How to view Instagram stories without them knowing on iPhone

Written By Suraj Reviewed By How-to iPhone 8 Min Read

Key takeaways

  • Turning on Airplane mode on your iPhone lets you view Instagram stories without the person knowing.
  • You can also use a third-party tool like INSANONY to view stories of private Instagram accounts anonymously.

If you watch someone’s Instagram Stories, your name will appear among the list of people who have viewed it. But sometimes, you might want to view stories anonymously for whatever reason. Fortunately, there are some secret hacks you can try for this depending on whether the person’s profile if private or public. Here’s how to view Instagram Stories without them knowing on your iPhone.

How to anonymously view stories of private Instagram accounts on iPhone

There are two ways to view the stories of a private Instagram account – provided you’re a follower of the account in question.

Using the Airplane mode

This method requires you to load the story of the account and disable your internet to prevent logging your entry. Here’s how you can do this.

  1. Go to the Instagram profile of the desired account.
  2. Wait for a few moments so that their story loads properly.
    You should see a colored ring around their profile picture. Don’t tap it.
  3. Without closing the Instagram app, access the Control Center → Enable Airplane Mode.

    Toggle on Airplane mode from control centre
  4. Head back to the profile → Tap the profile picture to access the story.
  5. Now, you’ll be able to view their Instagram story anonymously. Your name won’t appear on their Seen list.
  6. After you view the story, exit it and go to some other page before toggling off AirPlane mode.

Note: This method may not be foolproof. For instance, if the person has shared a very long story, such as a lengthy video, you may not be able to see the entire content. Additionally, if they have shared multiple story slides, only a few of them will load at once.

However, you’ll definitely be able to view pictures shared in stories or media that do not require the internet to refresh the data.

Using the half-swipe technique

Want to secretly watch Instagram stories like a pro? This method is for you. However, it requires a great deal of caution and a bit of practice. Keep reading to understand why.

  1. Head over to your Instagram home page.
  2. Now, make sure the story of the desired profile is on the home page.
    Simply hover through every story until the desired profile appears.
  3. Ensure there’s a story to the right of your desired profile.
  4. Now, instead of clicking on the story you’re interested in, tap the story on the right.
  5. Press and hold the screen → Partially swipe from left to right of your screen.
  6. At nearly halfway down the swipe, you can view the desired user’s story without them knowing. Do not lift your finger throughout the process.
  7. Now, cautiously slide back (right to left) to avoid being on their Seen list.

    Use the half swipe method in Instagram
  8. Then, exit stories altogether. You will see that the ring is still colorful around that person’s profile picture, confirming that you have yet to see their story officially.

    Watch the colorful ring around the story

However, keep in mind that this method only lets you view the last slide of an account’s Story, not the middle or first frames.

How to view Instagram stories of public accounts on iPhone

Watching the Instagram stories of public accounts is relatively simple. It does not require you to follow the preferred account and works well for iPhone.

Via third-party applications or websites

  1. Access the Instagram app on your iPhone.
  2. Go to user profile → Tap the three-dot icon → Choose Copy Profile URL.
    You may also note down the username (IG handle).

    Tap the three-dot, Copy Profile URL
  3. Head over to the homepage of Inflact.
  4. Paste the profile link or type the username in the dedicated section → Hit Search.
  5. Let the process run its course and fetch all the information from the account.
  6. Once loaded, you can view all live stories, posts, and highlights of the profile without them knowing.
  7. You can further download these if you’d like.

It’s pretty scary, in my opinion. But it is what it is.

Note: There are numerous websites dedicated to the same purpose. Therefore, you can try them out and keep your favorite one for future use. However, I wouldn’t personally recommend snooping on someone in this manner.

Make fake or secondary Instagram account

If you want to view public Instagram stories anonymously or without revealing your identity, you can create a fake or secondary account.

This way, you can access the content you want, and your friend won’t know it’s you!

  1. To create such an anonymous Instagram account, the first step is to use a different email address and select a username that does not disclose your real identity.
  2. Once the account is set up, it is crucial to avoid connecting with any personal contacts and refrain from sharing any identifiable information in the profile description.

Following this method with caution, users can explore public stories safely and confidently without revealing their identity or experiencing any risks associated with unauthorized access. In my opinion, this is the most appropriate way of watching Instagram stories anonymously.

This might also work for private accounts, provided that your follow request is approved.

Can I use third-party apps to anonymously view stories?

While it works flawlessly for open Instagram accounts, using unauthorized apps may violate Instagram’s policies and compromise your account or device’s security.

Is there a built-in feature on the iPhone for discreet story viewing?

No, Instagram doesn’t offer a native feature for viewing stories anonymously. Always use the platform within its intended guidelines.

Are there consequences for attempting to view stories discreetly?

Yes, violating Instagram’s terms of service can lead to consequences, including account suspension or restriction.

Stay low-key!

In conclusion, viewing Instagram stories on your iPhone without letting others know is a great way to stay low-key. By following the simple steps mentioned above, you can easily check out the stories of your friends or acquaintances without alerting them. However, it’s essential to use this feature responsibly and avoid any unethical practices that may harm others.

Thank you for reading. Please take a moment to leave your thoughts in the comment section below.

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By Suraj
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Suraj is an operations head on the iGB team. He contributes to the social media section along with tips and tricks for iPhone, Apple Watch. Apart from blogging, he likes to work out as much as he can in his gym and love to listening to retro music.
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