How To Clear Your Suggested Searches On Instagram

With new updates and features being added to Instagram, the social media platform keeps getting more complicated. The Instagram algorithm is no longer what it used to be years ago and has been updated to serve users better and also connect many Instagram users.

If you've ever used the search bar on Instagram, then you know that your search result never goes away and is stored on Instagram. The next time you try to use the search bar on the social media platform once again, it is then suggested.

If you use Instagram frequently or you utilize the platform to extend your business reach, it matters to be knowledgeable about every nuance of the Instagram account. One common issue many Instagram users have is deleting their suggested search.

The suggested search could be major trending issues or a global topic. Recently the pandemic was the top suggested search on Instagram due to it being a global issue and many people searching the topic out on the Instagram application.

This can be quite an annoying feature after a while, but there's an effective method to successfully get rid of suggested search on Instagram, and we would be sharing these methods in this article.

Delete Your Instagram Search History

How to Effectively Get Rid of Suggested Search on Instagram

One way to actually get rid of the suggested search on Instagram is by getting rid of your own search history.

The Instagram algorithm works in a way that it takes note of previous searches made by you and then provides you with a suggested search related to your search history.

If you have to get rid of one, you need to delete the other, and below are steps to delete the search history on the social media platform using the mobile app and the PC.

How To Get Rid of Search History Using Mobile App

This session discusses the steps Instagram users can take to wipe out their search history from the Instagram app on their phones. This process would work for iOS and Android devices.

To get started, Instagram users will need to launch the Instagram app on their mobile devices.
Next, visit your profile by tapping on your profile icon located on the menu bar at the end of the page.
Once your profile pops up, tap on the triple horizontal lines at the top of the page to explore new options.
Choose settings from the options provided; it is located at the end of the page.
Settings will take you to a new page; choose security from the options displayed on the page.
This will lead you to a brand new page with options; scroll to the end of the options, and tap on 'clear search history.'
There will be a pop-up window requesting you to confirm your decision. To continue with the action, click on yes, and your search history on Instagram will be automatically deleted.

After deleting your search history, you can confirm that this process worked by refreshing the Instagram page or simply closing and reloading the app.

This allows your action to be more effective and to take its course. Once you go back to the search bar, you should find your suggested search gone so you can start afresh without Instagram, suggesting searches to you.

How to Get Rid of Search History Using PC

Although Instagram is a mobile app, first and foremost, it has also been optimized to perform efficiently on your PC. There are actions you can carry out on the desktop Instagram version, like deleting your search history.

Although the methods are quite similar to using the mobile app, there are some differences that would be pointed out in the steps outlined below.

First, open your preferred browser and then visit the official Instagram website by entering the site URL.
Once the website loads, enter your login details if you're not already logged into the platform.
Go to your profile by clicking on your displayed picture displayed on the menu bar below your Instagram feed.
On your Instagram profile, click the hamburger icon at the top right side of the page and click on settings from the options displayed.
This will take you to a new page; click on account data from the options displayed.
Next, click 'account activities' to proceed and then select view search history from the options displayed.
Once this opens, the 'delete search history' option should be displayed; tap on it.
You would be required to confirm your decision to wipe out your search history; confirm this by tapping on the 'yes' option, and the process would be completed.

Once this is completed, Instagram would clear out the suggested search while browsing through the social media platform on your PC, and you can now search for whatever you want with the suggested search getting in your way.

How To Remove Specific Instagram Users From Your Suggested Search

When you wipe your Instagram search history, accounts which you might have previously searched still show up in your recommended search list as they still exist on the other Instagram user's profile.

The presence of these suggested accounts can get irritating and quite embarrassing, which is why we're presenting you with a way you can get rid of them and ensure they don't pop up amongst your suggested search once again.

The method provided below can be used for both mobile devices and PC; it depends on your preference.

First, Instagram users need to launch the Instagram app on their mobile device or open the website on their PC and log into their account.
Next is to click on the search section, which is the second icon on the menu bar, and is quite easy to take note of.
When you click on the search icon, it takes you to a page with a search bar at the top of the search page and your 'explore feed' below it.
Tap on the search bar, and the past search list will start popping up beneath the search bar.
There would be an 'x' sign next to each account name; tap on it to delete the Instagram users you wouldn't want on your suggested search.
Once you do this, these accounts will disappear and no longer appear on your list of search suggestions.

What To Do When Search History Persists on Instagram

There are times when you wipe out your search history from your Instagram account via the mobile app or the PC, and it still persists in the suggested search and still pops up frequently.

When this happens, there are other steps you can take to make sure it is truly gone, and below are some of the steps to do that effectively.

Restart Your Device

One step you can take is to restart your device to prevent the search history from persisting. Most times, deleting the search history effectively takes care of the problem, but your Instagram app needs time to effect the new changes and serve you better.

To allow this, you can try restarting your PC or your mobile device. Give it some time, and then launch the mobile app or website once again to see if the deleted search history still persists as your suggested search.

