Main Reasons for Reduced Like Visibility on Instagram
Algorithm Changes and Reels Priority
In 2026, Instagram more often promotes short videos and carousels. Regular photos without interactivity are shown less, so they simply get fewer likes. In practice, here’s what people usually do – convert part of their content into Reels and carousels, leaving photos as supplementary content with a clear CTA.
- If likes are important, focus on Reels with a simple hook in the first 2 seconds.
- Carousels – for explanations and step-by-steps. Photo posts – as a rare format.
- Include a clear call to action at the end – save or ask a question.
How Attention Span Affects Like Display
People scroll quickly. If a Reels doesn’t give a reason to keep watching in the first seconds, reach gets cut, and with it, the likes. This isn’t theory – it’s visible in the Reels retention graph in Insights.
- Check the first 3 seconds – they should have the clearest shot or benefit.
- If retention drops immediately – reshoot the intro, shorten the lead-in, remove slow-reading text.
- Better to make one dense 15-second video than drag out 40 seconds without pace.
The Role of Content Originality in Ranking
Reposts, re-uploads, and videos with platform watermarks perform worse. Likes don’t grow because people have already seen it elsewhere. It’s easier to re-record an idea with your own voice and footage than to try to boost a repost.
- Remove others’ watermarks – export a clean version.
- Change the visuals and text, not just the music.
- Add local details – location, accents, prices – this makes content feel alive.
Account Restrictions and Shadowban
If an account is restricted, part of the audience simply doesn’t see your posts and likes drop. This is most often due to mass actions or reports. A sudden drop in reach, zero impressions from hashtags, and a lack of comments from new users – this is how a shadowban manifests. For more details on signs and checking, see how to know if you have a shadowban on instagram. It’s checked simply – via Insights and a test post with clean hashtags.
- Open post insights – if impressions from hashtags are consistently zero, that’s a red flag.
- Make a test post without hashtags and mentions – look at the reach among followers.
- Compare with metrics from a month ago – a sharp drop without a reason indicates limits.
Found a shadowban? See the guide what to do about an instagram shadowban. Main steps: stop mass actions, disable auto-tools for 14 days, and only publish live content with good retention.
Signs of Hidden Blocks in 2026
- Impressions from Search and Explore drop, even though content format hasn’t changed.
- Comments from new people almost never appear.
- Hashtags bring no reach, even low-volume ones.
- Sudden drop in Stories reach despite normal activity.
The Impact of Mass Actions on Ukrainian Accounts
Mass following, unfollowing, and generic comments are quickly caught by the filter – especially on new accounts and with Ukrainian GEO. As a result, posts often stay within your warm audience, and likes are fewer.
- Stop any mass-following tools for 14 days.
- Slow down your actions – no more than 50-70 outgoing actions per day.
- Pause comment scripts – leave only live, relevant comments.
Why Likes Aren’t Displayed on Instagram?
Low Audience Engagement
Even good accounts have quiet weeks. Sometimes it seems like part of the audience has disappeared, leading to the question: Why can’t I see everyone who liked my Instagram post? In practice, this is related to algorithmic feed ranking and a temporary delay in updating the like counter. On such days, the feed is dense, posts are quickly scrolled past, and likes are barely given. This is normal – it’s important not to panic, but to check the basics.
- Publish posts during your followers’ online hours – check in Insights.
- Add a question at the end of the post – give a simple reason to like or reply.
- Make 2-3 Stories with a poll on the day of posting – collect warm traffic to the post.
Feed Scrolling Statistics in Ukraine
Based on observations from projects in Kyiv and Lviv – if the feed is boring, the first 2-3 seconds decide everything. The faster a person understands how it’s useful to them, the higher the chance of a like. Dry text at the beginning lowers the chance.
- Start videos with the result – before/after, comparison, price, the final shot.
- In carousels, put the reason someone came on the first slide – not a logo, but a solution.
