Instagram to discontinue encrypted chat from May

Instagram will stop supporting end-to-end encrypted messaging after May 8, 2026, according to a recent update from the company.

Users with affected chats will receive instructions on how to download any media or messages they wish to keep before the change takes effect, as explained in the official blog post. Those on older versions of the app may need to update before downloading.

End-to-end encryption ensures that only participants in a conversation can view messages or hear calls, with the company stating that "no one else, not even Meta", can access them. When a message is sent in an encrypted chat, the device locks it using a special key that can only be unlocked by devices in that conversation.

Meta has not officially revealed the reason behind the decision in the blog post. It also remains unclear whether the company will remove the feature from other messaging platforms such as Facebook Messenger. However, in a statement to The Verge, Meta spokesperson Dina El-Kassaby Luce said the feature is being discontinued because "very few people" were using end-to-end encryption in their direct messages.