How to Clear the Instagram Algorithm

Feeling perpetually stuck scrolling through Instagram Reels that miss the mark or an Explore page that looks nothing like your actual interests? This isn't just bad luck, it's the algorithm at work, and it's learned some habits from you that may no longer fit. This article breaks down exactly how to retrain your algorithm by giving it clear, new signals about what you want to see, effectively spring cleaning your entire Instagram experience from your feed to your Explore page.

Why Your Instagram Feed Gets Stale (And What "Clearing The Algorithm" Really Means)

First, let’s get one thing straight: there is no magic "reset" button for the Instagram algorithm. Your experience is tailored to you based on your history - every like, comment, save, share, search, and even how long you linger on a video. The algorithm is a sophisticated learning system designed to keep you on the app by showing you more of what it thinks you enjoy. When your feed feels stale, it usually means the algorithm is stuck on old signals. It might still be showing you content related to a hobby you've moved on from, a trip you took six months ago, or an account you followed out of politeness.

"Clearing the algorithm" isn't about erasing your data. It's about a conscious, active process of curation. You're not wiping the slate clean, you're painting over it with new, more intentional information. By systematically telling Instagram what you don't like anymore and strongly reinforcing what you do, you can guide the algorithm toward recommendations that align with your current interests. Think of it less as a technical hack and more as teaching a very observant student what you want them to focus on. Understanding how to get Instagram recommended content that you prefer is key to a better experience.

Your Action Plan to Retrain the Instagram Algorithm

Ready to take back control of your feed? Follow these steps consistently for a week, and you’ll start to see a significant shift in the content Instagram serves you.

Step 1: Get Aggressive with the "Not Interested" Button

The "Not Interested" button is your most direct line of communication for telling the algorithm "no, more." It's a powerful negative signal that Instagram takes very seriously. Your goal is to be ruthless here. If you see something in your Reels feed, Explore page, or even as a suggested post in your main feed that doesn't inspire, entertain, or educate you, it's time to act.

Here’s what to do:

• Find a post you don't like on your Explore or Reels page.
• Tap the three dots (...) in the corner of the post.
• Select "Not Interested."
• Instagram will immediately hide the post and say, "We'll show fewer posts like this from now on." Sometimes it offers further options, like blocking a specific keyword or account. Use them!

Set a timer for 10-15 minutes and just scroll through your Reels and Explore page with a single mission: marking everything you dislike as "Not Interested." Don't just scroll past boring or irrelevant content - actively tell Instagram it missed the mark. This deep clean is the fastest way to stop unwanted genres of content from appearing.

Step 2: Prune Your Following List

The accounts you follow are the very foundation of your main feed. If you're following hundreds of accounts that you no longer engage with, you are watering down your feed with low-interest content, leaving less room for the good stuff. It's time to clean house.

Mute vs. Unfollow: Know the Difference

Before you start, understand your tools. Muting is perfect for accounts you need to follow for social reasons - like family members or colleagues - but whose content doesn't align with what you want to see. They won't know they've been muted, and you can still visit their profile whenever you want. Unfollowing is for brands, creators, or anyone else whose content you're simply done with.

A shortcut to find who to unfollow: Instagram makes this easy. Go to your profile, tap on your "Following" count, and you’ll see categories at the top. Look for an option called "Least Interacted With." This is a goldmine. It sorts the accounts you follow by those you’ve engaged with the least over the past 90 days. This list is your starting point. Unfollow freely. This action can also contribute to your efforts to grow Instagram followers who are genuinely interested in your content.

Why does this work? Unfollowing inactive or uninteresting accounts removes their content from the pool available for your feed. That automatically increases the percentage of posts from accounts you actually care about, giving the algorithm a much clearer picture of your preferences.