Table: Format Reach Comparison (Reels vs Posts)
| Format | 2026 Reach | Like Visibility | When to Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reels | Often above average | High with a good hook | Quick tips, process demos, behind-the-scenes |
| Photo Posts | Consistently lower than Reels | Low without interactivity | Announcements, portfolio, news |
| Carousels | Higher than photo posts | Medium – grows well via saves | Step-by-step guides, checklists, collections |
Interface Issues: Likes in Carousels
Sometimes the like counter is hidden by settings. Check two places – globally and on each post.
- Global: Profile – Menu – Settings and Privacy – Privacy – Posts – Hide Like and View Counts – turn OFF.
To understand the impact on metrics, it’s useful to know How does the hide likes feature on Instagram work? It hides the counter from all users, but doesn’t block the ability to like, which affects visibility and engagement.
- For a post: open the post – three dots – Show Like Count. If it says Hide, the counter is currently visible.
- For carousels, likes are counted for the whole post, not each slide – this is normal.
Why Can’t I See All Likes on Instagram?
Definitions: What Shadowban and Retention Metrics Are
Shadowban is an unofficial term for when content is shown less without an explicit warning. Retention metrics – a graph showing at which second viewers drop off. These two things explain well why likes have dropped.
- If retention is low, people don’t see the like button because they don’t finish watching.
- If there are restrictions, the post simply doesn’t reach part of the audience’s feed.
Reels Retention Graph – New Tool in 2026
Easy to view: open your Reels – View Insights – Audience Retention. If the curve drops immediately, rewrite the intro, remove long lead-ins, strengthen the first frame.
- Changing the first frame and re-uploading makes a noticeable difference within 24-48 hours.
- If the curve is steady until 3-5 seconds, you’re on the right track.
Competition and Daily Millions of Posts
There are many posts, attention is limited. So materials that quickly explain the benefit and save time win. This isn’t about being perfectly shot – it’s about clear structure.
- One post – one thought. No unnecessary digressions.
- One clear CTA – like, save, or comment.
Why Are Likes Hidden on Instagram?
SEO Factors: Lack of Keywords and ALT Text
Sometimes users wonder, Why can’t I see who liked my posts on Instagram anymore? – this is related to the author’s privacy settings and hiding the like count in the post settings.
In 2026, Instagram’s internal search has become smarter. Captions, on-screen text, and ALT text influence who sees your post. If captions are thin and ALT is empty, posts are harder to find, and likes are fewer.
- Use conversational keyphrases people actually search for.
- Write ALT text as if for a person – brief, to the point, with frame details.
- 3-5 relevant hashtags are enough – no junk or generic words.
Step-by-Step Instagram SEO Optimization Process
- Describe the photo in ALT: open the post screen – Advanced settings – Write alt text.
- Add 2-3 key phrases to the caption – how people would phrase a search.
- Use 3-5 low-to-medium frequency hashtags – topic and GEO relevant.
- Duplicate keywords in the first slide of a carousel or in Reels captions.
- For local business – mention the city and district in the text.
Tools for Checking: Iconosquare, Sprout Social
In practice, these panels save time. They show when to post, which posts get saves, and where retention fails.
- Iconosquare – convenient reach and engagement graphs, hashtag exports.
- Sprout Social – comparative reports on formats and posting times.
- Run weekly sprints – implement changes, measure, reinforce, move on.
User Mistakes in Ukraine
- Posting on an old schedule – ignoring evening peaks and weekends.
- Text only in Russian or only in English – the audience loses context. A short version in Ukrainian helps.
- Long Reels without substance – likes don’t come because people don’t watch till the end.
Common Risks: Bots and Story Overload
- Using bot services cuts reach long-term – even if numbers rise momentarily.
- 15 Stories in a row in one day – people swipe past, and the algorithm reduces the reach of subsequent ones.
- Better to have 3-5 rich Stories with polls and questions than a stream of vague reposts.
Step-by-Step Recovery of Like Visibility
Optimizing Profile for GEO-Ukraine
If you’re a local business or expert – this is essential. It’s easier for people to find you and understand your value.
- Add your city to the bio and category of activity.
- Specify contact method – WhatsApp, Viber, Telegram – one click.
- Pin 1-2 relevant Highlights with case studies and prices.
