When someone posts an Instagram Story in 2021, Instagram tells them who has viewed and engaged with it. But sometimes you might want to view a Story without letting the user know. Maybe you’re conducting market research and want to peek in on a competing brand’s Instagram strategy, and prefer to keep that information discreet. Whatever your reasons, here are two ways you can view someone’s Instagram Story without
anyone knowing. This method takes advantage of the interface that allows you to swipe between different users’ Stories. Method 1: Click the next Instagram Story and swipe back
Here’s what to do:
- Find the profile whose Story you want to view secretly on your feed, and click on the profile right next to it.
- Tap on the Story to pause it, and then slowly and carefully swipe in the direction of the Story you want to view. It will appear as though on the adjacent side of a 3D box.
- Be careful not to swipe all the way, because if you do, the user will see that you’ve viewed it.
The major disadvantage of this method is that you can only view the first Story on that profile’s feed, and that you won’t be able to view videos. Another problem is that it can be easy to accidentally swipe all the way — and then the whole exercise will have been futile. Also, it won’t even let you get to the stage of being able to screenshot an IG story.
Method 2: Use a third-party app or website
This method requires using a different website or app. Viewing Stories through these applications doesn’t get counted in the stats, so the user won’t know that you’ve seen them. Because these are 3rd party apps please use them at your own risk:
- Desktop: Go to storiesig.com and search for the user. If their profile is public, you’ll be able to view and download all of that user’s current stories.
- iPhone: Download the Story Reposter app and log in. Search for the user in the search bar, and then tap on the folder with their Instagram Stories.
- Android: Download the Story Saver app and log in. Search for the account using the search icon in the upper right corner. You’ll be able to view their Stories in a feed format.
This method requires a little more effort, but it’s also more foolproof, and makes it much easier to download and save the Stories you’re viewing.
- You can view Instagram Stories anonymously by using an unidentifiable account or, to an extent, by turning on airplane mode.
- Third-party sites and apps that promise anonymous Instagram Stories viewing can be unreliable and may not be secure, though some do work.
When viewing Instagram Stories, it's important to note that the user who posted the story is able to see who viewed it. Generally speaking, this doesn't cause a problem, but there may be a time that you want to view someone's Instagram Stories discretely.
There are a few different ways you can go about viewing stories without letting the poster know it was you, though each method will have varying degrees of success.
How to view Instagram Stories anonymously
Use an anonymous Instagram account
Perhaps the best way to anonymously view someone's Instagram Stories is by using an Instagram account that isn't automatically identifiable as you.
If you already have another account set up, it's as easy as adding the account on Instagram and switching between the two whenever you want to view someone's Instagram Stories without them knowing.
Add an additional Instagram account. Jennifer StillIf you haven't already created an additional Instagram account, you'll need to sign up for a new one before adding it to your app.
Turn on airplane mode
It's possible to view someone's Instagram Stories anonymously by ensuring your mobile device has airplane mode enabled before you tap on them. Because Instagram automatically preloads several stories to enable instant viewing even when you're without a reliable Wi-Fi or data connection, you can theoretically view one without being seen.
Turn on airplane mode on your mobile device. Jennifer StillTo try this out, you need to pull up the account's profile in the Instagram app, then enable airplane mode on your device before heading back into the app and tapping on the user's stories.
However, if the user in question has posted many stories sequentially, the app likely won't have preloaded them all so they won't all be viewable on airplane mode.
Use a third-party app or site
There are a number of third-party apps and websites that purport to allow you to view someone's Instagram Stories anonymously, without the need to log in. Many of these sites aren't particularly secure and some don't even work, however, so them use at your own discretion.
If you are looking to use one, though, in a test we conducted, the website InstaStories successfully viewed a public account's stories without notifying the user of a view. Simply enter an account handle on the site's homepage to view an account's stories. Note that the site only works for public accounts, and won't be able to access a private account's stories.
Jennifer is a writer and editor from Brooklyn, New York, who spends her time traveling, drinking iced coffee, and watching way too much TV. She has bylines in Vanity Fair, Glamour, Decider, Mic, and many more. You can find her on Twitter at @jenniferlstill.
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