Clear Out The App Cache

If you're using an android device, then it might just be a problem with your app history and cache. To solve this problem, you need to clear out the app cache.

Go to your mobile phone setting and go to the app list; this could appear as apps, apps and notifications, or app management.

This setting's name depends on the device and operating system being used, but they mean the same thing. Scroll through the complete list of installed apps on your devices and click on Instagram. This will take you to the app page, click on storage and cache from the options provided.

When this option opens up, click on 'clear cache' to clear all cache saved by the app. Relaunch your app after this to see if deleted search history still persists on the suggested search.

Log in and Out of The App

Sometimes, all you need is to log in and out of the account. To log out, simply visit your profile page and click on the horizontal lines at the top of the profile page. This tab will present you with a list of options; choose 'settings,' which is the last option on the list.

Scroll to the end of the options provided under the setting and click on the option 'log out' to effectively log out of your account. After some minutes, launch the app once again and log in by inputting your login details; this should effectively clear out the persistent search history.

Clear Instagram Data

Another solution you can try to clear out persistent search history is clearing out the app data from your mobile device. Simply visit your phone setting and visit the list of apps; choose Instagram from the options and when it opens up, click storage and cache.

This will lead you to a new page with options, choose 'clear storage' or 'clear data' from the options provided, and all data stored by the app would be deleted, including your username and password.

The app would be good as new and should effectively get rid of the persistent search history.

Uninstall the Instagram App

This solution is the worst-case scenario and should only be considered if other options do not work. You can uninstall the app via the phone setting by clicking on the app; the uninstall option will appear right at the top of the page.

iOS devices can reinstall the app from their App store, while those using Android devices can install the Instagram app from the Google play store once again.

How To Stop Friend Suggestions on Instagram

The Instagram algorithm works in a way that when you follow an account on the platform, it automatically detects accounts that are similar to the followed one or accounts followed by mutual friends and suggest it to you.

Once you follow an Instagram user, accounts related to the account pops up as friends' suggestions for you on Instagram.

You can get rid of this by tapping on the 'x' button at the right corner of each account suggested. Another effective way to carry this out is to simply press the back button to leave the profile of the account you just followed.

Doing this will effectively get rid of the suggested Instagram friend list, and you can keep swiping through Instagram.

How To Customize Your Instagram Explore Page

The Explore page works a lot like the suggested search on Instagram; it is a feed created from what you like on the platform. The Instagram algorithm is responsible for customizing your Explore page.

Once you like a post or page on Instagram, the algorithm gets a hint of what you might prefer to see, and your Explore page is filled with content based on that hint.

Customizing the explore page is one issue being faced by Instagram users, but there are ways you can filter your explore page and customize it to show you what you want to see.

You can try clearing out your search history; the Instagram algorithm loses its hint this way and then relies on your future searches to customize your explore page.

The next step to take is liking posts and videos you would like to see. With the clean slate provided, the Instagram algorithm takes note of your searches and then customizes the explore page to provide you with sources for future search.

Avoiding Undesirable Content On Instagram

Different types of posts can pop up on your Explore page, and there are some you find undesirable. It is not possible to like everything you come across on Instagram.

If you ever come across posts you would really like to avoid on Instagram; you're not alone. Thankfully, Instagram is always trying to serve you better and therefore offers you an effective tool to get rid of content you don't want to see.

You can easily change your preference by following the steps outlined below.

Launch your Instagram app and log into your account if you're not already logged in.
Visit the explore page by clicking the magnifying glass icon on the menu bar.
Sift through the explore page and tap on a photo or video you don't want to see.
When the post opens up, click the three dots beside the post to explore its options.
Click on 'see fewer posts like this from the options provided.
Automatically, the Instagram algorithm takes note, and you will stop seeing such posts on your Explore feed.

FAQs

Can you turn off the suggested search option on Instagram?

No, you cannot turn off this feature. However, you can clear out the suggested searches by clearing your search history on Instagram.

Why does someone get suggested for you on Instagram?

Most of the time, it is because of your activities on the platform. The Instagram algorithm takes note of posts you've commented on or liked as well as similar accounts that you've followed lately.

How do you get suggested on Instagram?

If someone visits and follows an Instagram account similar to yours or related to yours, Instagram will suggest you to the Instagram user. It also works if your phone contact is present on the User's mobile device or you're friends on Facebook.

Final Thoughts

We all know how annoying search suggestions can be, and if you're looking for a way to get rid of annoying suggested search on Instagram, then we've outlined effective methods above to help you along.

If you have also cleared your search history and it still persists, there are proven methods to take care of the issue, and they are provided above.

Instagram is a platform to stay updated on things you would like to see, so if you're continually shown posts you would like to avoid or accounts you're not interested in, then don't hesitate to utilize one of the provided methods above and customize your Instagram account to suit your preference and needs.