When you link your Threads account to Instagram, your Instagram Story viewers may see activity from Threads, such as when someone you follow posts a Thread. This visibility can be surprising if you assumed the two platforms were separate. The cause is the default sharing setting that connects Threads posts to your Instagram profile. This article explains how to disable that connection so your Threads activity stays hidden from Instagram Story viewers.
Key Takeaways: Hiding Threads Activity from Instagram Stories
- Threads > Profile > Settings > Privacy > Suggest accounts on Instagram: Turn this off to stop Threads from suggesting your profile to Instagram followers.
- Threads > Profile > Settings > Privacy > Activity status: Disable this to hide your online status from Instagram.
- Threads > Profile > Settings > Account > Share to Instagram: Turn off automatic sharing of your Threads posts to Instagram Stories.
Why Threads Activity Appears on Instagram Stories
Threads and Instagram are built on the same account system. When you sign up for Threads with your Instagram account, some data from Threads can appear on Instagram. This includes the posts you like, the accounts you follow, and the Threads you create if sharing is enabled.
The specific setting that causes Threads activity to appear in Instagram Stories is called “Suggest accounts on Instagram.” When enabled, Threads uses your activity to suggest your profile to people who view your Instagram Stories. For example, if you like a Thread about cooking, Threads may tell your Instagram Story viewers that you follow that cooking account.
The feature is turned on by default when you first link your accounts. You must manually disable it to stop the cross-platform visibility.
Steps to Hide Threads Activity From Instagram Story Viewers
Follow these steps to stop Threads from showing your activity to Instagram Story viewers. You need access to the Threads mobile app on your phone.
- Open Threads and go to your profile
Tap the profile icon in the bottom-right corner of the screen. This opens your profile page. - Open Settings
Tap the two horizontal lines icon in the top-right corner of your profile. Then tap Settings from the menu that appears. - Go to Privacy
In the Settings menu, tap Privacy. This opens the privacy controls for your Threads account. - Disable Suggest accounts on Instagram
Under the Privacy section, find the option labeled “Suggest accounts on Instagram.” Tap the toggle switch next to it to turn it off. The switch should change from blue to gray. This stops Threads from suggesting your profile to people who view your Instagram Stories. - Disable Activity status
Still in the Privacy section, tap “Activity status.” Then tap the toggle switch next to “Show activity status” to turn it off. This hides your online status from both Threads and Instagram. - Go to Account settings
Return to the main Settings menu and tap Account. Then tap “Share to Instagram.” - Turn off automatic sharing
In the Share to Instagram settings, you will see options for sharing your Threads posts to Instagram Stories and your Instagram feed. Tap each toggle switch to turn them off. This prevents any new Threads posts from appearing on Instagram automatically.
What Happens After You Disable These Settings
After you disable the settings above, Threads will stop showing your activity to Instagram Story viewers. Existing suggestions based on your past activity may remain for a short time, but new activity will not be shared. Your Threads profile and Instagram profile remain linked, meaning you still log in with the same account. Only the cross-platform visibility is removed.
If you want to completely disconnect the accounts, you can unlink them entirely. However, this will also delete your Threads account. The steps above are the recommended way to hide activity without losing your Threads profile.
If Threads Activity Still Appears After Disabling Settings
Threads activity appears on Instagram Stories after turning off all settings
If you still see Threads activity on Instagram Stories after disabling the settings above, the issue is likely a cached suggestion. Instagram may still show suggestions based on data collected before you turned off the settings. Wait 24 to 48 hours for the cache to clear. If the problem persists, log out of both apps and log back in. This forces the apps to reload your settings.
Threads posts still automatically share to Instagram Stories
If your Threads posts still appear on Instagram Stories even after turning off Share to Instagram, check if you have an active sharing automation in a third-party app. Some scheduling tools can override the in-app settings. Review any connected apps in Threads Settings > Account > Connected apps and revoke their access.
Threads vs Instagram: Visibility Settings Compared
| Item | Threads Setting | Instagram Setting |
|---|---|---|
| Profile suggestion to followers | Privacy > Suggest accounts on Instagram | Settings > Privacy > Account suggestions |
| Activity status visibility | Privacy > Activity status | Settings > Privacy > Activity status |
| Automatic post sharing to Stories | Account > Share to Instagram | Settings > Sharing > Share to Threads |
| Account linking | Settings > Account > Linked accounts | Settings > Account > Linked accounts |
Disabling the Threads settings does not affect the Instagram settings. You must adjust both apps separately if you want full privacy control.
Conclusion
You can now hide your Threads activity from Instagram Story viewers by disabling the Suggest accounts on Instagram toggle and turning off automatic sharing. Start by checking your Privacy settings in the Threads app. For complete separation, also disable Activity status and the Share to Instagram option. Remember that cached suggestions may take up to 48 hours to disappear. If you use third-party scheduling apps, revoke their access in the Threads Connected accounts menu.