Instagram reels, stories, and IGTVs have all become very important in our daily lives. So much so that we don’t miss out on posting every milestone in our lives there.
Not only that, these Instagram features help us get a peek into someone else’s life and see what they are up to. If you’re like most people, you probably prefer to do this “peeking” discreetly. But with the way Instagram stories are designed, this may not be possible. Or is it?
Instagram would usually just state the number of people who have watched your reels or IGTVs. But when it comes to Instagram stories, the story is different. Here, Instagram pretty much announces watchers by name. That means Emma probably knows you watched her dirty dancing post in a loop. Oops!
Luckily, there’s a way to view Instagram stories anonymously. So, if you want to keep that viewing information discreet, here are a few things you can do to view someone else’s Instagram story without them knowing.
How to View Someone’s Instagram Stories Anonymously
Method 1: The Sneaky Peek
- Start by opening your Instagram app. You’ll find that all of the stories are displayed at the top of your screen.
- Next, locate the story you want to watch but don’t click on it just yet. Now, click on the story next to the story you want to watch.
- After clicking, touch and hold the left side of the screen immediately. You’ll see that the time meter has stopped moving.
- Now, steadily move your finger towards the right side of the screen without removing your touch. You’ll now be able to see the story you really want to see.
- When you swipe towards your target story, you will notice that there’s a half-point where you get to view the present Instagram story that you’re on and the other Instagram story that you want to take a peek at. This half-point resembles the adjacent of a 3d cube. At that point, your name will not register on the other Instagram account under the viewed list. You just have to be careful when swiping so as not to swipe fully.
- Ensure that you keep pressing down on the screen as you view the story. And do not swipe all the way to view the story.
- Then, swipe your finger to the left when you’ve viewed the entire story. At this point, you can release your touch on the screen.
A disadvantage of this hack is that you just get to have a peek at the story. Also, you won’t really be able to watch videos.
This method is also very risky. If for some reason your finger slips while you’re pressing the screen down, it’ll spoil your plan. If you’d rather not take the risk, the other methods below might just be for you.
Method 2: Anonymous all the way.
Now, this other idea is very simple. Open another Instagram account where you can be a full-blown anonymous user. This account should not be automatically identified as you or else, you might just blow your cover. You might have to sign up on a new account before adding it to the one you have if you do not have the extra down already
Instagram makes it easy for one to switch between accounts, especially if one has more than one account. So anytime you want to see that individual’s Instagram story so bad without them finding out, use the one that can not be recognized as your account. That would give you the freedom to watch all the videos and view all the snaps you want to, confidently. When creating a new account, you may find that a VPN will come in handy. Just make sure to turn it off after using it.
Method 3: The Airplane Technique
This is another simple method of anonymously viewing other people’s Instagram stories. When you open the Instagram app of your iOS or Android phone and pull up the account’s profile on the app then wait for a few seconds for the stories to load. Instagram automatically preloads several stories whenever you go on the app to enable instant viewing. So that even when you are without a mobile data connection, reliable WiFi, or any other network connection, you can still view them.
After making sure that the stories have loaded, you can enable your phone’s aeroplane mode and tap on them. This way, you view their stories without being seen. Although, you might not be able to view all the stories as Instagram does not preload every story especially if the user has posted many videos sequentially.
Method 4: Go Through the web
You can anonymously view someone else’s Instagram story by using the web version of Instagram. Some websites allow you to search a person’s Instagram page and view their stories. An example of these sites includes InstaStories. On this app, all you have to do is enter the Instagram handle on the site’s page. Note that this works only for stories of public accounts and not for private account stories.
Method 5: Use a Third-party App
Now, this method does require extra effort. All you have to do to view anyone’s Instagram story without them knowing by using a different app. This does not get counted as stats. This app even makes it easier for you to download, repost and save the stories you are viewing on your phone. An example is storey saver for Instagram that can be downloaded from the play store or a story reposted that can be downloaded from App Store.
But because these are third-party apps, you use them at your discretion as they might not be that secure.
Now, note that the last two methods will work if you have not been blocked by the user of the account you want to view. And all the methods can be accessed if you are of one the Instagram followers of the person you intend to sneakily view.
Other Fun Instagram Hacks
Instagram is one of the leading social media apps because of its easy-to-use interface and engaging ability. That is why it is a go-to app for business owners, content creators, and everyone else. What makes it even better is when you can properly navigate this app to work according to your needs. Here is a list of things that could come in handy while you navigate through Instagram.
1. Hide Unwanted Tagged Photos
Not all tagged photos could be for the best. It is not possible for you to like all content that you have been tagged in. In times like this, Instagram made it possible for you to hide these photos so others would not be able to see them.
First, you log into your Instagram app and go to your profile. On the lower screen of your bio is a row of icons, click on that. Click on the Photos Of You section that look like a person on a box. On there, you will be given the option to hide photos. This way, it would keep the photos from appearing on your profile. You can also set it up in a way that you approve each post individually. This is by clicking on the settings icon in the Photos Of You section. Then you select the tagging options to select manually.
2. Clean up Your Search History
It is not bad to want to clear up your search history. The good news is that Instagram made reservations for that. All you have to do is click on the options icon on your profile. Then you scroll down to clear search history. It would clear as soon as you confirm that you want it erased in the option that it would pull up.
3. Edit photos Without Posting Them
Do you know you can use your Instagram page as a stand-alone photo editor? Sometimes, you might want to edit your photos alone or in advance without posting them online. You can start by going on your settings page where you turn on the Save Original Photos option. Then you can either place your phone on aeroplane mode or switch off all data connections including VPNs before proceeding to create a new post and edit your photo. Aeroplane mode will disrupt the upload, however, it will save on your phone’s photo gallery. This way, you get an edited version of your photo without putting it out for the world to see.
4. Organize Already Saved Posts into a Collection
With this, you can group your favourite photos by a theme. First, you have to bookmark the posts you like. Then go to the bookmark page on your profile. It is on the far right of your profile. On there, you choose the collection tab and tap the + icon at the top to create a collection. You can name the collection whatever name you want before clicking Next and adding whatever photos you want to add to the collection. After this, click on Next and then you are done.
Learned Something New?
So these are the ways to step up your game and improve your Instagram experience. With the information, you have consumed from above, going anonymous while viewing an Instagram story should not be a problem. Just make sure that while doing so, you are not infringing on the right of anyone.
There are several new features yet to be added to the Instagram app but until then, you can make the best use of the ones available to your benefit.
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