Jump to section
If you're trying to hide the list of people you follow from nosy friends, partners, or strangers on the internet, you're not alone. Users have begged Instagram for a "hide follow list" toggle for years.
Unfortunately, as of 2026, that toggle does not exist. Anyone who promises you a secret settings menu or an app that hides your list while staying public is lying to you.
The Truth About Public Accounts
If your account is Public, your Followers and Following lists are public. Period. Instagram's API allows third-party tools like our Recent Follower Viewer to easily parse and display public connections. You cannot conditionally hide it.
Method 1: The Private Account Switch
The only legitimate way to shield your following list from the general public and third-party scraping tools is to go Private.
- Go to your profile and tap the three lines in the top right.
- Tap Settings and privacy.
- Under "Who can see your content", select Account privacy.
- Toggle on Private account.
Note: People who already follow you will still be able to see your lists. This only stops new/unapproved strangers.
Method 2: Remove the Follower
If you are Private, but want to hide your list from a specific person who already follows you, you must remove them as a follower.
- Go to your Followers list.
- Find their name.
- Tap the Remove button next to their name.
They won't be notified, but they will realize they can no longer see your posts or follow list next time they visit your profile.
Method 3: Blocking
If you want to maintain a Public account but keep one specific person out, Blocking is your only choice. It completely severs all ties: they cannot find your profile, view your posts, or see who you follow.
Curious what data is visible?
Run your own public username through our tool to see exactly what anyone else can see about your recent follows.
Check Your Recent Follows →