What is Vanish Mode on Instagram? All You Need to Know

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Learn how to make photos or videos disappear on Instagram

Written by Rain Kengly

Last Updated: August 7, 2024 Fact Checked

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What is Vanish Mode?

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Enabling Vanish Mode

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Do you want some privacy protection for your Instagram chats? With the new Vanish Mode feature, you can send messages that disappear after a certain time. Only you and the recipient will be notified of the Vanish Mode. Here's what Vanish Mode is on Instagram and how to enable it.

Instagram's Vanish Mode Explained

Vanish Mode allows you and another person to send messages that disappear on both sides once you leave the chat or when Vanish Mode is turned off. To use it, navigate to a chat and swipe up on the screen. The other person will be notified when this mode is turned on or off.

Section 1 of 2:

What is Vanish Mode on Instagram?

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Vanish Mode lets you send messages that disappear. When you have Vanish Mode enabled in a chat, you and the recipient can send messages to each other normally. However, if you or the other person leaves the chat or disables the mode, all messages sent in this mode will disappear.
- In Vanish Mode, you can't copy, save, or forward any messages.
- When you and the recipient leave the chat, Vanish Mode will delete messages on both sides.
- When either party enables or disables Vanish Mode, the other person will be notified. No one else on Instagram outside of your chat will be notified. Additionally, either party can take a screenshot or screen recording during Vanish Mode, but the other will be notified.
- The Vanish Mode feature may be unavailable in Japan and some European countries.

Section 2 of 2:

Enabling Vanish Mode

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1
Open the Instagram app. This looks like a camera with a multicolored background. Log into your account if you aren't already.^{[1]
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- Vanish Mode is only available on the mobile app.
- To engage Vanish Mode on Instagram, you'll need a chat open with the recipient.
This will either look like an airplane icon or a lightning bolt in a speech bubble.
You'll see a list of your open chats (or direct messages) from most recent to least.
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Swipe up on the chat and release. You should see the text Release to turn on vanish mode.
- You should see You turned on vanish mode.
- Send any messages, images, or emojis as you would normally.
- When you send a message in vanish mode, the other person will be notified. You'll also be notified if somebody sends you a message in vanish mode.
5
Swipe up again to exit Vanish Mode. You should see the text Release to turn off vanish mode.
- The chat will return to normal.