How to Turn off Vanish Mode on Instagram with Easy Steps

Get to know the simple steps to disable vanish mode on Instagram. This tutorial will guide you on how to turn off vanish mode on Instagram without wasting your precious time:

Are the messages on chats in your Instagram being erased right after you’ve sent or viewed them? If so, it is probably because your Instagram’s “Vanish Mode” is active.

Launched in 2020, Vanish Mode was a new feature introduced by Instagram as its answer to Snapchat’s popular ‘disappearing messages’ feature. It was a feature that catered to folks who valued their privacy on Instagram.

Table of Contents:

Instagram’s Disappearing Messages Feature: Steps to Turn Off
Frequently Asked Questions
Conclusion
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Instagram’s Disappearing Messages Feature: Steps to Turn Off

Steps to Turn off Vanish Mode on Instagram

Enabling it on Instagram is so easy that one can accidentally activate it on their chats without being aware. If you aren’t familiar with the feature, you won’t know how to disable it.

So consider this little guide as your introduction to this feature and how to disable Vanish Mode on Instagram with a couple of quick steps.

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What is Vanish Mode on Instagram?

As I mentioned before, Vanish Mode is an interesting new feature on Instagram that automatically deletes any messages you send on chat after they’ve been viewed and you’ve left the chat window. Vanish Mode has proven to be instrumental for folks who wish to have only ephemeral conversations on the platform.

With Vanish Mode switched on, you can have entire conversations with someone on Instagram and then exit the chat with no trace of it left behind. As soon as you exit the chat, the entire conversation and everything it holds, whether it is a text message, images, shared reels, stickers, GIFs, or emojis, will completely disappear.

Vanish Mode is ideal for folks who don’t want any permanent records of their conversation to be left behind on Instagram.

However, Vanish Mode can be frustrating if it accidentally activates and your messages start disappearing against your wishes.

The solution to this issue is very simple.

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How to Turn Off Vanish Mode on Instagram?

Learn how to turn off Vanish Mode on Instagram for iPhone and Android with these easy steps I’m about to share.

Follow the below steps to turn Vanish Mode off on your chats:

#1) Open “Messages” on your Instagram Account and select a chat.

#2) Once the chat window is open, you’ll see “Vanish Mode” being prompted at the very top of the chat window.

#3) Simply swipe up to disable it.

#4) You can activate Vanish Mode by swiping up on the chat window again.

It is that simple. You’ve now learned how to turn off Vanish Mode on Instagram on Android and iPhone devices. Give it a try.

What to do if You Can’t Turn Off Vanish Mode

You now know how to turn off Vanish Mode on Instagram on iOS and Android devices. However, sometimes this might not work. If a swift swipe-up isn’t turning the vanish mode on your Instagram off, then don’t worry.

Test out any of these methods without delay:

#1) Update the App

When was the last time you updated your Instagram app? I would always recommend updating your apps regularly. Updates take care of bugs or technical errors that might cause the issue you are facing. So update the app and re-launch it on your phone. This would probably fix the issue.

#2) Reboot Your Phone

If the update doesn’t work, it is time to reboot your device. You can try switching your phone off and turning it on again. This would refresh your system and fix any errors that were preventing the “Vanish Mode” from being turned off.

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#3) Clear Cache

If the issue persists, then perhaps it is the cache left behind on the device by Instagram. This cache can hinder an app’s performance and force it to act out. By clearing the Instagram app cache, you erase temporary data that is hindering your app’s performance. This could very well end up optimizing your phone’s Instagram app and help it function more competently.

Benefits of Vanish Mode on Instagram

There are various benefits to having vanish mode enabled on Instagram. Here are a few that are worth mentioning:

#1) Protecting User Privacy: Vanish Mode’s biggest role is to automatically delete all messages once they’ve been read. The entire message history completely vanished once you’ve exited the chat window, leaving no trace of it at all. People who wish to add an extra layer of privacy to their shared messages on the platform will find the feature invaluable.

#2) Excellent for Informal Conversations: Vanish Mode grants users a safety net of sorts, especially for folks who wish to have casual or informal conversations on the platform. You could openly talk to your friends on the platform or have a romantic chat with your loved one. Once the conversation is over, you can rest assured the messages you’ve shared won’t exist.

