How to Half Swipe on Instagram 2024 [See IG Stories and DMs Anonymously]

How to Half Swipe on Instagram Stories, DMs, Reels

You may have heard of users seeking ways to know ‘how to half swipe on Instagram’. But what does it entail? This is a trick that you might have overlooked.

As you know, when you view a story, the owner will see your profile on the viewers’ list. Additionally, when you read DMs, a ‘seen’ status will appear at the end of the messages you receive.

Have you ever wished there was a method to read Instagram direct messages without being seen? Or a way to view your friends’ stories without them knowing?

Fortunately, there is a workaround that allows you to read a message in an Instagram conversation without the sender being aware. It’s more commonly referred to as a ‘half swipe on Instagram.’

In this article, we will provide you with a comprehensive guide on how to half swipe on instagram messages and stories.

Note: You can utilize AiGrow’s DM-managed package to gain more control over your DMs on Instagram.

What Is Half Swiping on Instagram?

Half-swiping is a technique commonly used on social media platforms, especially for stories and direct messages (DMs) on Instagram. It involves swiping halfway through a DM or story to quickly preview its content without fully opening it.

Half-swiping on Instagram Stories provides a convenient way to glance at a story before deciding whether to engage further or move on to the next item. You can half-swipe on Instagram Stories to view the content users share without them being notified.

How to Half Swipe on Instagram Stories?
How to Half-Swipe on Instagram Stories?

If you’re wondering how to read Instagram messages anonymously, this strategy allows users to quickly browse through DMs. This practice entails swiping halfway through a direct message on the Instagram app.

It enables users to read a portion of the message without triggering the ‘seen’ status for the sender. By doing so, users can maintain their privacy and avoid feeling obligated to respond immediately.

How to Half Swipe on Instagram DMs?
How to half-swipe Instagram DM

Now that you understand everything about Instagram half-swiping, it’s time to learn how to half-swipe on Instagram DMs and Stories.

How to Half Swipe on Instagram Messages (DMs)?

To prevent the sender from knowing that you’ve seen their messages, you can turn off read receipts on Instagram. However, you may not want to do so for various reasons. In such cases, half-swiping DMs can come in handy.

To half-swipe on Instagram messages, you should be quick and mindful of your tapping and scrolling to avoid accidentally fully viewing the messages. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to half-swipe on Instagram DMs:

  • Open the Instagram app on your mobile device and tap the DM icon in the top right corner of your Feed to access your Direct Messages.
  • Select the conversation you want to view discreetly by tapping on it.
  • As you open the chat, quickly swipe up on the screen before the conversation fully loads. This action prevents the “seen Instagram” status from activating.
  • Now, slowly scroll down the conversation without reaching the end of the current message. This way, you can read the messages without the sender knowing you’ve seen them.

Following these steps on how to half swipe on Instagram, you can view your Instagram DMs without triggering the ‘seen Instagram’ status.

how to half swipe on instagram messages
how to half swipe on instagram messages

However, it’s important to note that this method may not always be foolproof, as Instagram algorithms and features may be updated. Let’s see how to check if your action was successful.

How To Make Sure Your Half Swiping on DMs Works?

In the given scenario, if multiple unread messages are in a chat, only the last and completely seen message on the screen will be marked as read. For example, if the message bubble for ‘Hey’ is entirely viewable, but the ‘Are you there?’ message bubble is not completely on the screen, it will not be marked as read.

The sender can see a ‘Seen’ label underneath the message in your field of view, indicating that you have viewed that message. So, you should swipe up as soon as possible to avoid encountering the last message. This means you may not be able to use this method to read all unread messages without alerting the sender.

To check if the messages are still unread and the ‘seen’ mark has not appeared, you should return to your direct messages without scrolling to the end of the messages that the user has sent. If the notification and the mark are still showing as unread, it means your action was successful.

How to Half Swipe on Instagram Stories?

ُSo, we discussed how to open Instagram messages without being seen. Now, let’s explore applying this technique to other aspects of Instagram, such as IG Stories.

How to half swipe instagram story
How to half swipe instagram story

Have you ever viewed a story on Instagram but wished you could unsee that story you accidentally viewed? While half-swiping stories may not be a cure, it can help prevent such occurrences!

