How to Block Instagram Bots and Protect Your Engagement
TL;DR - Quick Answer
7 min readTips you can use today. What works and what doesn't.
How to Block Instagram Bots
Quick Answer
To block a bot on Instagram:
- Tap their profile
- Tap three dots (...)
- Select "Block"
- Confirm
Bot indicators:
- Username like "sarah_2947385"
- Following 1000+, under 50 followers
- No profile picture or posts
- Generic comments: "Nice!" "Great!"
Why Bots Hurt Your Account
The damage:
- Lower engagement rate (Instagram counts bots as non-engaging followers)
- Reduced content distribution
- Less reach to real followers
Example:
1,000 followers (300 are bots)
Post gets 50 likes
Instagram sees: 50/1000 = 5% engagement
Algorithm reduces your reach
How to Identify Bots
Username Patterns
Bots: emily_948372, asjdhk_official, grow_your_insta_fast Real: johndoe, photographeralex, sunsetseeker
Following/Follower Ratio
Comment Patterns
Bot comments: "Amazing!" "Nice!" "🔥🔥🔥" "Check my bio!" Real comments: Specific to your content, asks questions, shares experiences
Which of these is the STRONGEST indicator that an Instagram account is a bot?
How to Block Bots
Method 1: Block Follower
- Go to your profile → Followers
- Find suspicious account
- Tap three dots (...)
- Select "Block"
Method 2: Remove Follower (No Block)
- Go to Followers
- Tap "Remove" next to account
- They unfollow but can still see public posts
Method 3: Restrict
Use when unsure if it's a bot:
- Their comments hidden (unless you approve)
- Can't see when you're online
- They don't know they're restricted
Bulk Removal
Block 10-20 per hour (don't do all at once) Spread over 2-3 days to avoid spam detection
Prevent Bot Followers
Privacy Settings
Comment filters: Settings → Privacy → Comments → Manual filter Add: DM, check bio, F4F, crypto, investment
Message control: Settings → Privacy → Messages → "People you follow"
Better Hashtags
Avoid: #follow4follow, #like4like, #instagood Use: Niche hashtags (10K-500K posts), location tags, community hashtags
For authentic growth, see our Instagram management tools guide.
After Blocking Bots
Week 1: Engagement may drop (Instagram recalculating) Week 2-3: Reach improves to real followers Week 4+: Higher engagement rate, better algorithm ranking
Monthly maintenance:
- Check 50-100 newest followers
- Block obvious bots
- Review spam comments
- Update filter keywords
FAQ
How do I know if a follower is a bot on Instagram?
Check for: username with random numbers (emily_948372), no profile picture or posts, following 1000+ accounts but has under 50 followers, generic comments. If an account has 2-3 of these signs, it's likely a bot.
Does blocking bots help my Instagram engagement?
Yes. Bots lower your engagement rate because Instagram counts them as followers who don't engage. Removing bots improves your engagement percentage, making Instagram's algorithm favor your content.
Can I get banned for blocking too many accounts?
Block gradually: 10-20 accounts per hour, spread over several days. Use Instagram's "Remove" feature for a safer alternative. Never use third-party automation tools.
Related: Best Instagram Management Tools · How to Run Social Media Contest
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