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How to Reset Instagram Algorithm ?

Hey there! Ever wondered why your Instagram feed looks a bit off lately? Maybe you’re not seeing posts from your favorite accounts, or your own posts aren’t getting the attention they used to. Don’t worry; you’re not alone! Instagram’s algorithm can be a bit tricky, but we’ve got you covered. Let’s dive into how to reset the Instagram algorithm and make your feed work for you again.


Illustration showing megaphones, thumbs-up icons, and chat bubbles, with the text 'how to reset Instagram Algorithm' and 'by FLY Marketing Agency'.


Why Does the Instagram Algorithm Change?

First, let’s understand why Instagram’s algorithm changes. Instagram is constantly updating its algorithm to enhance user experience. These changes are meant to show you content that Instagram thinks you'll find interesting based on your past interactions. However, sometimes these updates might not align with what you want to see. That’s when resetting the Instagram algorithm can be a game-changer.


 

How the Instagram Algorithm Works

Before we dive into the steps to reset the Instagram algorithm, it’s essential to understand how it works. The algorithm prioritizes posts based on several factors:


👉🏼Engagement

Posts with more likes, comments, and shares are likely to appear higher in your feed. 


👉🏼 Relevance

The algorithm tries to predict how relevant a post is to you based on your past interactions.


👉🏼 Relationships

Posts from people you interact with frequently (likes, comments, direct messages) will appear more often.


👉🏼 Timeliness

 Recent posts are prioritized to keep your feed fresh.


👉🏼 Profile Searches

Accounts you search for frequently are considered important to you.


👉🏼 Direct Shares

Posts that are shared directly between users are given more weight. Now that we know what drives the algorithm, let’s look at how to reset it.


 

How to Reset Instagram Algorithm: Step-by-Step Guide


Step 1: Clear Your Search History


One of the simplest ways to start resetting your Instagram algorithm is by clearing your search history. This can help remove any old search preferences that are affecting your feed.


  1. Go to your Instagram Explore page by clicking on the magnifying glass symbol at the bottom left of the screen and then click on the search bar.


blurry screenshot of Instagram, showing the main interface with a grid of photos. A red arrow points towards the magnifying glass icon at the bottom of the screen, indicating the search function



2. Click on the "See all” button.


a search interface on a social media app. At the top, there is a search bar with a magnifying glass icon and the text "Search." Below it, under the "Recent" section, two recent searches are listed, though they are blurred out. On the right side, there is a "See all" option highlighted with a red arrow pointing towards it.


3. After seeing the “Recent Searches” page, tap "Clear All."


a search interface on a social media app. At the top, there is a text "Recent Searches." Below it two recent searches are listed, though they are blurred out. On the right side, there is a "Clear all" option highlighted with a red arrow pointing towards it.

 

Step 2: Unfollow Unwanted Accounts


Next, take a look at the accounts you’re following. Are there any that no longer interest you? Unfollowing accounts that don’t match your current preferences can help tailor your feed and aid in resetting the Instagram algorithm.


  1. Go to your profile and tap "Following."



a screenshot of a social media profile page. At the top, the profile's details, such as profile picture, name, and statistics (posts, followers, following), are shown but blurred out. Below these details, a "Following" button is highlighted with a red arrow pointing towards it, indicating the option to view the accounts that this profile is following.

2. Review the list, click on the three dots next to the account you want to unfollow and tap “unfollow”.


A screenshot of an Instagram profile's "Following" list, showing 403 accounts followed. The list is sorted by default, and each entry has a "Message" button next to it, followed by a three-dot menu icon. A red arrow points to the three-dot menu icon next to one of the accounts.
A screenshot of the menu that appears after clicking the three-dot menu icon next to an account in the "Following" list on Instagram. The menu options displayed are "Unfollow," "Manage notifications," "See shared activity," "Mute," and "Cancel." A red arrow points to the "Unfollow" option.

 

Step 3: Engage with Desired Content


To reset the Instagram algorithm, start interacting more with the content you love. Like, comment, and save posts that resonate with you. This signals to Instagram what kind of content you enjoy.  




