What Does The Dotted Circle Mean On Instagram DM?

In this article, you’ll learn what the dotted circle on Instagram means.

If you are an avid Instagram user, you may have noticed a dotted circle icon next to a person’s name in your Direct Messages (DMs).

Every Instagram update comes with a new feature. And the dotted circle is one of them. Instagram DM has lots of features with different functionalities.

If you see the dotted circle next to someone’s name on your Instagram DM, it means that a feature was enabled.

And if you’re wondering what that feature represents, in this article, you will learn which feature the dotted circle represents on Instagram.

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What Does The Dotted Circle Mean On Instagram DM?

The dotted circle represents Vanish Mode. This is a feature on Instagram that allows users to send disappearing messages. The messages get deleted once you close the chat.

If you’re seeing the dotted circle for the first time, it means that someone sent you a message in vanish mode.

Currently, the vanish mode feature is only available in one-on-one chat and not available in group chat.

Vanish mode uses end-to-end encryption. This means that messages sent in vanish mode are protected. Other users won’t be able to copy, save, or forward your messages in vanish mode, and vice versa.

If someone enables vanish mode from their end when they are chatting with you, it will also automatically be enabled on your chat screen.

When you suddenly see the dotted circle, it means someone enabled the vanish mode feature to chat with you.

You only get to see the dotted circle only when vanish mode is turned on.

How to Turn Vanish Mode (Dotted Circle) On Instagram

Launch the Instagram app on your device.
On the Instagram feed, tap the Message Icon at the top right corner of the screen to go to the message section.

Tap the Person’s Name you want to chat with.
Swipe up from the bottom of the chat screen until it shows on the screen “Release to turn on vanish mode”. Release your finger from the screen to turn on vanish mode.
Once you have enabled it. The chat screen will automatically turn on dark mode on vanish mode.

Once the vanish mode is enabled, when you close the chat, you’ll see the dotted circle appear next to the person’s name.

The messages sent in vanish mode are deleted once you close the chat. Unlike regular messages or your DM, vanish mode messages are not stored on Instagram servers.

How To Turn Off Vanish Mode (Dotted Circle) On Instagram

Go to your Instagram DM, open the chat you enabled vanish mode.
Swipe up until you see “Release to turn off vanish mode”. Then release your finger from the screen to turn off vanish mode.

Once vanish mode is turned off, all the messages will be deleted.

Why You Should Use Vanish Mode

With vanish mode, your messages are protected in end-to-end encryption.

Vanish mode can be convenient for you if you want to send highly sensitive information to someone, or you want the messages to vanish after the recipient sees them. You won’t need to go through the stress of deleting messages yourself after sending them. All messages will be deleted once they are read.

The vanish mode ensures more private conversations, the messages are encrypted and they’re not stored on Instagram servers.

Also, if you have trust issues with someone and want to send them sensitive information, you can take safety precautions by enabling the vanish mode feature.

Conclusion

Vanish Mode is a feature that lets you send end-to-end encryption messages, and the messages are deleted once the recipient sees them.

So, you should know by now that when you see the dotted circle, it means someone wants to start a conversation with you in vanish.

FAQs About What Does The Dotted Circle Mean On Instagram DM?

What does the dotted circle mean on Instagram chat?

The dotted circle means that you are in a vanish mode conversation with someone or the person enabled vanish mode to chat with you. The messages are not saved, they get deleted once the recipient sees them.

Do Vanish Mode messages delete for both sides?

Yes, the recipient views and closes the chat, and then vanish mode messages delete themselves. Also, turning off the feature deletes messages in vanish mode automatically.