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Instagram to remove end-to-end encrypted DMs: What it means for users
Meta says the feature had low usage, but privacy advocates say the move raises fresh concerns about user security
- PUBLISHED: Sun 15 Mar 2026, 10:37 AM
Meta has confirmed that it will discontinue end-to-end encrypted messaging on Instagram.
The company recently updated its support page and began notifying users through in-app alerts that encrypted messaging on Instagram will no longer be supported after May 8, 2026. Users with affected chats will receive instructions on how to download messages and media they wish to keep before the feature is removed.
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According to Meta, users may also need to update the Instagram app to the latest version before they can download their encrypted conversations.
Why Meta is removing encrypted Instagram chats
According to a report in Mashable, a spokesperson for Meta, Dina El-Kassaby Luce, said the decision was largely driven by low adoption.
The company told The Verge that very few Instagram users were actually using the end-to-end encryption option, which had been introduced as an optional feature rather than the default messaging mode.
End-to-end encryption ensures that messages and calls can only be read by the sender and recipient. When enabled, even Meta itself cannot access the contents of those conversations unless a user voluntarily shares them.
By removing the feature, Instagram messages will return to standard encryption models where the platform may technically access certain data if required.
The move arrives amid an ongoing global debate over encrypted messaging platforms and user privacy.
Technology companies have faced criticism from privacy advocates for sharing user data with external entities, including law enforcement.
At the same time, governments and child-safety organisations have criticised strong encryption for potentially allowing harmful activity to occur undetected.
Although Instagram is dropping the feature, encrypted messaging remains available on other Meta services.
Users who prefer end-to-end encryption can still use it on WhatsApp, where encryption is enabled by default, and on Facebook Messenger, which also offers encrypted chats.
What Instagram users should do now
Users who currently have encrypted conversations on Instagram should take action before the deadline.
Meta says affected users will receive prompts explaining how to download their chats, photos, and videos before the feature is discontinued. Once the change takes effect on May 8, 2026, those encrypted threads will no longer be supported within the app. For many users, the change may even go largely unnoticed if they never enabled the feature.
