How to Block Instagram Reels Without Blocking Instagram
To block Instagram Reels without blocking Instagram, install SiteBlocker for Chrome or Firefox, open the Block List tab, and switch on the Instagram Reels section. Leave instagram.com off your block list. Reels pages stop opening and the Reels tab is hidden, while messages, stories and your feed keep working. It is free.
What still works with Instagram Reels blocked
Only Instagram Reels is affected. The rest of Instagram carries on as normal.
- Direct messages
- Stories
- Your main feed and profile
- Search and explore
- Posting and commenting
Checked against the extension on .
Want the whole site gone instead? Block Instagram →
Why people turn Instagram Reels off
- + Reels is the part of Instagram that behaves like TikTok: a vertical feed with no end and no reason to stop.
- + Checking one message should not cost forty minutes, but the Reels tab sits one tap from the inbox.
- + Blocking instagram.com outright cuts off messages, which is why most people never do it and stay stuck with the whole app.
- + Hiding the tab removes the prompt, not just the destination.
Block Instagram Reels with SiteBlocker
- 1
Install SiteBlocker
Add the free SiteBlocker extension to Chrome or Firefox. No account is required to start.
- 2
Open the Block List tab
In the SiteBlocker app, open the Block List tab and scroll to "Distracting sections".
- 3
Switch on Instagram Reels
Turn on the Instagram Reels switch. Instagram Reels stops opening and its buttons and thumbnails are hidden, on every device you are signed in on.
- 4
Leave the site itself off your block list
Sections work alongside your block list, not instead of it. Keep Instagram unblocked and only Instagram Reels is affected — or attach the section to a schedule so it applies during your work hours only.
Blocking Instagram Reels: FAQ
Can I still use Instagram messages with Reels blocked?
Yes. The Reels section covers only instagram.com/reel and instagram.com/reels. Direct messages, stories, your feed, search and posting are all untouched.
Does this block Reels inside someone’s profile?
Not yet. A profile’s Reels tab lives at instagram.com/<username>/reels/, which the current rule does not match. The main Reels feed and individual reels are blocked, and the Reels tab in the navigation is hidden.
Is blocking Instagram Reels free?
Yes. Section blocking is free for everyone and works without an account.
What if I want to block all of Instagram instead?
Add instagram.com to a blocklist and the whole site is blocked, Reels included. The section is for when you want the rest of Instagram to keep working.
Other sections you can turn off
See all six on the short-form blocking page , or explore every SiteBlocker feature on the features page.
Install in Seconds. Free Forever.
Join thousands of people who have stopped losing hours to mindless browsing. SiteBlocker works on Chrome and Firefox — no account required, no data collected.
Get Extension