Instagram adds option to see post view counts on profile grid, but you can toggle them off

Instagram users might soon notice a change to their profile grids. The platform is rolling out a new feature that displays view counts directly on post thumbnails within your own profile view. This means you’ll be able to quickly scan your grid and see how many views each piece of content has received, right alongside the image or video preview.

However, these numbers are just for your eyes only. As highlighted by Ahmed Ghanem (@ahmedghanem), who shared details of the update, “only the account owner can see the count.” This adds another layer of private analytics for creators and users curious about their content’s reach, without broadcasting those numbers publicly on the main grid.

Recognizing that not everyone wants a constant reminder of view counts, Instagram has included a toggle switch. A screenshot reveals a “View counts on profile” setting with an option to “Hide view counts.” Turning this toggle on will remove the view counts from your personal grid view. Interestingly, the setting description notes, “When this is on, you won’t see view counts on your grid and others won’t see them on your Reels tab.” This links the visibility of grid view counts (for yourself) with the public visibility of view counts on your Reels tab.

This move comes after Instagram’s previous experiments with hiding like counts, aiming to reduce pressure associated with public metrics. While some users appreciate more data, others prefer a cleaner look or feel less focused on numbers. User ‘rycflwrchild’ commented on deciding to hide counts, saying, “I chose to do so because I don’t understand why people care about how many times someone views your content. If you’re interested watch if not move along.”

Like many new Instagram features, this appears to be part of a slow rollout. I don’t have access yet, suggesting it could take weeks or months to reach all users globally. So, if you don’t see view counts cluttering your grid just yet, you might soon – but remember, you’ll have the control to turn them off.