 

Step 4: Use the “Not Interested” Option


Instagram allows you to indicate which posts you’re not interested in. This can help refine your feed to show more relevant content.


  1. Tap the three dots at the top of the post you don't like.


a screenshot of an Instagram post blurred, a follow sign, icons to like, comment, share and save the post and a red arrow pointing to three dots

2. Select "Not Interested” and also mention the reason why you don’t like the particular post.


a screenshot of a menu opened after clicking on the three dots on the Instagram post,  a red arrow pointing to not interested option, besides text "save", "remix", "we've moved things around", "see where to share and copy link", "about the account", "QR", "report"


 

Step 5: Refresh Your Explore Page


The Explore page is a great place to discover new content, but it needs to reflect your interests. You can refresh it by interacting with posts that align with your current preferences.


  1. Visit the Explore page and spend time engaging with posts you enjoy.

  2. Avoid posts that don’t interest you.


 

Step 6: Limit App Usage

Spending less time on Instagram can sometimes help reset the algorithm. When you return to the app after a break, Instagram may refresh your feed with new content.


  1. Set a daily usage limit in your phone’s settings or use Instagram’s own time management tools.

  2. Take short breaks from the app to reset your browsing habits.


 

Step 7: Report Irrelevant Content

If you come across content that doesn’t interest you, use Instagram’s reporting feature to let the platform know.


  1. Tap the three dots on the post.


a screenshot of an Instagram post blurred, a follow sign, icons to like, comment, share and save the post and a red arrow pointing to three dots

2. Select "Report" and follow the prompts.


a screenshot of a menu opened after clicking on the three dots on the Instagram post,  a red arrow pointing to "Report" option, besides text "save", "remix", "we've moved things around", "see where to share and copy link", "about the account", "QR", "not interested"

 

Bonus Tips to Optimize Your Instagram Experience

Tip 1: Create a Close Friends List


Creating a Close Friends list helps you keep up with your favorite accounts more easily. Instagram tends to prioritize content from close friends in your feed, making resetting the Instagram algorithm even more effective.


  1. Go to your profile and tap the three horizontal lines.


a screenshot of a social media profile page. At the top, the profile's details, such as profile picture, name, and statistics (posts, followers, following), are shown but blurred out. At the top the three dots button is highlighted with a red arrow pointing towards it, indicating the option to view the account settings.

2. Select "Close Friends" and add the accounts you want to see more often.


nstagram settings menu displaying options for 'Your account' and 'How you use Instagram'. Under 'Your account,' it shows 'Accounts Center' for managing password, security, personal details, and ad preferences. Under 'How you use Instagram,' options include 'Saved,' 'Archive,' 'Your activity,' 'Notifications,' and 'Time spent.' Below that, in the 'Who can see your content' section, there are options for 'Account privacy' (set to Private), 'Close Friends' (with a count of 9), and 'Blocked' (with a count of 26). A red arrow points to 'Close Friends.

Having a Close Friends list ensures that you don’t miss important updates from your favorite people.


Tip 2: Use Instagram’s Mute Feature


If there are accounts you don’t want to unfollow but don’t want to see often, use the mute feature.


  1. Go to the profile of the account you want to mute and tap "following".


a screenshot of a social media profile page. At the top, the profile's details, such as profile picture, name, and statistics (posts, followers, following), are shown but blurred out. Below these details, a "Following" button is highlighted with a red arrow pointing towards it, indicating the option to view the accounts that this profile is following.

2. Then tap "Mute."


Dropdown menu on Instagram for the account 'flymarketing.biz' with options to 'Add to close friends list,' 'Add to favorites,' 'Mute,' 'Restrict,' and 'Unfollow.' A red arrow points to the 'Mute' option.

3. Choose whether to mute posts, stories, notes, etc.

Muting accounts helps declutter your feed without unfollowing, allowing for a more personalized experience.


