You open the app and it’s there again. That one specific type of video you accidentally watched for too long three days ago is now every third post in your feed. Maybe it’s sourdough starters. Maybe it's aggressive fitness influencers screaming about cold plunges. Whatever it is, your Explore page feels like a room you can’t leave. You want to know how to reset my algorithm on instagram because, honestly, the current version of your feed just doesn't feel like you anymore.
It’s annoying.
The algorithm isn't a single "brain" you can just switch off. It’s a massive collection of signals—thousands of them—processing your every tap, hold, and scroll. Adam Mosseri, the Head of Instagram, has been pretty vocal about this over the years. He’s clarified that the app uses different algorithms for Feed, Stories, and Explore. They aren't all the same. So, when you feel "stuck" in a content loop, you’re actually dealing with a feedback loop that needs a hard manual override.
The Nuclear Option vs. The Soft Reset
If you’re looking for a giant "Reset Everything" button, I have some news. Instagram recently started testing a feature that lets you clear your content recommendations across Explore, Reels, and Feed. This is huge. It basically wipes the slate clean of the interests the app thinks you have. But be careful. If you do this, you're starting from zero. Your feed will look generic and probably a bit boring until you teach it what you actually like again.
To find this, you usually head into your Settings and Activity, look for Content Preferences, and see if the Reset suggested content option has rolled out to your account yet.
But what if you don't have that button? Or what if you don’t want to lose everything?
Most people don't actually need a total wipe. They just need to stop seeing the "junk." This is where the manual labor comes in. You have to tell the machine "no" more often than you tell it "yes."
How to Reset My Algorithm on Instagram by Training the Explore Page
Your Explore page is the purest reflection of your digital sins. If you spent twenty minutes looking at celebrity drama last night, Explore knows. To fix this, you have to be aggressive.
Go to your Explore page. Tap on a post you hate. See those three little dots in the corner? Tap them and hit "Not Interested." Do this ten times. Twenty times. Do it until it feels like a chore.
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When you tell Instagram you aren't interested, you aren't just hiding that one post. You are sending a signal to the ranking system to de-prioritize that entire "topic cluster." If you do this consistently for a week, your Explore page will transform. It’s like weeding a garden. You can't just pull one weed and expect the yard to stay clean; you have to keep at it until the flowers have room to grow.
Cleaning Up Your "Following" List
We all follow people we don't actually like anymore. It happens. Maybe it’s a high school friend who only posts crypto memes or a brand that’s gone off the rails.
The algorithm prioritizes "Inventory." This is the pool of posts available to show you based on who you follow. If your following list is full of accounts you ignore, the algorithm gets confused. It tries to show you their stuff, you scroll past it, and then the app thinks you're bored.
Go to your profile.
Tap Following.
Sort by "Least Interacted With."
Look at those accounts. If you haven't liked a post from them in six months, why are they still there? Unfollowing or even just "Muting" these accounts is a massive step in figuring out how to reset my algorithm on instagram. Muting is a great "polite" way to handle this. You stay "friends," but their content stops cluttering your ranking signals.
The Secret Power of the "Suggested Content" Menu
Inside your settings, there is a section called Suggested Content. Most people never touch this.
You can actually add Specific Words or Phrases that you want to hide from your feed. If you’re tired of seeing posts about "weight loss" or "political debates," you can literally type those words into the list. Instagram will then filter out posts that use those keywords in their captions or hashtags. It is incredibly effective for niche topics that keep bubbling up.
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Also, check your Sensitive Content control. If your feed feels too "intense" or "edgy," shifting this setting to "Less" can dramatically change the vibe of your Reels and Explore page.
Stop Being a "Passive Scroller"
The algorithm loves "dwell time."
If you stop scrolling to read a caption—even if you don't like the post—Instagram thinks you’re interested. If you watch a Reel twice because you were distracted by something in the background, Instagram thinks you loved it.
To reset your vibe, you have to become an active participant.
- Search for what you actually want to see. If you want more travel content, search for "Japan Travel" or "Patagonia" and spend five minutes liking those posts.
- Save posts. The "Save" button is one of the strongest signals you can send. It tells the app, "This is so good I want to see it again."
- Share to your story. When you share a post, you're telling the algorithm that this content is high-value.
You have to "vote" with your thumbs. If you’re trying to learn how to reset my algorithm on instagram, you can’t be lazy. You have to actively feed the machine the "good" stuff while ruthlessly cutting out the "bad" stuff.
What About the Cache?
Some tech circles swear by clearing your app cache. On Android, this is easy: Settings > Apps > Instagram > Storage > Clear Cache. On iPhone, you basically have to delete the app and reinstall it to clear the "documents and data" bloat.
Does this actually reset the algorithm? Not directly. The algorithm lives on Instagram’s servers, not your phone. However, clearing the cache can sometimes fix "ghost" bugs where the app keeps showing you the same three-day-old posts. It refreshes the local interface, which can make the "new" algorithm signals you're sending feel like they're taking effect faster.
Why the Algorithm "Relapses"
Sometimes you do all the work and then, a month later, the junk is back.
This usually happens because of your search history. Instagram keeps a log of every account and tag you've searched for. Even if you don't follow them, those searches influence your "Suggested for You" section.
Go to Your Activity, then Recent Searches, and hit Clear All. Do this once a month. It’s digital hygiene.
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Another reason for a "relapse" is third-party app connections. If you’ve linked your Instagram to other apps or websites, they might be sharing data back to Meta about your browsing habits elsewhere. Check your Website Permissions in settings and revoke access to anything you don't recognize.
Actionable Steps for a Fresh Feed
You don't need to do everything at once. Start small.
- Today: Go to your Explore page and mark 10 things as "Not Interested." Then, clear your search history.
- Tomorrow: Look at your "Following" list and unfollow or mute 5 accounts that no longer bring you value.
- This Week: Search for three topics you genuinely love and spend a few minutes liking and saving posts in those niches.
The algorithm is a mirror. If you don't like what you see, stop giving it the same input. It takes a few days for the changes to really "stick," but once they do, the app becomes a lot more fun to use again. Turn off the noise and reclaim your feed.