What Is Vanish Mode on Instagram and How to Use It

January 14, 2026 By Janne Smith No Comments 5 minutes

Vanish mode on Instagram makes the messages, photos, and videos disappear after you send them with vanish mode enabled. It leaves no permanent record of the sent messages.
You can enable vanish mode on Instagram from the Direct Messages section. However, you’ve to take a longer route to turn off Instagram vanish mode. This guide provides brief tutorials on how to turn vanish mode on and off on Instagram.

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What Is Vanish Mode on Instagram?

Vanish mode (disappearing messages) is an Instagram privacy feature that lets you privately send messages, photos, and videos. These messages disappear after the recipient reads them or after a set period. Users can still take screenshots, but the other party will be notified.

Core Features of Instagram Vanish Mode

Instagram launched vanish mode in 2020. The primary function is similar to other social media platforms’ disappearing messages. The core features of Instagram’s vanish mode include:

Disappearing Messages: All messages sent in Vanish mode disappear once the chat is closed.
Visual Indicator: Chat background changes to a darker theme.
Mutual Consent: Both people in the chat must follow each other to activate it.
Screenshot Alerts: Instagram alerts the other user if someone takes a screenshot.
No Save Option: Unlike regular DMs, there are no unsent or saved messages in chats.

How to Use Vanish Mode in Instagram?

The easiest way to use vanish mode on Instagram is by swiping up through the Direct Message (DMs). Here are two methods to use vanish mode Instagram:

Method 1: Swipe Up

This is the quickest method to enable disappearing messages on Instagram. Here are the steps for it.

Open Instagram. Go to Direct Messages (DMs).
Tap on a chat that you want to enable disappearing messages for.
Once the chat is opened, swipe up from the bottom of the screen.
Look for a message “swipe up to turn on Vanish Mode.” Release your finger once the message appears.

The screen will change to a darker theme with falling emojis. These indicate that the vanish mode is active and both users get notified.

Method 2: Chat Settings

This method isn’t as easy as swiping up the screen. But this gives more control. Here’s how to enable vanish mode via Instagram account settings:

Open the chat as Method 1.
Tap the person’s username (profile) from the top of the screen.
Scroll down > Privacy & Privacy.
Toggle the Vanish Mode on.

How to Turn Off Vanish Mode on Instagram

Turning off disappearing messages is similar to enabling it, i.e., the previous section. Before you proceed with the tutorial, here are the key things to remember:

Vanish mode is enabled per chat. You will have to disable for every conversation separately.
Swiping up the screen will enable it. Swiping up again after it’s enabled will disable vanish mode.
The chat shows past messages once Vanish Mode is off.

Steps to Turn Off Instagram Vanish Mode

Swipe up from the chat screen’s bottom to turn off Vanish mode. Here are the steps to disable the feature from Instagram Settings:

Go to your Instagram profile.
Go to your profile > Menu.
Click on Settings and Privacy > Messages and Story Replies.
Navigate Vanish Mode and tap Allow vanish mode.
Toggle the switch OFF.

Once done, you won’t be able to send or receive vanish mode messages. The swipe up gesture to enable Vanish mode will not work.

Instagram Vanish Mode Not Working: Troubleshooting Steps

You can enable the Vanish mode by swiping up from the chat screen. However, you might face errors at times. This section covers quick fixes and deeper troubleshooting steps.

Troubleshooting Steps to Instagram Vanish Mode Not Working

Mostly, there might be an app update you’re missing out on. Here are the quick fixes for disappearing messages not working on Instagram:

Update the Instagram App: Go to the official Application Store and update the Instagram app to the latest version.
Restart the Instagram App: Force close the Instagram app and reopen it.
Check the Internet Connection: Check if you’ve a stable Internet connection. Run a quick speed test to check the Internet speed.
Swipe Up: Swipe Up again and check if it activates or deactivates the vanish mode.

If none of the above-mentioned fixes work, try the following troubleshooting steps:

Log Out/In: Log out of your Instagram account and then log back in.
Reinstall the App: Delete Instagram and reinstall. Log in to your account.
Verify the Chat Type: Vanish mode works on one-on-one chats and not group chats.
Clear Cache on Android: Go to the phone’s Settings > Instagram > Clear Cache.
Contact Instagram Support: It’s best to reach out to Customer Support if the issue persists.

Is Vanish Mode Available on Both iOS and Android Versions of Instagram?

Yes, Instagram Vanish mode is available on both, iOS and Android versions of the Instagram mobile app. The core functionality is the same for both platforms, and it’s a standard feature within the Instagram Direct Message System.

Ensure that you already have the recent version of the Instagram app. If you still can’t enable the feature, then update the app via Application Store. However, Vanish mode is not available on Instagram’s desktop website or the Windows app.

FAQs - Vanish Mode on Instagram

How do I activate vanish mode in Instagram chats?

Go to your Direct Messages and open the messages of the user you want to enable disappearing messages for. Once the messages screen is open, swipe up from the bottom of the screen. The background of the messages will turn into dark mode. You should be able to see the message that vanish mode has been enabled.

Does vanish mode delete messages on both sides?

Yes, vanish mode deletes messages on both sides once the chat is closed. The deleted messages cannot be recovered, and taking a screenshot will notify the other user about it.

Can someone see when you turn on vanish mode on Instagram?

Yes, Instagram’s vanish mode is for individual chats rather than all chats being affected by vanish mode. The person’s chat you’ve enabled vanish mode for will be notified about it, and they can see that you’ve enabled disappearing messages on Instagram.

How to remove vanish mode on Instagram?

You can remove disappearing messages on Instagram by repeating the steps to enable it. Swipe up from the bottom of the screen and release the finger when you see the message “vanish mode has been disabled.”

Why don't I have vanish mode on Instagram?

Instagram released vanish mode in 2020. If you still cannot find the feature, then update the Instagram app. Once done, go to Direct Messages and select the user’s conversation you want to enable vanish mode for. Then, swipe up from the bottom of the screen and release your finger when you see the notification “vanish mode has been enabled.”

Final Note

You can enable Instagram vanish mode for individual chats only. Unlike WhatsApp, you have to decide which chats you want to enable disappearing messages for. Once enabled, all messages disappear after you close the chat. However, if you find Vanish mode not working, we recommend following our troubleshooting steps to resolve the issues.