I have often seen people wondering and asking, Can you see who viewed your Instagram Story? The answer is yes! You can see who is watching your stories and you can also explore ways to hide your Instagram stories.
We have all posted on Instagram. It’s often the best way to show off our best moments, milestones, progress and fun experiences. Instagram Stories are also much faster and easier to create than a reel or a regular post. That’s why they are often used more than other Instagram formats. So, if you are cautious about Instagram Story viewers, you need to stay updated on ways to keep your account secure and optimized.
There are simple ways to do this. It’s not just about curiosity; it’s about keeping your Instagram profile under control.
Hiding your stories or keeping track of who has viewed them can help you better understand the reach of your content. At the end of the day, we all want people to see what we share and it’s definitely a great form of entertainment.
Also, let me tell you the ways to do it securely and strategically.
Can You See Who Viewed Your Instagram Story?
Yes, you can see who view’s story. Be it android, IOS, desktop, Pc or tablet, you can view them instantly on any device.
You usually post photos, text, music, stickers, emojis and videos on Instagram Stories that disappear after 24 hours. Depending on your privacy settings, both followers and non-followers can see your Instagram Stories.
If you’re wondering who can see your Instagram Stories:
- Your followers, if your account is private.
- Both followers and non-followers, if your account is set to public.
How to See Who Viewed Your Instagram Story?
You can always see who has viewed your stories with just a click. Follow the steps below to see who view Instagram story:
1. Log into your Instagram account on an iPhone or Android device.
2. Tap on your profile picture in the top-right corner of your Instagram homepage.
3. Or simply click on the profile page once your story is live.
4. At the bottom of the screen, just below the say something text box. You will find Activity.
5. Click on it to find who viewed this story.
6. To view the total number of views for each story, click on the set of circular images.
7. By clicking on the Activity for each story, you can see who has viewed it.
How Long Can You See Instagram Story Viewers?
You can see who views story on Instagram for up to 48 hours from the time it was posted. However, the story itself disappears from your account after 24 hours. Access to the viewer list remains available for an additional 24 hours, after which it will no longer be visible.
Can Someone See If You Viewed Their Instagram Story?
Yes, if you are on their followers list, or if their account is public, they will know that you have viewed their story. As an Instagram user, when you view someone else’s story, they can see that you have seen it. If they don’t want you to view Instagram story of them, they can hide it from you.
How to Hide Instagram Stories from Someone?
Let’s say you don’t want someone from your followers or non-followers to see your stories. You can hide them by managing your settings. Here are the steps to help you hide your Instagram story views :
- Navigate to your Instagram app on your phone and log in to your account if needed.
- Now tap your Instagram profile picture in the bottom-right corner.
- Now tap the ☰ menu in the top-right corner —-> Select Settings.
- Now select Privacy -> Story under the Interactions section.
- Now Enable Hide Story From
- Here, search for the name of the person you want to hide your story from.
- Once you select the profile name, click on the checkmark or Done to confirm.
The person you selected will no longer see your Instagram story and they won’t be notified that they’ve been hidden.
Note: You can also create a Close Friends list to share Instagram Stories only with specific people, which is another way to control who sees your content.
5 Common Myths About Instagram Story Views
You might think that you know Instagram well, but you may not. It is often a platform for discussions about how to see Instagram story viewers.
There are some common universal myths that you may be falsely hoping on, so here are the top myths that you shouldnt follow blindly.
- You need to have a massive number of followers to make money. It is more than enough to focus on building a loyal and engaged audience. Even with a small following, you can still generate revenue if they trust your brand.
- You have to focus on selling your product or services every day. Instead, focus on balancing both content and sales. Try sharing valuable content, useful tips and engaging with your Instagram audience to nurture leads and convert them into customers.
- Instagram has too many users and posts, so your posts might get saturated. Focusing on the right hashtags, posting at optimal times and creating the right content can help you reach your audience’s feed more effectively.
- You have to post on Instagram or share stories every day. Of course, consistency matters, but it is equally important to focus on the quality of your posts rather than just the frequency.
- Muting someone’s story or posts doesn’t change their position on your Instagram story viewer list, since the ranking depends on engagement, not muting.
Instagram Story Privacy Settings You Need to Know
While you can view Ig Stories and hide stories, you can also enable the privacy settings of Instagram stories. These settings offer several ways to take full control over who sees your Instagram content.
They allow you to curate your audience and usability with a more optimized Instagram sharing. Here are the possible settings that you should know to keep your account optimized:
- You can select specific people who can view Insta story or you can hide your Story from certain individuals.
- Create a Close Friends list. You can make a list of friends with whom Insta story view is possible.
- Navigate to Instagram Account Settings and enable the Private Account toggle to prevent non-followers from viewing your profile, Stories or posts.
- You can use Instagram story privacy to see who viewed your Story and manage viewers accordingly.
- Using Message controls, you can choose who can reply to your Stories, such as followers or followers you follow back.
- You can control Story sharing settings to restrict others from sharing your Story, adding it to their own story or sending it to others.
- You can restrict or block a user to prevent them from viewing your Instagram story.
Why the Viewer Order Changes in Instagram
The Instagram algorithm works according to a specific logic. If you want your Stories to perform well, you need to understand how it works.
Once your Story reaches around 50 or more views, Instagram usually starts ranking viewers based on your interaction history with them, rather than the order in which they viewed it.
- The accounts you DM the most
- The people who like or comment on your posts the most
- The profiles you visit most often
- The people who engage with your Instagram Stories the most
- Mutual interactions with followers on the list, including people who frequently check your profile
