Wish to have a sneak peek into someone’s Instagram story without them knowing about it? What about saving a story? Can you also take a screenshot without notifying the author?
An Instagram story is one of the platform’s most engaging features, offering a glimpse into what people find worthy of sharing. By default, tapping someone’s story icon makes you a viewer, but it doesn’t mean you can’t watch an Instagram story anonymously. How? This article provides four simple techniques to ensure you see a story without alerting the user.
Why you might want to be a hidden viewer of an Instagram story
Watching an Instagram story without being seen is tempting, and there are many reasonable ways to avoid revealing your identity. The most common reasons for viewing an IG story are the following:
- Checking on a personal relationship. Some situations require seeing what someone is up to without creating unnecessary attention or tension.
- Competitor research. Brands, entrepreneurs, and influencers can use the anonymous method to track their rivals without alerting them.
- Avoiding awkwardness. It’s good to stay updated without letting someone know you’re watching, especially when you must be elsewhere at a particular time.
- Exploring without engagement. Many people want to view IG stories they’re curious about without triggering Instagram’s algorithms and affecting recommendations.
- Keeping an eye on subordinates or partners. Employers and managers can use such methods to discreetly monitor their employees’ content and social media activity.
4 ways to watch Instagram stories anonymously
From holding a swipe for a quick preview to creating an anonymous profile to watch anyone’s Instagram story, the following are crafty ways to access most users’ IG stories without a trace. Let’s take a closer look at these methods.
stock vector images by Depositphotos
#1 – Hold swipe to preview Instagram stories
Holding a swipe is the most effortless way to view an Instagram story anonymously. Here’s how it works: gently press a story from one profile and drag it toward the next without fully opening it. Half-swiping will allow you to see content without becoming the viewer of an Instagram story.
The feature of this trick is that there are no additional steps, as you will see with the following methods. It’s quick and easy, and it doesn’t require extra tools. However, there’s a downside to it—you can view the first story only. You won’t be able to see the second and consecutive stories of that account using this method.
Finally, before you do this trick, check the duration of the story you want to hold when swiping. Sometimes, a story can be ridiculously short, so you’ll need to hold it right when it begins. This way, you won’t accidentally land on the next one once you release the hold.
#2 – Leverage Airplane Mode
While the first method is straightforward, it has its specific risks. If you’re risk averse, this second technique might be for you. Using airplane mode is people’s all-time favorite because it’s quite easy. Here’s what you have to do to see content without disclosing yourself as an official viewer of an IG story:
- Open Instagram and swipe down to let stories update.
- Turn on Airplane Mode to cut off the internet connection.
- Watch the preloaded stories without registering a view.
- Close the app and turn the Internet back on.
And voila—you’ve seen everything you’ve intended to catch securely. However, be cautious; since this method is among the most utilized ones, Instagram has been trying to find effective workarounds to this trick. Some people reported the feature no longer works, while it’s still been efficient for others. Considering this, why not try other ways, like creating an anonymous profile?
#3 – Create an anonymous profile
Creating an Instagram profile is another simple way to view users’ Instagram stories anonymously in-app. When creating a new account, ensure you use an anonymous browser and a new email address so it doesn’t link to your main Facebook and Instagram accounts.
You don’t necessarily have to create a third profile if you already have an additional one. Just make this profile private to avoid being revealed. Also, name it differently and upload a neutral image; this is crucial as anyone on Instagram can see it and thus determine who you are.
If this attempt plays out, you have an account for unlimited viewing of IG stories without detection. But remember that you won’t be able to watch stories published by private accounts. In some sense, you’ll have to compromise your identity by sending a follow request.
#4 – Turn to third-party tools
You’ve probably stumbled upon numerous tools enabling people to be anonymous viewers of Instagram stories by entering a username or pasting a URL into the dedicated field. If you wonder whether such tools work, the answer is—most of the time. However, the catch to these solutions is that they are third-party and often paid. Using these tools is generally not recommended, especially when they require logging into your IG account.
Privacy must be your primary concern when looking for efficient ways to watch someone’s IG story undetected. However, considering that Instagram, like other tools, shares user data with third parties—e.g., the platform shared an outrageous 79% of personal data with third parties a few years ago—there’s no reason to eliminate this option.
FAQ: Which method is the safest?
While each method has its caveats, the first and third (holding a swipe and using an anonymous account) are the safest approaches to watching someone’s Instagram story, as with both cases, the risk of being revealed depends entirely on you.
FAQ: Is it possible to save an IG story?
Instagram doesn’t provide a built-in story-saving feature, but you can use screen recording or take a screenshot. You can also turn to third-party tools to save an IG story, but keep in mind potential privacy issues and price.
FAQ: Does IG notify me when my story is screenshotted?
No, you can’t know if someone screenshots your Instagram story. Neither Instagram nor third-party tools notify users if their stories are screenshotted. However, you can make ways of viewing your stories more challenging. For example, use strategic story placements (post important stories after an introductory story to make the first method unviable) and make your profile private (rule out the third and potentially fourth method). This will help limit unwanted anonymous views.
Bottom line
Watching Instagram stories anonymously is possible in several ways. For a quick glimpse, holding a swipe is your go-to option. If there’s more than one story, try airplane mode. Otherwise, create a private account to follow what others share consistently. Using third-party tools is also an option, but the risks of jeopardizing personal data might be high. Regardless, each method is viable, but it’s for you to decide which one to pick.