Step 3: Supercharge Engagement with What You Love

Just as important as telling the algorithm what you don't want is showing it what you do want. But not all engagement is created equal. The algorithm weighs different actions based on the level of intent and effort they require. A quick "like" is a good signal, but other actions are much more powerful. Learning how to increase Instagram engagement is crucial for this step.

Here are the high-value positive signals you should be using intentionally:

• Saves: Saving a post to a collection is one of the strongest indicators of high-quality, valuable content. It tells Instagram, "This is so good, I want to come back to it later." Make it a habit to save useful tips, beautiful images, inspiring quotes, or funny videos.
• Shares: When you share a post to your Story or via DM, you're becoming an advocate for that content. This tells the algorithm that the post is not only valuable to you but also worth recommending to others - a massive positive signal.
• Thoughtful Comments: A comment that’s more than just an emoji or "nice!" takes effort. Leaving genuine, conversational comments shows that you’re deeply engaged with the content, which both boosts that post and teaches the algorithm what kind of content makes you stop and talk.
• Profile Visits and Follows: Liking a Reel is one thing. Swiping over to view the creator's profile - and maybe even giving them a follow - is a crystal-clear sign that you’re highly interested in that account and their niche. Consider learning how to optimize your Instagram profile to make these visits more impactful.

For one week, make it a mission to use these signals. Aim to save 3-5 posts per day, share at least one, and leave a few genuine comments on content you truly enjoy.

Step 4: Clean Your Search History

Your search history is a direct input for the recommendations on your Explore page. If you once searched for "van life" content out of curiosity, Instagram might think you're still obsessed with campervans months later. Clearing your search history gives the algorithm a fresh starting point for recommendations.

How to clear your searches:

1. Go to your profile and tap the three-line menu (hamburger icon) in the top-right corner.
2. Navigate to "Your Activity" and then tap on "Recent searches."
3. Tap "Clear All" in the top right and confirm.

This is a simple, effective step that helps reset one of the algorithm's primary recommendation sources. Your Explore page will start to populate based on your more recent, intentional engagement instead of one-off searches from the past.

Step 5: Control Your Ad Settings

While you can't turn off ads completely, you absolutely can influence what kinds of ads appear in your feed and Stories. This contributes to the overall feeling of your feed. If you're tired of seeing ads that aren't relevant to you, tell Instagram.

• When you see an ad you don't like, tap the three dots (...) and select "Hide Ad." It will ask why - giving a reason helps it learn.
• For a more thorough approach, visit your Ad Preferences. Navigate to Settings &, Privacy >,, Accounts Center >,, Ad preferences >,, Ad topics. Here, you can review topics advertisers use to reach you and select "See less" on any you're not interested in.

Why A Curated Feed Matters for Creators

If you're a marketer, entrepreneur, or content creator, this entire process does more than just make your scrolling more enjoyable - it makes it more productive. When your feed is filled with random, irrelevant viral videos and suggestions from three hobbies ago, it's impossible to stay on the pulse of your own niche.

By retraining your algorithm, you transform your Explore and Reels pages from a cluttered distraction into a valuable research tool. You start discovering rising creators in your industry, seeing what content formats are actually working for your target audience, and getting inspiration that's genuinely relevant to your brand. A feed that's aligned with your goals helps you stay informed and create more resonant content for your own page. This also applies to the strategic use of hashtags on Instagram to reach your desired audience.

Final Thoughts

Retraining your Instagram algorithm is an ongoing practice of digital mindfulness. You guide its recommendations by decisively removing what you dislike while enthusiastically engaging with what you love. It's a feedback loop you control, and with a little consistency, your entire Instagram experience can feel fresh, inspiring, and tailored perfectly to you.

Keeping your creative inspiration high is just as important as keeping your content calendar organized. We designed Postbase because we were tired of legacy social media tools getting in the way of creativity. It has a simple, drag-and-drop visual calendar that helps you plan and schedule your content across all your platforms without the clunkiness. Because once you're full of great ideas from your newly curated feed, the last thing you want is a tool that slows you down.