#3) Temporary Sharing: Vanish Mode is excellent for sharing media files. These would be photos or videos you’d like to share online but don’t want any permanent record of it left behind. These files will disappear once they’ve been viewed.

#4) Strong Security: Vanish Mode becomes ideal for sharing rather sensitive information. You could use Instagram to send messages like a password, bank account, or other confidential information, knowing very well that the messages will disappear once the chat has been exited.

#5) Keeping Digital Footprint at Bay: By sharing messages under Vanish Mode, you are keeping a leash on your digital footprint. This feature could prove useful for folks who are cynical of the Internet and wish to keep information about them far away from online spaces as much as possible.

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Things to Keep in Mind When You are Using Vanish Mode

Whether or not you are using Vanish Mode, it is still important to know a few things about this feature. This knowledge would help you use the feature to its best potential if you ever feel the need to use it in the future.

Foremost, it is important to understand that Vanish Mode will only be available between two accounts that have already chatted on the platform before. This essentially means that a stranger on the platform can’t send you messages in Vanish Mode.

Vanish Mode is also only available for one-on-one chats. It is not functional for group chats. Messages in Vanish Mode cannot be replicated, saved, or forwarded. Now you can take a screenshot of messages on Vanish Mode. However, the person on the other side of your chat will get a notification of the same.

Block or Report Inappropriate Message Sent in Vanish Mode

The primary purpose of Vanish Mode is to ensure users enjoy a higher level of privacy and security on the platform. In such a case, if anyone can send offensive messages under the protection of Vanish Mode, that kind of defeats the entire purpose of this feature.

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Thankfully, Instagram allows you to report an offensive message for up to 14 days after the message has disappeared. You can report an offensive message after 14 days as well, but the final report won’t include the message.

Do the following to report the inappropriate message:

#1) Hold down the message to then report it within your chat.

#2) From the opening menu, choose “Report” and cite the reason for reporting the message.

#3) You also have the option to block the account by sending you messages as well.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How does Vanish mode work?

Vanish Mode will automatically delete all messages from your chat once you’ve read it. Entire conversations are erased as soon as you exit the chat window. For Vanish Mode to work, either one or both of the parties conversing on the platform must have enabled it on their chat.

2. Can Vanish Mode be disabled permanently on the platform?

No, there is no such feature offered by Instagram as of today. You can only disable Vanish Mode manually each time by swiping up your chat window.

3. Does the other person in your chat know if the Vanish Mode is on?

Yes, Instagram immediately notifies the other person if you’ve swiped up to switch Vanish Mode on. By doing this, Instagram ensures that each person’s right to privacy is respected.

4. Do Vanish Mode messages delete permanently?

Messages in Vanish Mode automatically disappear once they’ve been viewed. However, they remain on Instagram’s servers permanently. This allows you to report the messages if you’ve found them to be offensive for a period of up to 14 days after they’ve been sent.

5. Can you take screenshots of messages on Vanish Mode?

Yes, you can take screenshots of messages on Vanish Mode. However, know that Instagram will notify you of the taken screenshot of the person on the other side of the chat.

6. Why parents should know about Vanish Mode?

Although I find Vanish Mode simple, I can also see its demerits, especially when it comes to minors using Instagram. Anybody suspicious could use Vanish Mode online to send disappearing messages to children online. Parents should be privy to this feature for the safety of their children online.

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If you are a parent reading this article, I suggest you use it to educate yourself about this feature. Also, try to intervene in your child’s online activity as often as you can to make sure they aren’t interacting with shady strangers on Instagram.

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Conclusion

As someone who frequently chats on Instagram, I’ve occasionally felt the need to delete messages after I’ve sent them. This is a major reason I think Instagram’s Vanish Mode is a godsend, especially for folks who value their privacy online. This feature can play a significant role in ensuring your security online.

However, most times you’d want the messages you’ve shared with someone online to be left behind so you can come back to them in the future. It would be impossible to do so if the Vanish Mode on your app is enabled.

With a swipe up though, you can easily disable the mode and prevent your messages from being automatically deleted. I hope this guide was useful in helping you learn how to turn off Vanish Mode on Instagram messages.

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