kalbra / noreel

Block the Instagram reel feed and other addictive features and reduce screentime.

NoReel - Reduce screentime. Disable Instagram's addictive features

This app provides most of instagram features but with the option to disable addictive features for a better and healthier user experience. This drastically reduces screentime.

DISCLAMER: his app is not related to Instagram or Meta. NoReel only provides a Web browser visiting www.instagram.com with browser modifications such as removing the Reel icon UI component. NoReel is not intended to block ads or to prevent revenue. NoReel does not interfere Instagram data usage. NoReel's data policy applies as for visiting www.instagram.com.

Features

Reel feed deactivation

With this feature you can deativate the reel feed. So you never spend hours scrolling through the feed again wasting your time. But when friends send you reels, you can only watch them. So only the best content for you.

Only followed feed

You get constent that you are not subscribed to in your home feed? Not if you active Followed feed. Then you will only be shown content that is really useful to you. The content of your followers, your friends! You'll see how quickly you can bring yourself up to date without random content

Explore feed deactivation

The explore feed is similar to the reel feed: addictive. so why not deactivate it? You will have more time to spend of meaningful things.

Story strips deactivation

You don't want to spend hours swiping through stories. Then this is your feature! When deactivating the story strip you will no longer see stories at you home screen. But you are able to see stories via the profile if you really want to see THAT story.

Home feed deactivation

You have enough of scrolling through the home feed and don't want to use the Followed feed as well? Then you can deactivate the home feed completely. This feature is not related to Story strips, so if you want to see only stories you can.

Limitations

The app uses the web version of instagram and their limitations. But the app is still well usable. If there are any other issues with limitations not listed here, please feel free to write an issue.

Limitations are:

• Not available for IOS / Apple
• Long content loading time
• No instagram camera (only file upload)
• Less pretty UI than original instagram app
• General story creation limitations
  • No filters
  • No stickers
  • No music
  • (some others)

Installation and releases

The app is only provided as APK file, which is the application format for android apps. Download NoReel.apk by clicking on it. Note that android will warn you about the app several times. You have to ignore these warnings to be able instaling the app.

The APK file must be installed manually. A tutorial how to install an AKP file is linked here.

For more versions visit the relase tab.

Contribution

Feel free to commit to the project be it feedback, feature request, PR or any other form of contribution. Please use the issue tab for communication or write an email to [email protected]

noreel's Issues

Preview Image of Media Player is strange

If a media video player is present but no video is loaded yet, the preview image is a distorted play button. This should be black instead.

net::err_http_response_code_failure not catched

In some cases, when returning from an external link/standard browser the is a net::err_http_response_code_failure.
The error does not get catched by any WebViewClients override error methods.

By restarting the app the error message disappears.

Sound should not be disabled by default

The sound is disabled by default. Thus creating a bad user experience.

Rebranding

There should be a Rebrainding bacause the term "NoReel" is used in other contextes as well.

Use external browser on links and sharing content

Currently web links to other websites use the internal browsers. Furthermore links to e.g. WhatsApp has no handler, so that an error gets raised. If redirecting to another host address, there should be a tab opened at the configured standard browser.

Deep link for Instagram source

Using Android deep link to redirect Instagram from the browser into the NoReel app.

No browser update if setting changed

Currently you have to manually update the browser to apply the change

Introduction overlay

For new users to give an introduction to the app

Blue media click animation

If clicking on a media, like a reel, a blue overlay is shown. This should not be the case, because it confuses the end user.

View more swiping does not work

When looking at a story with View more linked. There is no way to follow this link.

Option to disable big heart

If you like a post, a heart pops up. There should be an option to disable this.

Option to disable message count

If the feature is activated the red message count at the DM icon will be disabled and not be visible.

Injector not applied at first startup

The Injector script currently does not run at the first startup.

Readme tutorial for usage

The Readme should be enhanced by the meaning of adding tutorials of you to use the App. Furthermore there should be a detailed function description.

Story disappear sometimes

Even with the story strip activated, stories disappear sometimes. You have to deactivate and activate the story strip to reverse it.

Proper slow or non Internet handling

Currently the app stops sometimes if there is no internet. There should be a handling with reconnection option and information for the user that there is currently no connection available .

Scrolling to the end distorts the view

If scrolling up or down at the end of a page the view gets distorted vertical

Story highlights removed on account page

If story strip removal is enabled, Highlights at the personal account page get removed as well.

No way to change the comment algorithm

Currently you can only access the "for me" comment algorithm. If trying to filter via "newest" or "meta verified". The app restarts.

Auto update functionality

Currently the user has to install all versions by himself. There should be an autoupdater which looks up newer versions
and installs them.

Incorrect feed if going back from external link

If the followed feed is actived and you are calling an external source.
The injector will redirect you to www.instagram.com rather than https://www.instagram.com/?variant=following.
With this the incorrect feed will be shown.

Movable settings button

Currently the settings button is always at the same position. Therefore it might overlay important Elements.
There should be a movable button like the button when calling.

Proper error message for no internet connection

Currently there is only the standard error message if there is no internet connection. There should be a reload button and a prettier error message with explanation.

Keyboard disappears while trying to send reel

Currently if you try to search for contacts to send a reel, the keyboard disappears, so that you cannot type.