I’ve removed people from my Instagram followers before, and every single time I wondered the same thing: what actually happens on their side? Do they get a notification? Do they still see my posts? Will they notice? It feels like such a small action, but on Instagram it can feel awkward if you don’t know the outcome.
Removing a follower is one of those quiet tools Instagram gives us when we want a bit more privacy without blocking or unfollowing someone directly.
Maybe it’s an old friend, a relative, or someone who just doesn’t need access to your posts anymore. But before you tap that remove button, it helps to know what happens next – for you and for them.
In this guide, I’ll walk you through everything that changes (and what doesn’t) after you remove someone from your followers list.
What Happens You Remove Someone
When you remove someone as a follower on Instagram, a few things happen behind the scenes.
1) Instagram does not notify them, so they won’t get any alert saying you removed them.
2) They will no longer be on your followers list.
3) You’ll be removed from their following list.
4) If your account is private, they won’t be able to see your posts or stories anymore unless they follow you again and you approve the request. If your account is public, they can still see your content by visiting your profile manually, but they won’t get your posts on their home feed anymore.
5) If you are still following them, your Instagram feed will continue to show their posts and stories as usual. Removing them as a follower does not affect what you see – it only affects what they can see.
The removal is subtle and clean. There are no warnings and messages unless they go looking for it themselves.
When You Should Consider Removing Someone
You don’t always need a big reason to remove someone as a follower. Sometimes it’s just about feeling comfortable with who sees your posts.
You should consider removing someone if they make you feel watched, judged, or uncomfortable. It also makes sense if they’re someone you no longer talk to, an old connection you don’t want on your personal feed, or a stranger who ended up following you for no real reason.
Removing a follower is a quiet way to protect your privacy without blocking. It’s okay to curate your space.
How to Remove Someone as a Follower
Removing a follower on Instagram takes only a few seconds.
1) Open your profile and tap on your Followers list.
2) Then search for the person you want to remove.
3) When you find them, tap the small “×” (remove icon) next to their name.
4) Instagram will show a confirmation pop-up. Tap Remove to finish.
They won’t be notified, and they’ll disappear from your follower list instantly.
Can You Add Them Back After Removing?
No, you cannot add someone back as a follower on your own. Instagram doesn’t have a feature that lets you “re-add” a follower you removed. The only way they can follow you again is if they send a follow request (on private accounts) or tap follow on your profile (if you’re public).
So if you change your mind later, you’ll have to wait for them to follow you back – you can’t force it yourself.
Can They Tell You Removed Them?
Most of the time, people can’t tell that you removed them as a follower. Instagram doesn’t send any alerts, notifications, or messages when you do it. Everything happens quietly in the background.
However, they might figure it out later if they check your profile. For example, if your account is private, they’ll notice they can’t see your posts or stories anymore.
If your account is public, they can still view your posts, but they’ll now see a Follow button instead of “Following,” which is the only subtle hint that they’re no longer following you.
Removing vs Blocking: What’s the Difference?
Removing and blocking may look similar at first, but they work very differently on Instagram.
When you remove someone, they simply stop being your follower. Your account remains visible to them depending on whether it’s public or private. It’s a quiet way to control who sees your posts without making things obvious.
Blocking is much more strict. When you block someone, they can’t find your profile, can’t see your posts or stories, can’t message you, and can’t follow you again unless you unblock them. If you block someone, it appears to them that you’re no longer on Instagram.
