What Happens When You Make a Call on Instagram

Have you ever accidentally made a voice or video call to someone on Instagram and wanted to erase it from your call history? I‘ve totally been there before. Making an accidental call can be super embarrassing, especially if it‘s a person you don‘t talk to very often.

But here‘s some good news: Instagram gives you a way to completely delete your entire call history from a chat if you want to wipe the slate clean. No more evidence that awkward accidental call ever happened.

In this comprehensive guide, I‘ll explain step-by-step how to delete your Instagram call history using a feature called Vanish Mode. By the end, you‘ll be an expert on removing any trace of an accidental call.

Here‘s what I‘ll cover:

What happens when you make a call on Instagram
How to find your call history in an Instagram chat
A detailed tutorial for how to delete Instagram call history
Answers to frequently asked questions about erasing calls
Tips to avoid pocket dialing people
The pros and cons of using Vanish Mode

Let‘s dive in!

Before learning how to delete call history, it helps to understand what happens when you make a voice or video call on Instagram.

When you tap that little phone or video icon to initiate a call, here is the basic sequence of events:

The person you are calling will see a notification pop up that you are trying to call them.
They can choose to accept the call, decline it, or just ignore the notification.
If they accept the call, you‘ll be connected and can have a voice chat or video chat.
After your call ends, log info about the call will be added to your message history with that person.

Here’s what that call history looks like:

For voice calls: A message will say "[Your name] started a voice call" and another will say "Call ended" with the duration.
For video calls: The messages will say “[Your name] started a video call" and "Video call ended."

So in summary, you have a record of every call you make on Instagram, whether the person picks up or not. The call still gets logged.

Now let‘s talk about how to find this call history in your messages.

Your entire call history with someone lives directly in your Instagram direct message (DM) chat with that person.

Here is how to view it:

Open the Instagram app and tap the paper airplane icon in the top right corner to go to your messages.
Find the conversation thread with the person you had a call with and open it.
Scroll back through your message history together. The call notifications will be there in chronological order mixed in with your regular texts.

The call messages really stand out from normal texts, so they should catch your eye. You‘ll see "XXX started a voice call" for calls you made, and "XXX called" for incoming calls.

Now let‘s get into the good stuff…how to delete your call history!

The only way to delete your Instagram call history is to use a feature called Vanish Mode.

Vanish Mode allows you to set a chat so messages disappear after being seen. Turning it on also erases your existing message history, including calls.

Here is a step-by-step walkthrough to delete your call history using Vanish Mode:

Step 1: Open the Chat

To start, open the chat that contains the voice or video call history you want to delete:

Tap the paper airplane icon on Instagram to go to your messages.
Find the conversation with the call history and open it.

Step 2: Tap the Profile Icon

Once you‘ve opened the chat, tap the little profile icon in the top right corner.
This looks like a small person silhouette. Tap it.

Step 3: Turn On Vanish Mode

A menu will open up. Tap "Vanish Mode" to toggle it on.
A confirmation message will pop up explaining that this will delete your existing chat history. Tap "Turn On."
Poof! Just like that, your entire chat history—including any old voice or video calls—will magically disappear.

Step 4: Continue Chatting in Vanish Mode

Now that Vanish Mode is on, all new messages will also automatically delete after being seen. This prevents any future calls from sticking around either.

To stop deleting everything, just tap the profile icon again and toggle Vanish Mode off.

And that‘s all there is to it! With those four simple steps, you‘ve successfully wiped your Instagram call history clean. Nice work!

Now let‘s go over some of the most frequently asked questions about deleting calls on Instagram:

Can you delete specific calls, or do you have to erase everything?

Unfortunately, there is no way to delete individual calls. Turning on Vanish Mode will delete your entire existing chat history.

Does the other person get notified when you delete the history?

Yes. When you activate Vanish Mode, the other user will see a message that says "Your chat history was erased" so they know you deleted the messages.

Can someone see a call if they missed or declined it?

Nope! If the call never connects, it will not show up as a notification for them at all. Only completed calls get logged in your chat history.

Will my call history reappear if I turn Vanish Mode off?

No way! Once your chat history is deleted by Vanish Mode, there is no recovering it. That call history is gone for good.

Does Vanish Mode also delete media like photos/videos?

It sure does! When you turn on Vanish Mode, it will delete your entire chat history—including photos, videos, calls, and regular text messages.

Can I just delete a call from my phone‘s call log instead?

Unfortunately, no. Calls made within Instagram do not show up in your regular phone call log. The only record is in the Instagram app.

What if I don‘t see the Vanish Mode option?

You likely need to update your version of Instagram. Vanish Mode is a newer feature, so make sure Instagram is updated to the latest version.

Hopefully those tips help explain everything you need to know about deleting calls from your Instagram history using Vanish Mode! Now let‘s get into some pro tips for avoiding accidental calls in the first place.

Accidentally calling someone can be mortifying. Here are some of my best tips to avoid Instagram pocket dials:

1. Close the app when your phone is in your pocket. Don‘t risk bumping buttons with the app open.

2. Turn off Tap to Call. This feature lets you call by tapping a user‘s profile. Disable it in Settings.

3. Use a passcode or fingerprint lock. This makes it harder to open Instagram if your phone is locked.

4. Update your Instagram app. Bug fixes and updates reduce the chances of glitches.

5. Clean your screen. Smudges or food on your screen could lead to mistaken taps.

6. Double check before putting phone away. Take a second to make sure Instagram is closed.

Following those suggestions should significantly cut down on accidental calls! But despite your best efforts, pocket dials can still occasionally happen. So let‘s go over the pros and cons of using Vanish Mode.

Vanish Mode is currently the only method to delete your Instagram call history. Here are the key pros and cons to consider:

Pros

Completely erases your call history from the chat
The other person won‘t see the call anymore
Lets you avoid an embarrassing conversation about it

Cons

Also deletes your other chat messages
The other user sees you deleted the history
Can‘t selectively remove only certain calls

Overall, Vanish Mode is a useful last resort if you really need to cover your tracks after an accidental call. Just be aware it also wipes your regular texts with that person.

So in summary, Vanish Mode is a handy Instagram tool—but use it selectively when you really need it. Whenever possible, just own up to the mistake and apologize for pocket dialing someone. Most people totally understand!

I hope this guide gave you a complete overview of how to delete your Instagram call history using Vanish Mode!

Accidentally calling someone can really be a bummer, but thankfully you can erase it quickly by following these steps:

Open your chat with them
Tap the profile icon
Turn on Vanish Mode
Relax as your call history is deleted!

While Vanish Mode erases your whole history, it‘s currently the only way to remove an accidental call on Instagram. Going forward, any new calls will also auto-delete after being viewed.

So next time you butt-dial someone, don‘t panic! Just use Vanish Mode to wipe the call record clean as if it never happened. Then you can continue calling people worry-free.

Let me know if you have any other questions! I‘m always happy to help explain how to delete your Instagram call history. Now you can use voice and video calls without stressing about embarrassing records sticking around. Have fun out there!