Block Instagram Reels but Keep Your DMs
Most people who want to block Instagram Reels have the same requirement: don’t touch my messages. Instagram is where the group chat lives, where your cousin sends photos, where a client slides in with a question. Deleting the app to escape Reels means missing all of that. So the real question is not “how do I block Reels,” it is “how do I block Reels but keep my DMs.”
What stays and what goes
With CherryBrew on Android, Instagram opens inside CherryBrew’s in-app browser, signed in to your account. Here is the split:
| Stays | Goes |
|---|---|
| DMs and group chats | The Reels tab |
| Stories | Reels in your feed |
| Posts from people you follow | Explore |
| Search and profiles | Suggested posts |
| Comments, likes and posting | Sponsored posts |
The line is simple: CherryBrew removes the feed, not the conversation. Your inbox, your group chats and the people you follow are untouched. What you won’t get is the endless next Reel, and the one after that.
Why this is different from a blocker
Many Reels blockers work by watching the native Instagram app and stepping in when a Reels screen opens: some close it, some count videos and lock you out after a few, some add a pause. Some people like that hard line. The catch is that the Reels tab is still sitting in the bottom bar all day, and the block only happens after you tap it.
CherryBrew does it the other way around. The Reels tab and the Reels feed are never drawn on the page, so there’s nothing to bounce off and nothing to resist, and your inbox is never caught in the crossfire.
Set it up in two minutes
- Install CherryBrew from Google Play.
- Pick Instagram and sign in.
- Open your DMs. Everything is where you left it.
- Notice the bottom bar: no Reels tab.
If you also want to keep your messages on other apps, CherryBrew covers YouTube (no Shorts), Facebook (no Reels or Watch), X (opens on Following), Reddit (no r/popular) and TikTok (opens on Following). It costs $2.99 a month or $20 for lifetime access, and Lifetime covers up to 5 family members.
A note on habits
If your thumb still goes to the Instagram icon out of habit, CherryBrew has an optional Native App Shield: when you open the native Instagram app, it shows a reminder you set up, so you can switch to CherryBrew instead. It uses Android’s Accessibility Service only to see which app is open. It does not read your messages, your feed or what you type, and it is off unless you turn it on.
For the full walkthrough of every way to block Reels on Android, including blockers and the mobile-website trick, see how to block Instagram Reels on Android.
Questions
Can I block Reels but still use Instagram messages?
Yes. On Android, CherryBrew removes the Reels tab, Reels in your feed and Explore, while Instagram DMs and group chats keep working. You read and reply to messages exactly as before.
Do I need to delete Instagram to block Reels?
No. You can keep the Instagram app installed and use Instagram through CherryBrew for everyday messages and Stories. Your account stays the same; you are just opening it through a different front door.
Do Stories still work if I block Reels?
Yes. Stories from the people you follow stay at the top of your feed in CherryBrew.