The world is growing drastically digitally, and around 4.26 billion people use social media today. This number is expected to grow to a massive 7 billion by 2027! Out of these 4.26 billion social media users, 1.440 billion are active Instagram users.
Instagram is a straightforward, easy-to-use platform that allows you to connect to family, friends, and businesses. You can conveniently search for any person or brand on Instagram by entering their username or handle in the search bar. While many profiles are public, around 50% of accounts on social media are private.
Keep reading to learn how to view private Instagram profiles in 2024.
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How to View Private Instagram Profiles
Request to Follow
The easiest and the most common method to view a private Instagram account. You only need to create an account of your own and find the person you want to see the profile of.
Here’s how you can check a private profile if you have an account on Instagram:
- Click on the 🔍 sign at the bottom of the screen.
- Search for the username or handle in the search bar.
- Select their account.
- Click on the blue “Follow” button to send them a follow request.
That’s all!
Now, all you have to do is wait for them to accept your follow-up request. It may take them a few minutes, hours, or days to accept the request.
The next big question is, what if they do not accept your follow request? It is a possibility, right?
Don't worry; there are other ways you can track private accounts. Let's tell you another simple yet effective method.
Search for User Account Images on Google
If you are wondering, about “how to view a private Instagram account on Google,” you are in for a surprise. AI and algorithms are amazing to know. And let us tell you that Google monitors everything! It knows what you search for, see, and mention to your friends.
The best part is that Google contains information about all social media platforms and their users. You may have seen Facebook and LinkedIn profiles pop up when you enter a particular name in the search bar.
Similarly, you can find out about a private account on Instagram when looking for how to see private account photos on Instagram:
- Mention that person's name in the search bar, followed by "Instagram."
- (Desired name) (Instagram).
- Enter.
You will see all the people of the same name on Instagram. Scroll through a few pages, and you might find the one!
Jumping to the Image section will give you the images before they change their account setting to private. But, this may not always work every time.
If you ask us why, here’s the reason:
Many times people do not create accounts with their real names. Or they might have changed their name, which can be difficult if you do not know their username. You may also search for fashion captions and quotes to find related pictures that they may have posted before their account was private.
Look through Somebody Else’s Accounts
In case you do not find anything on Google, there is nothing to worry about when you have a few loyal friends. It is quite common that the profiles we want to see are those we know but want to avoid directly approaching or connecting to.
So, what to do?
The best way is to call any of your friends following that particular Instagram account you want to check. Ask them to check the profile for you and provide what you need to know. Furthermore, you may also ask them to view private Instagram pages and posts and share the screenshots with you.
Alternative Ways to View Private Instagram Profiles in 2024
While the above-mentioned ways to view private Instagram photos and accounts are considered the best, they might not be suited for all situations. Yet, that does not mean that you give up hope!
Try these alternative answers to “how to view private Instagram” when the others don’t help.
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Search via Google Photos
As we mentioned that Google is a superhero that can help you with everything, even finding your desired person on Instagram. What if you do not know their account handle? Google Photos is your answer to “how to view private Instagram profiles in 2024”. Luckily, Google knows what a user posts before turning their account setting private. Check your Google Photos, find out a picture of that person, and you’re sorted!
So, if you are looking for an account that was not private since the beginning, you are on the right track. You can find out about the private Instagram account by searching their images on the search engine. Try a few different photos you have, and they might lead you to what you are looking for.
Find the Person on TikTok
Talking of alternatives, it is quite easily understood that people with an account on one social media platform also use other applications.
As TikTok has over 1.7 billion monthly active users, there is a high chance that you might find your desired user there.
The procedure is as simple as searching for someone on Instagram. You have to download TikTok, create an account, and search for the name in the search bar. It is also advised to enter their Instagram username into the TikTok search bar, as many users keep the same username on their social media accounts.
Look them up on Facebook
When there is no answer to a social media query, the answer is Facebook. Facebook is the most popular social media platform, with around 2 billion monthly users. Thus, it is always worth giving it a try.
The drill is simple!
Search for them the same way you did on TikTok. Look for their Instagram username or full name to find their account. While Facebook has also introduced a feature to lock your profile, it has yet to be widely adopted. Thus, you may find the person and the information you are looking for. It might not be the exact method you might have thought of to view a private Instagram account.
But if it works, it works!
The best part about all these methods is that none is illegal. You are free to explore all the platforms to search for a user. Some third-party applications also provide such services, yet they are not much reliable.
FAQ
Can I View Private Instagram Stories?
Stories uploaded by any user on Instagram are visible to their followers, whether a private or public account. So, if you do not follow someone, you cannot view private Instagram stories. The only way to see their stories is to send them a follow request and wait for approval. You will only be able to see the stories they post after adding you.
How to Check Private Account Followers on Instagram
Instagram shows the number of followers of all accounts regardless of their privacy. You can see how many people follow them, how many they follow, and their number of posts. Moreover, you can also see mutual followers. However, if you want to know “how to check private account followers on Instagram,” the only way is to follow them.
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