Keywords in Bio: Examples for Kyiv/Lviv
- Kyiv: Video editing – Turnkey Reels – Quick on-location shoots – Contact via DM.
- Lviv: Photography for venues – Recipe carousels – Menu photography – Bookings for the week.
- If the audience is mixed – a short version in Ukrainian and Russian in one line.
Content Testing: Reels and Carousels
- Week 1 – 3 Reels of 12-20 seconds, 1 carousel of 7-9 slides, 1 photo post.
- Week 2 – repeat what performed best in retention and saves, drop weak topics.
- Change only one parameter at a time – duration or cover image, to see the effect.
Quick Account Audit Checklist
- Are hidden likes turned off in settings? Check globally and on posts.
- Are there any mass actions? Stop any auto-tools for 14 days.
- Do recent posts have ALT text? Add it if empty.
- First 2 seconds of Reels – strongest shot or benefit?
- Stories on posting day – 3-5 frames with a poll and arrow to the post.
- Monitor for 7 days – track reach, retention, saves, CTR on covers.
Tool Recommendations
| Tool | Purpose | When Useful | Example Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iconosquare | Deep post and Reels analytics | Need to understand what really works | From $15-20/month |
| Sprout Social | Scheduling and multi-channel reports | You have a team and multiple accounts | From $30-40/month |
| Emplifi | Comparing formats and retention | Need clear graphs for decision-making | Free trial available |
Risks of Ignoring the Problem in 2026
Long-term Reach Drop by 40%
If left as is, posts will gradually stop reaching your audience. For small business, this usually means fewer leads and more expensive ads. It’s easier to rebuild a content plan for 2 weeks and restore metrics than to revive an account from scratch later.
Error and Solution Table
| Mistake | Risk | What to Do |
|---|---|---|
| Mass-following and bots | Reach restrictions, cold likes | Stop for 14 days, clean up, work with real audience |
| Hidden likes in settings | You don’t see the counter yourself and confuse conclusions | Turn on like count display globally and on posts |
| Long intros in Reels | Retention and reach failure | Reshoot the first 2 seconds, shorten the video |
| Empty ALT and caption | Posts aren’t found via search | Add clear ALT text and 2-3 key phrases |
| Too many Stories in a row | Swiping past, drop in engagement | 3-5 useful Stories with polls and link to post |
FAQ
Why can’t I see all likes on Instagram after the 2026 update?
First, check the hide likes setting – globally and on the specific post. Do like counts seem incomplete? Ask yourself: Why can’t I see all likes on Instagram? Usually, the reason is a combination of hidden likes, low Reels retention, and a limited audience. Look at Reels and carousel insights – if retention is weak, there will be few likes, even if reach is normal.
How do I check if likes are hidden in my account?
Profile – Menu – Settings and privacy – Privacy – Posts – Hide like and view counts – should be OFF. And on a post’s menu (three dots) there should be a ‘Show like count’ option.
Do Ukrainian geo-restrictions affect like visibility?
Yes, region and language influence who you’re shown to. Add GEO to your bio and content, use Ukrainian in captions – this helps reach the right people.
How long does it take to recover likes?
On average 7-14 days when restructuring formats and the first seconds of Reels. If there were restrictions due to mass actions, allow 2-3 weeks for stabilization.
Checklist: Summary on the Topic
- Check for hidden likes in settings and on posts.
- Stop any mass actions for 14 days.
- Redo Reels intros and the first slide of carousels.
- Add ALT text and 2-3 key phrases to captions.
- Make 3-5 useful Stories on posting day with polls.
- Measure retention and saves for 7 days – reinforce what works best.
Short summary. Likes aren’t visible not because Instagram is evil, but because viewer attention is short, the interface easily hides the counter, and content often lacks a clear start. A bit more control in the first seconds and in settings – and metrics return.
If the goal is to quickly get likes back without hassle, start with three things: show the counter, improve the first 2 seconds of Reels, add ALT text with a normal frame description. These are the shortest steps with a clear effect.
What is your goal for the next 2 weeks – to get likes back on a specific format or collect more saves from carousels?
