We all have that one friend who is always posting some epic Instagram story and we want to watch it but we don’t want to (further) inflate their ego. Or maybe you’re trying to be a little stealthy and check out a crush’s story without alerting them to your interest. Whatever the reason, here’s how to view someone’s Instagram story without them knowing.
How to View Someone’s Instagram Story Anonymously: Four (Relatively) Reliable Ways
Let’s get something out of the way first — while you can watch someone’s Instagram story without them knowing, none of the ways to do that are perfect, each with its own limitations. After all, part of the appeal of this format is the option to see who has viewed your Instagram story.
That’s why, before you make the decision to secretly watch IG stories, consider whether it is that important to remain anonymous. Keep in mind that the Instagram story viewer order might also push your name toward the bottom where the story creator might just miss it, especially if they have thousands of followers.
Do you still want to be anonymous? Alright, let’s get to it!
How to Look at Someone’s Instagram Story Without Them Knowing Using the Airplane Mode
Your smartphone’s airplane mode effectively disconnects you from the internet and can be the key to providing the much-needed Instagram story viewer secrecy.
So, here’s what you should do: pre-load the story or stories that you want to watch, switch the airplane mode on, and enjoy. Remember to exit the Instagram app before you switch the airplane back off or you risk getting busted.
How to View Someone’s Instagram Story Without Them Knowing With a Half-Swipe
Now, this way to secretly view Instagram stories is far from perfect but is a workaround if you don’t want the airplane mode on for whatever reason.
Open Instagram and go to the profile icon of the person whose story you wish to view in the story section at the top of the feed. Tap and open the next story immediately. Hold your finger and carefully make a back swipe without releasing.
You can now have a peek at your target story. Don’t release your finger or your view will get counted in your target person’s story. After you’ve taken a good look at the story, carefully swipe back to land on the page where you started.
This method will work well if your target Instagram user’s story is a photo — if it’s a video, however, you won’t really be able to watch it.
How to View Someone’s IG Story Without Them Knowing With a Third-Party App
There are multiple third-party tools and websites out there that let you secretly watch Instagram stories. Some of them don’t require a download but just need you to type your target Instagrammer’s username. You don’t need to have an account on the social network yourself and can view the story even if the owner has blocked you. The catch? The account whose story you want to view has to be public.
How to Watch Someone’s Instagram Story Without Them Knowing With Another Account
If you’re willing to go the extra mile, you can set up an anonymous Instagram account and go wild. Of course, if your target person’s account is not public, you would have to connect with them first. An alternative is to just ask someone else for help to allow you to view the story in question through their account. They can also take a screenshot of the story and send it to you.
Learn more: Does Instagram Notify When You Screenshot a Story
The Bottom Line
There you have it, how to view someone’s Instagram story without them knowing is no longer a secret. While none of these solutions are perfect, they can still give you some much-needed privacy until you are ready to show your interest and enjoy stories to their fullest.
