Are you drowning in a sea of Instagram accounts that no longer serve you? You’re not alone. In this guide, I’ll share how to mass unfollow accounts on Instagram and how I purged over 2,000 irrelevant accounts from my Instagram following list using a simple Chrome extension – giving me back a curated, valuable social media experience.

The Instagram Following Problem

If you’re anything like me, what started as following a few interesting accounts gradually snowballed into following thousands. Before I knew it, my Instagram feed had become cluttered with:

• Dormant accounts that haven’t posted in months (or years)
• Bait-and-switch profiles that initially shared relevant content but eventually pivoted to pushing paid OnlyFans subscriptions
• Spammy accounts constantly trying to sell products I have zero interest in
• Accounts whose content I simply no longer find relevant

By May 2025, I was following over 3,000 accounts on Instagram, and honestly, I couldn’t even remember who most of them were or why I followed them in the first place. My daily scroll had become more exhausting than enjoyable.

Why Unfollowing Matters

A cluttered Instagram feed affects more than just your scrolling experience:

1. Algorithm Impact: Instagram’s algorithm shows you content similar to what you engage with. Following irrelevant accounts skews your recommendations.
2. Mental Clarity: Constantly seeing content that doesn’t interest you creates unnecessary digital noise and mental fatigue.
3. Time Management: You waste precious time scrolling past irrelevant posts to find content you actually care about.

How To Mass Unfollow Accounts On Instagram (Safely)

After a quick Google search, I discovered a Chrome extension that could automatically unfollow accounts that weren’t following me back. Here’s how I approached the mass unfollow process:

Step 1: Find a Reliable Tool

I opted for a Chrome extension specifically designed for Instagram unfollowing.

Important Note: This is NOT a sponsored post. I’m simply sharing what worked for me when cleaning up my Instagram account.

Step 2: Focus on Non-Followers First

I started by targeting accounts that weren’t following me back. This was a strategic first pass that helped me eliminate numerous promotional accounts and influencers who had no interest in my content.

Step 3: Be Mindful of Instagram’s Limits

Instagram has strict limitations on how many actions you can take daily before flagging your account for suspicious activity. Based on my experience:

• Don’t unfollow more than 100-150 accounts per day
• Space out your unfollowing activity
• Take breaks between unfollowing sessions

These precautions helped me avoid getting my account temporarily restricted or flagged.

Step 4: Review Before Unfollowing

Before letting the extension run, I reviewed some of the accounts it identified to ensure I wasn’t unfollowing accounts I genuinely wanted to keep, regardless of whether they followed me back.

Results: From 3,000 to 1,000 in One Week

By following Instagram’s limitations and being strategic about my unfollowing process, I managed to go from following over 3,000 accounts to just over 1,000 in about a week.

The difference in my Instagram experience was immediate and dramatic:

• My feed became filled with content I actually care about
• I rediscovered accounts I had forgotten I followed but whose content I truly enjoy
• The time I spent on Instagram became more intentional and enjoyable

Moving Forward: A More Mindful Following Strategy

This experience taught me valuable lessons about managing my social media consumption. Moving forward, I’ve adopted these principles:

1. Quality Over Quantity: I’m now extremely selective about which accounts I follow.
2. Regular Audits: Every few months, I review who I’m following and unfollow accounts that no longer align with my interests.
3. No More Bait-and-Switch: I’m now quicker to identify and avoid accounts that use valuable content as bait only to switch to promotional content later.

Final Thoughts

Cleaning up your Instagram following list isn’t just about having a tidier profile—it’s about reclaiming your attention and ensuring that the time you spend on social media adds value to your life rather than depleting it.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the number of accounts you follow, I highly recommend taking some time to clean house. While it requires some patience due to Instagram’s daily limits, the improved social media experience is absolutely worth it.

Have you ever done a mass unfollow on your social accounts? What strategies worked for you? Share your experiences in the comments below!

If you need help, shoot me a message. Good luck everyone 🍀