Here are the steps on how to half swipe on Instagram Stories:

  • Open the Instagram app on your Android or iOS device and log in to your account.
  • From the Feed tab, locate the previous story that you want to view.
  • Tap on the previous story to start playing it.
  • While the previous story is playing, tap and hold it with your finger.
  • Move it halfway across the screen without lifting your finger to perform a half-swipe.
  • As you perform the half-swipe, the next story of the next user should start playing.

By swiftly swiping back to the previous story and exiting the app, you can minimize the chances of the user knowing that you have viewed their story.

However, please note that half swipe instagram story may have limitations. You won’t be able to see videos, and if the person has posted multiple stories, you may be unable to watch the subsequent ones.

How to Half Swipe on Instagram Reels?

Nobody will be notified of who visited the Reels, so this method isn’t really beneficial in that aspect. On IG Reels, still, you can only swipe halfway to see the content of the next reel. To half-swipe on IG Reels on Instagram, follow these steps:

  • Open the Instagram app on your device.
  • Look for a reel that you want to half-swipe.
  • Once you find the reel, open it by tapping on it.
  • Scroll down slowly until you reach the next reel, but make sure not to scroll all the way down.
  • Pay attention to the end of the current reel, usually indicated by a border or a separation line.
  • Scroll down just enough for the new reel to start playing, but make sure not to cross the border area.

By following these steps, you can half-swipe reels on Instagram. Remember, it may require some patience and practice to get it right.

You May Also Like to Read: Best App to Make Reels: Take Your Instagram Reels to the Next Level with These 10 Great Reel Apps

How to Half Swipe on Instagram Live? (Is It Possible?)

If you half swipe on Instagram Live, it will still notify the host and other participants that you have joined the live video. There is no way to view an Instagram live without the host and other participants being notified of your presence.

When you join a live video, a notification is generated to inform the host and all other participants about your attendance. This ensures transparency and allows for real-time interaction and engagement during the live broadcast.

How to Side Swipe on Instagram?

Side swipe on Instagram refers to the action of swiping left or right on the screen while viewing your homepage. When you swipe right, you’ll enter story mode, and when you swipe left, you’ll navigate to your direct messages.

To side swipe on Instagram, you can follow these steps:

  • Open the Instagram app on your Android or iOS device and log in to your account.
  • Navigate to the section where you want to side swipe on your homepage.
  • Place your finger on the screen and swipe it horizontally in the desired direction.
  • As you swipe, the content on the screen will move accordingly, allowing you to browse through stories, or DMs.
how to sideswipe on instagram
how to sideswipe on Instagram

Please note that the availability and functionality of side swiping may vary depending on the specific update of Instagram.

Other Ways on How to Open Instagram Messages Without Seen

You can try other methods to read Instagram messages anonymously without letting the sender know you’ve seen them:

Turn Off Your Internet

The first method is to turn on Airplane Mode on your device before opening the Instagram app. This prevents internet connection and allows you to read the messages without triggering the ‘seen’ status.

Here are the steps to stealthily read DMs without notifying the sender by going offline temporarily:

  • Turn off your internet connection: You can either disable your device’s internet connection or enable Airplane Mode for added protection. This will prevent any incoming notifications from being sent.
  • Open the desired message: While offline, open the DM you want to read. Since you are not connected to the internet, the sender will not receive any notifications indicating that you have seen the message.
  • Remain offline until you log out: It’s important to stay offline until you are ready to log out of the messaging platform. This ensures that the sender does not receive any notifications during this time.

Remember: Avoid turning on the internet before you keep logging out of Instagram, as doing so could trigger the ‘seen’ status and notify the sender that you have read their message.

Another method is to mark messages as unread on Instagram. However, this feature may only be available for business accounts. By using this method, you can mark messages as unread to respond to them when you are free.

The other method is to use the Instagram web version. By accessing your messages through the web version, you can read them without triggering the ‘seen’ status on the mobile app. Remember to exercise caution and respect others’ privacy when using these methods.

You can use a third-party app or website that allows you to read Instagram messages without marking them as seen. However, be cautious when using third-party apps as they may compromise your privacy or violate Instagram’s terms of use.

