Some Instagram users report 'half-swipe' trick no longer works for DMs

In a move that’s left many Instagram users frustrated, the popular ‘half-swipe’ trick for sneakily peeking at direct messages appears to have vanished. Social media is buzzing with complaints from users who’ve suddenly found themselves unable to preview messages without fully opening them.

For the uninitiated, ‘half swiping’ allowed users to partially open a DM, getting a glimpse of its contents without triggering the dreaded ‘seen’ receipt. It was a go-to move for those wanting to scope out messages without feeling obligated to respond right away. I was able to get the half-swipe to work on Instagram for iOS, but not on Android. So it seems that Instagram has indeed removed this nifty hack for a number of users.

“UGHHHH ME TOOOOOOO 💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔” lamented one user on Reddit, echoing the sentiments of many who’ve grown accustomed to this unofficial feature.

The change seems to have caught users off guard, with many initially thinking it was just a glitch on their end. “I thought it was just me lol but ya,” commented another Redditor.

X has been equally ablaze with reactions. “Instagram wild taking away the half swipe,” one user posted, while another dramatically stated, “WHO TF told instagram to take HALF SWIPE bruhhh im irritated…”

Some users are already seeking workarounds. “Just turn off the seen feature,” suggested one Reddit commenter. It’s indeed a pretty decent workaround in case you don’t want people knowing when you read their DMs. But it goes both ways, meaning, you too won’t be able to see when someone reads your DMs if you toggle off the feature. To turn it off, go to Settings > Messages and story replies > Show read receipts > Disable the toggle.

While Instagram hasn’t officially commented on the removal of the ‘half-swipe’ functionality, it’s clear that its disappearance has struck a nerve with the platform’s user base. Whether this change is permanent or just a temporary tweak remains to be seen. Remember, Instagram often A/B tests new layouts and features, so this could be part of that as well. For now, users will have to find new ways to navigate their DMs on the down-low.