The world’s biggest photo-sharing platform is all about being seen. Instagram is a great way to connect with people and let them know what you have going on in your life. The ephemeral story section is a perfect place to keep people updated on everyday things that you don’t demand a post of their own. Instagram Stories are also a great place to share funny Reels, videos, and memes made by other creators. Unlike your Instagram posts, you can always see who viewed your Instagram Story. Here are 4 ways you can go about it.
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In This Article
See who viewed your Instagram Story (Android)
Step 1: Launch the Instagram app on your Android smartphone.
Step 2: Tap on Your story at the top left corner of the screen.
Step 3: Tap on Activity at the bottom left corner of the screen.
This is where you will be able to see the view count on the story and the people who have viewed it.
See who viewed your Instagram Story (iPhone)
The iPhone app for Instagram is very similar to the Android one. You can use the method mentioned above on your iPhone as well. So, let’s take a look at another way you can see who viewed your Story.
Step 1: Launch the Instagram app on your iPhone.
Step 2: Tap your Instagram Story at the top left corner of the screen.
Step 3: Swipe up to see who viewed your Story. This is where you will see the view count as well.
See who viewed your Instagram Story (Windows PC)
Step 1: Log into Instagram on your PC.
Step 2: Click on the Profile option in the side menu.
Step 3: Click on your profile picture to load the story.
Step 4: Select the ‘Seen by’ option at the bottom right corner of the screen.
You will be able to see who viewed your Instagram story in a popup box.
See who viewed your Instagram Stories 24 hours after posting them
Your Instagram Story expires 24 hours after being posted. If you’re on vacation and don’t have the time to be on Instagram as often, you may miss out on seeing who viewed your story. Luckily, there is a way you can still check your story viewers. Here’s how.
Step 1: Launch the Instagram app on your phone.
Step 2: Tap your profile icon at the bottom right corner of the screen.
Step 3: Hit the hamburger menu at the top right corner of the screen.
Step 4: Select Archive.
Step 5: Open the Story for which you want to see the view count.
Step 6: Tap on Activity.
This is where you can see who viewed your Story.
Note: Instagram archives your Story for 48 hours. If more time has lapsed since you posted the story, it will be gone forever.
How do I view someone’s story without showing up in their viewers list?
Unlike WhatsApp, Instagram does not let you view someone’s story inconspicuously, even though both are owned by Meta. Every time you view a story on Instagram, your profile will end up on the viewer’s list. Certain apps falsely claim to get around this situation by letting you peep stories while staying anonymous. Make sure you don’t fall prey to these claims as these apps may push malware on your device.
So, is there a way to view someone’s story without them knowing about it? Well, you can always make a throwaway account, but that only works if the poster’s profile is public. If not, you’re at a dead end. Or, are you? There are a couple of workarounds, but they come with certain limitations. These methods only work for the first and the last story that the person has uploaded in their carousel. Let’s a quick look.
There are a bunch of ways you can view someone’s Instagram Story. The most direct way is by tapping on their profile icon in the story bar on your Insta home page. You can also visit their profile to see what they have posted on their story. When you’re scrolling through your Instagram feed, you may have noticed a preview section full of stories from the people you follow. These previews always display the first story posted by the user. Tapping on it will count as a view, but merely glancing at them while you’re on your feed will go unnoticed.
Another way you can stay incognito while watching stories is by pressing and dragging a story to move on to the one posted by the next user in the list. The only catch is to not drag it all the way so that it doesn’t completely load on your device. If that happens, you will end up on the viewer list. If you wanna check out the last story posted by the user, load the story posted by the person on their right and drag the screen to the right.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How do I see my Story’s viewers list 24 hours after posting it?
Go to your Instagram profile, hit the hamburger menu at the top right corner of the screen, select Archive, and load the story of your choice. Swipe up to see the viewers.
Why does the view count on my Instagram Story not match the number of viewers?
This is because Instagram counts every replay as a view count. If someone plays your story multiple times, it will add to the views but their name will only show up once.
How do I view someone’s Instagram Story without showing up in the viewer list?
Scroll down on your home feed until reach the Story preview section. This may take some time. The preview thumbnail will always be the first story posted by the user.
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Conclusion
These are the top 4 ways to see who viewed your Instagram Stories on an iPhone, Android phone, and Windows PC. If you know any other way to see the view count, let us know in the comments! If you use a Business profile for Instagram, you will also get Story Analytics next to the view count.