Instagram 'Mute' settings for the account 'flymarketing.biz'. Options include toggles for muting 'Posts,' 'Stories,' 'Notes,' and 'Notes on posts and reels.' All toggles are currently in the off position. Red arrows point to each toggle switch.


 

The Impact of Instagram’s Algorithm on Businesses

For businesses and influencers, understanding and resetting the Instagram algorithm can be crucial. A well-curated feed can lead to higher engagement rates, better visibility, and ultimately more followers and customers.


How Businesses Can Benefit


The most interesting part is that you can control the Instagram Algorithm. But there are 5 things that you should focus on:


  • Getting Genuine Comments

  • Increasing Saves

  • Boosting Shares

  • Creating Engaging and Helpful Content

  • Experimenting with New Strategies


Tips for Businesses

Engagement is the key. The more people interact with your content, the more the algorithm will favor it. Here's a breakdown of how the Instagram algorithm works across different types of posts:


Instagram's algorithm considers four main factors for feed posts:

  1. Content Type: What is the post about?

  2. User Relationship: How often do you interact with the person posting?

  3. Content Preference: What type of content does the user engage with most?

  4. Past Interactions: Previous engagement with similar content.


To increase your feed post visibility, create content that encourages likes, comments, saves, and shares.


Carousel posts are similar to feed posts but perform exceptionally well on the Explore and Hashtag pages, especially when they receive many saves. Regular feed posts can appear on the Explore page without requiring as many saves.


To satisfy the Instagram Reels algorithm:

  1. Create Entertaining Reels: Funny and engaging content is key.

  2. Inspire Your Audience: Share content that motivates.

  3. Use Creative Tools: Utilize filters, text, and music.

  4. Experiment with Style: Try new and unique approaches.

  5. Post Consistently: Aim for at least two Reels per week for sustained engagement.


Home Feed

The Home Feed displays posts in three ways:

  1. Algorithm-Based: Ranks posts based on predicted user interest.

  2. Chronological: Shows the latest posts from following accounts.

  3. Favorites: Displays the latest posts from marked favorites.


For algorithm-based ranking, focus on:

  1. Time Spent: How long users view your post.

  2. Likes and Comments: Encourage interactions.

  3. Saves and Profile Taps: Promote actions that increase engagement.


Explore Page

The Explore Page showcases content from accounts users don't follow. To appear here, focus on:

  1. Post Engagement: High likes, comments, shares, and saves.

  2. User Interaction History: Repeat exposure to your account increases visibility.

  3. Similar Content Activity: Engage with content similar to yours.


Search Page

To appear on the Search Page:

  1. Use Relevant Keywords and Hashtags: Include these in your captions.

  2. Avoid Comment Hashtags: Place them directly in your captions.


Hashtags

Hashtags help your posts appear on the Explore and Search pages and are used by people looking for specific content or reposting purposes. Aim to:

  1. Engage Users: High engagement leads to appearances on the "Top" hashtag page.

  2. Consider User Interaction: Posts from users in the same city or country may be prioritized.


Stories

The Stories algorithm prioritizes content from accounts with the most interaction. Use polls, questions, and quizzes to boost engagement. Timeliness is less crucial for stories but still plays a role after 10+ hours.


Instagram Ads Algorithm for Business Growth

For businesses looking to maximize their reach and impact on Instagram, understanding and utilizing the Instagram ads algorithm can be incredibly beneficial. Unlike the organic feed algorithm, Instagram’s ads algorithm is designed to target specific audiences based on detailed demographic, behavioral, and interest data. This means businesses can run highly targeted ad campaigns that reach users most likely to be interested in their products or services. Additionally, Instagram’s ads algorithm continuously learns from user interactions, optimizing ad delivery to improve performance over time. This allows businesses to achieve better results, such as higher engagement rates and improved conversion rates, making Instagram ads a powerful tool for driving growth and achieving marketing objectives.


 

Conclusion

Resetting the Instagram algorithm might seem like a daunting task, but with these steps, you can take control of your feed and enjoy a more personalized Instagram experience. Remember, it’s all about engaging with the content you love and making sure your interactions reflect your current interests. Happy Instagramming!




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