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Have you ever wished there was a method to read Instagram direct messages without being seen? Fortunately, a workaround allows you to read a message in an Instagram conversation without the sender being aware.
It’s more usually referred to as a “half swipe,” which is misleading since you won’t be “half swiping” anything.
In this article, we will provide you with a comprehensive guide on how to half swipe on Instagram. By the end of this article, you will thoroughly understand how to open Instagram messages without seen. We will also tell you how to half swipe on Instagram for Instagram reels and stories.
What Is Half Swiping?
Half swiping is used on social media platforms, particularly for posts, stories, and direct messages (DMs). It involves swiping halfway through a post or story to quickly preview its content without fully opening it.
This strategy allows users to quickly browse through multiple posts or stories without committing to viewing each one. It is a convenient way to glimpse the content before deciding whether to engage further or move on to the next item.
Also, there are half swiping for Instagram DMs. This practice involves swiping halfway through a message notification on the Instagram app, allowing the user to read a portion of the message without triggering the “seen” status for the sender. By doing so, users can maintain privacy and avoid feeling obligated to respond immediately.
Now that you know everything about Instagram haf swiping, it is time to learn how to half swipe on Instagram.
How To Open Instagram Messages Without Seen?
You can try three safer methods to read Instagram messages anonymously without letting the sender know you’ve seen them. 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.
The second method is to 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.
The third 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.
More Data: Instagram DM Glitch: 8 Frequent Reasons and How to Fix It
Turn Off Your Internet
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.
Learn More: 1000 Free Instagram Followers Trial [Are They Real Followers or Fake?]
Go For Instagram Restricted Feature
Here are the steps to remove the restriction on a user after using Instagram’s “Restrict” feature:
- Tap the DM icon: Open the Instagram app and tap the DM icon in your Feed’s top right corner. This will take you to your direct messages.
- Open the chat with the user: Find and open the chat with the user you want to restrict.
- Tap the person’s name: Once in the chat, tap on the person’s name at the top. This will open their profile.
- Access the three dots: Look for the three dots icon located in the top right corner of the user’s profile. Tap on it to access additional options.
- Tap “restrict”: From the options menu, select “Unrestrict” to remove the restriction on the user.
After following these steps, the user will be restricted, and you can restore normal interaction with them.
Read More: The Best Instagram Followers App (+38 Fast & Free Android & IOS Followers Apps)
Try Half Swiping; How to Half Swipe on Instagram DMs?
Here is a step-by-step guide on how to half-swipe on Insta 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. However, it’s important to note that this method may not always be foolproof, as Instagram may update its algorithms and features. It’s always best to use social media platforms responsibly and respect the privacy of others.
Read More: How To Unsee Instagram Story When Accidentally Viewed
How To Make Sure Your Half Swiping Works?
In the given scenario, if multiple unread messages are in a chat, only the completely visible message on the screen will be marked as read. For example, if the message bubble for “Hey” is entirely viewable, it will be marked as seen. However, if the “Are you there?” message bubble is not completely on the screen, it will not be marked as read.

This means you cannot use this method to read all the unread messages without alerting the sender. The sender can see a “Seen” label underneath the message in your field of view, indicating that you have viewed that message. However, the other messages below will remain unread until they are entirely visible on the screen.
How to Half Swipe on Instagram for Stories, Reels and Lives?
During our conversation, we discussed how to open Instagram messages without seen, which involves swiping halfway through a message notification to read a portion of the message without triggering the “seen” status. Now, let’s explore applying this technique to other aspects of Instagram, such as IG Stories, Reels, and Lives.
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. Let’s dive into more details.
How to Half Swipe on Instagram Stories?
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 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 this method 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.
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How to Half Swipe on Instagram Reels?
To half-swipe 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.
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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.
Do You Want to Gain More Loyal Followers and Increase Your Long-Term Engagement Rate on Instagram?
How to Side Swipe on Instagram?
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, such as the Explore tab or a user’s profile.
- 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 different posts, stories, or reels.
Please note that the availability and functionality of side swiping may vary depending on the specific update of Instagram.
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AiGrow DM Management: Increase Your Engagement
AiGrow offers a comprehensive “Manage 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.
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. 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 Instagram” 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 seeing them.
Q2: Can People See When You Half Swipe?
No, people cannot see when you half swipe on Instagram. When you half swipe on Instagram for posts and DMs, you view only 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 Half Swipe on Instagram and Be Sure?
The message is not marked as read until the bottom of the message bubble crosses the screen’s threshold. This behaviour allows users to read messages without opening them using a “half swipe” hack. Whether this is intentional or a bug is unclear.
Q5: Can You Side Swipe on Instagram?
Yes, you can side swipe on Instagram in certain app sections. Side swiping allows you to navigate horizontally through different content, such as posts, stories, or reels. You can smoothly move through the available content by placing your finger on the screen and swiping it in the desired direction. Side swiping is a convenient way to explore and engage with various posts and media on Instagram.
Q6: How to Half Swipe on Instagram iPhone?
Following the detailed instructions provided in the previous section, you can learn how to half swipe on Instagram iPhone.