How to Turn Off Calls on Instagram

Instagram’s voice and video calling features are great for staying connected, but they can also feel intrusive, especially when calls come from people you don’t want to hear from. Luckily, Instagram offers several ways to manage or disable these calls, whether it’s muting specific users or turning off call notifications altogether. In this guide, I’ll walk you through how to turn off calls on Instagram and regain control of your digital space.

Why Turn Off Instagram Calls?

Instagram calls, both voice and video, are convenient for connecting with friends and followers. However, there are several reasons why you might want to disable them:

1. Privacy Concerns: Receiving calls from strangers or unwanted contacts can feel invasive.
2. Distractions: Frequent call notifications can interrupt your workflow or leisure time.
3. Limited Usage: Instagram’s feature might feel redundant if you prefer using other platforms for calls.
4. Peace of Mind: Turning off calls allows you to focus on the content you enjoy without interruptions.

If any of these reasons resonate with you, keep reading to learn how to manage or disable Instagram calls effectively.

How to Turn Off Calls on Instagram – Approved Methods

Instagram doesn’t currently offer a single toggle to disable all calls entirely. However, multiple ways exist to manage call settings based on your preferences. Let’s discuss how to block calls on Instagram.

1. Mute Calls From Specific Users

If there’s a particular person whose calls you want to avoid, you can mute them:

• Open the Instagram app and go to your Direct Messages (DMs).
• Select the conversation with the user you want to mute.
• Tap their username at the top of the chat.
• Under their profile settings, find the Mute option.
• Toggle on Mute Calls.

You can choose how long to mute their calls—1 hour, 8 hours, 24 hours, or indefinitely until you change it back. Want to manage more than just calls? Learn how to turn off auto-scroll on Instagram for a distraction-free feed.

2. Disable Call Notifications

To stop receiving notifications for all incoming calls while still allowing people to call:

• Open the Instagram app and go to your profile by tapping your picture in the bottom-right corner.
• Tap the three horizontal lines in the top-right corner and select Settings.
• Navigate to Notifications > Calls.
• Under this section, you’ll see options for video chat notifications:
  • From Everyone: Default setting; allows notifications from all users.
  • From People You Follow: Limits notifications to people you follow.
  • Off: Disables all call notifications.

Select “Off” if you don’t want any call notifications.

3. Restrict Who Can Call You

You can control who can contact you via messages and calls by adjusting your privacy settings:

• Go to Settings > Privacy > Messages.
• Under the “Direct Messages” section, choose who can send you messages and call requests:
  • Everyone: Anyone on Instagram can message or call you.
  • People You Follow: Only people you follow can contact you.
  • Off: No one can send messages or call requests.

By selecting “People You Follow” or “Off,” you limit who has access to your inbox and calling features. If you’d also like to hide when you’re active, check out our guide on how to disable active status on Instagram.

4. Block Specific Users

If muting isn’t enough and someone keeps bothering you with calls:

• Open their profile on Instagram.
• Tap the three dots in the top-right corner of their profile page.
• Select Block, which prevents them from messaging or calling you entirely.

Blocking is a more permanent solution for users who repeatedly violate your boundaries.

5. Disable Microphone and Camera Access

For a more drastic measure, you can revoke Instagram’s access to your microphone and camera:

• On iPhone:
  • Go to your phone’s Settings > Privacy & Security > Microphone/Camera.
  • Find Instagram in the list and toggle off access for both the microphone and the camera.
• On Android:
  • Open your phone’s Settings > Apps > Instagram > Permissions.
  • Disable permissions for the microphone and camera.

This will prevent anyone from making voice or video calls through Instagram. However, keep in mind that this also disables features like recording Stories or Reels within the app.

Pros and Cons of Turning Off Instagram Calls

Here’s a quick breakdown of what I’ve experienced after disabling Instagram calls:

Pros	Cons
Reduced distractions during work or personal time	You might miss important calls from close friends
Greater control over who can contact me	Disabling microphone/camera limits other features
Improved focus on content without interruptions	Blocking users may feel too drastic in some cases

Ultimately, whether this feature is right for you depends on how much importance you place on maintaining uninterrupted usage of the app.

How to Block Calls On Instagram – Tips Without Disabling Them Entirely

If blocking calls completely feels too restrictive, here are some tips I use to manage them better:

1. Use Quiet Mode Features
   Enable Do Not Disturb on your phone during specific hours so that incoming call notifications don’t interrupt you.
2. Set Boundaries With Friends/Followers
   Politely let others know if Instagram isn’t your preferred platform for voice or video communication.
3. Schedule Call Times
   If someone frequently contacts you via Instagram, suggest scheduling a specific time for conversations instead of receiving random calls.
4. Regularly Review Privacy Settings
   Keep an eye on updates to Instagram’s privacy features so that you’re always aware of new options for managing communication.

My Experience After Blocking Calls on Instagram

After disabling call notifications and muting certain users, I noticed an immediate improvement in my overall experience on Instagram. I no longer feel interrupted while scrolling through my feed or engaging with content I enjoy. For me, limiting who can contact me has created a more peaceful digital environment without completely cutting off communication with friends or followers.

That said, I occasionally re-enable certain features when I know someone might need to reach me urgently through the app. The flexibility of these settings ensures that I can customize my experience based on my current needs.

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