Instagram will stop supporting end-to-end encrypted messages starting May 8, 2026. Meta confirmed the decision and said the feature did not see wide use among Instagram users. When the change takes effect, messages in affected chats will no longer receive the privacy protections that encryption currently provides, so Instagram will treat those conversations as regular direct messages.
Meta has already begun notifying users about the upcoming change inside the Instagram app. The company also updated its support page with instructions that explain how users can download their encrypted chats and media before the feature stops working. Anyone who wants to keep those conversations should save their data soon, as the encrypted chat system will end once the deadline arrives.
The Verge reports that Meta introduced encrypted messaging on Instagram in December 2023 as part of a broader push to improve privacy across its apps. The company already offers end-to-end encryption on WhatsApp and Messenger, but it says only a small number of Instagram users actively relied on the encrypted messaging option.
Meta is Removing the Feature
Meta’s decision arrives as governments increase pressure on social media companies to strengthen child safety systems. Once encryption disappears from Instagram messages, the company will gain the ability to scan chats and calls to detect child sexual abuse material, grooming, and harassment.
Meta advises users to update the Instagram app and follow the instructions that appear in affected chats. The app will guide users through the process of downloading messages, photos, and other media before encrypted conversations stop working in May 2026.