Keep reading as I want to introduce you to a service that offers a DM managed package to have more control over your DMs.

AiGrow DM Managed: Have More Control Over Your DMs

AiGrow is undoubtedly the best Instagram growth service available in the market today, offering a wide range of features that can take your Instagram presence to the next level.

The growth plan utilizes advanced targeting techniques to attract genuinely interested users, ensuring that your follower base consists of individuals likely to engage with your posts. In addition to the growth plan, AiGrow also offers an unfollow plan, which helps you manage your follower list effectively.

AiGrow offers a comprehensive ‘Managed DMs’ package that includes several features to enhance your Instagram direct messaging experience. Here are the key features of the package:

  • Dedicated Account Manager: AiGrow provides a dedicated account manager who handles your direct messages. They will ensure that your messages are sent out effectively and manage any responses you receive.
  • Live Onboarding Meeting: To get started, AiGrow offers a live onboarding meeting where you can discuss your goals and preferences with your account manager. This helps them understand your requirements and tailor the messaging strategy accordingly.
  • Smart Targeting: AiGrow’s Managed DMs package allows you to target specific audiences using various parameters such as influencers, hashtags, locations, competitors, and custom accounts. This ensures that your messages reach the right people.
  • Customized Messages: Your account manager will manually send over 50 customized messages per day on your behalf. These messages will be personalized to engage with your target audience effectively.
  • Message Rotation: AiGrow allows you to rotate through three custom messages to avoid repetitive messaging. This adds variety to your outreach efforts and keeps your audience engaged.
  • Guaranteed DM Delivery: AiGrow ensures that your direct messages are delivered successfully to the intended recipients. This maximizes the chances of your messages being seen and responded to.
  • Scorecard and Daily Report: You will receive a scorecard and daily report that provides insights into the performance of your direct messaging campaigns. This helps you track the effectiveness of your outreach efforts and make informed decisions.

AiGrow managers may not helpful to half swipe on Instagram, but they help you manage your DMs effectively. So, what are you waiting for?

Furthermore, AiGrow provides a content creation plan, which assists you in creating visually appealing and engaging posts. This feature includes access to a library of professionally designed templates.

How to Half Swipe on Instagram: Conclusion

Instagram is a popular social platform enabling users to connect, share posts, watch stories and reels, and exchange messages. Sometimes, you may want to view messages, stories, or reels without the sender or creator knowing.

While there is no official method for half-swiping on Instagram to achieve this, we gave you some hidden tricks on how to half swipe on Instagram. This involves swiping halfway through a message notification to read a portion of the message without triggering the “seen” status.

By learning how to half swipe on IG for Stories, Reels, and Lives, users could view content without fully engaging or leaving a trace, allowing for a more discreet browsing experience.

However, it’s important to be mindful of privacy and respect others’ boundaries.

FAQs

Q1: How to Unread a Message on IG?

Instagram does not have a built-in feature to mark a message as unread on Instagram once it has been opened and seen. Once you have viewed a message on Instagram, it will be marked as “seen” for you and the sender. However, you can still reply to the message or continue the conversation even after it has been seen. We suggest you learn more about how to half swipe on Instagram DMs before viewing them.

Q2: Can People See When You Half Swipe Instagram Story or DMs?

No, people cannot see when you half-swipe on Instagram. When you half-swipe Instagram Story or DMs, you only view a portion of a message or a post without fully opening or engaging with it. Since you don’t reach the end of the message or post, it does not trigger any indicators, such as the “seen” status or notifications, that would let the sender or other users know that you have viewed it partially.

Q3: Does Half Swiping Still Work for Seeing Posts?

No, half-swiping does not work for viewing posts on Instagram anymore. There used to be a feature where you could hold on to a post and watch it, but now you can’t half-swipe posts on Instagram.

Q4: How to Check the Half Swipe on Instagram Were Successful?

The message is not marked as read until the bottom of the message bubble crosses the screen’s threshold. This behavior allows users to read messages without opening them using a ‘half swipe’ hack. Whether this is intentional or a bug is unclear.

Q5: How to Half Swipe on Instagram iPhone?

Follow the detailed methods in the preceding section to learn how to half-swipe Instagram DMs, Stories, and Reels on iPhone and Android.