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Meta has announced that it is discontinuing end-to-end encryption on Instagram DMs. The company has stated on its support website that “the feature will no longer be supported after May 8, 2026.” This means that users who had previously enabled encrypted conversations on Instagram would no longer be able to access them. The feature was never enabled by default on Instagram DMs. Instead, it was available to users in specific areas, who had to turn it on individually for each conversation. This move comes as a few users had enabled it, the company said.



In a statement to Engadget, a Meta spokesperson said, “Very few people were opting in to end-to-end encrypted messaging in DMs, so we're removing this option from Instagram in the coming months. Anyone who wants to keep messaging with end-to-end encryption can easily do that on WhatsApp.”




Instagram DMs won't be end-to-end encrypted anymore: What it means for users



End-to-end encryption for messages and calls on Instagram ensures that only the participants in a conversation can read or listen to the content shared. Even the platform itself cannot access those messages.



With the feature being removed after May 8, 2026, users who currently have encrypted chats will receive instructions on how to download any messages or media they want to keep. In some cases, users may need to update the Instagram app before they can download affected conversations.



Encryption works by assigning special keys to each device participating in a conversation. When a message is sent in an encrypted chat, the sender’s device encrypts it before transmission. Only devices that hold the correct keys for that conversation can unlock and read the message.



The same process applies to audio and video calls, meaning only the participants with the encryption keys can access the content. However, messages can still be shared outside the conversation if a participant chooses to forward or report them.



Meta’s decision affects only Instagram DMs. The company continues to support end-to-end encryption on WhatsApp, where encrypted messaging has been standard since 2016.



Meta’s stance on encrypted messaging has changed several times recently. In 2019, Mark Zuckerberg outlined plans for a “privacy-focused” approach to the company’s apps.



“ Implementing end-to-end encryption for all private communications is the right thing to do,” he said. The company later delayed parts of that effort. In 2021, Meta’s head of safety said the rollout of encryption features was being postponed until 2023 to allow more time to develop safety tools.



Meta eventually began enabling end-to-end encryption by default for personal messages on Facebook Messenger in 2023. A current support page states that the company “is in the process of securing personal messages with end-to-end encryption by default.”



End-to-end encryption has drawn criticism from law enforcement agencies and child safety groups, which argue that it can make it harder to detect criminals who target children online. The issue has also surfaced during a trial in New Mexico related to child safety concerns. Internal documents revealed during the proceedings show Meta executives discussing the balance between user privacy and safety risks when implementing encryption features. During testimony shown in the trial, Zuckerberg said safety considerations delayed the rollout of encryption on Messenger.



“There's been debate about this, but I think the majority of folks, from people who use our products to people who are involved in security overall, believe that strong encryption is positive,” he said.