accounts open straight to your messages. To change where an account opens, go to Settings → Starting tab.
- Choose what else to block for each account in Settings.
Each account keeps its own choices. Add multiple Instagram accounts and switch between them.
See Signing in to Instagram inside limitd if setup stalls.
Hide Stories but keep DMs and profiles
Stories are blocked from the start, across the feed, search, profiles and DMs. You can still message people and visit profiles.
Why not just use Screen Time?
Screen Time can only lock the whole Instagram app, so your messages get locked too. limitd blocks the feed, Reels, Stories and Explore, and keeps your messages, search and profiles working.
Message notifications are optional
Want alerts for new messages? Turn them on for your account and allow notifications on your iPhone.
Read Message notifications for setup help.
Open something for a few minutes
Focus Points are a daily allowance you spend to open something for a few minutes. Five minutes of Reels costs 10 points, and when the time's up it's blocked again on its own. Your Focus Level sets how many points you get each day.
See how Focus Points work for the rules.
Is this the right way to use Instagram for messages?
How is limitd different from Screen Time and other app blockers?
Screen Time, and app blockers that use it, lock the whole Instagram app, messages included. limitd works the other way round: it blocks the parts made for endless scrolling, like Reels, the feed, Stories and Explore, and keeps the parts you need, like DMs, search and profiles.
Will limitd stop me doomscrolling?
That's what it's built for. With Reels and the feed blocked, there's no endless feed to get lost in. If you really want a look, you can spend Focus Points to open something for a few minutes, and then it's blocked again on its own.
Is this the Instagram app?
No. limitd is a separate app where you sign in to Instagram.
Does this leave only messages accessible?
No. You can still search, visit profiles and open posts and Reels and posts sent in chats. Choose what to block separately for each account.
Do I need a subscription?
Yes. A paid Focus Pass subscription is required to access the features of this app. Review the options in the app before subscribing.
Will every Instagram messaging feature work?
Some features from the regular Instagram app aren't available inside limitd.
Can I still get message notifications?
Yes. Turn them on for your account in limitd and allow notifications on your iPhone.
Can I use more than one account?
Yes. Save your accounts and switch between them. Each keeps its own settings. You use one at a time.
Is it available on Android?
limitd is on iPhone today; Android is coming soon.
Start with your conversations
Message friends with the feed, Reels scroll, Stories and Explore blocked. Choose whether posts and Reels sent in chats stay open too.
Android coming soon
Looking specifically for Reels blocking? Read Instagram without Reels on iPhone.