How to See Someone’s Activity on Instagram Without Having Their Phone: 5 Best Ways

As a parent in the era of social media, staying informed about your child’s behavior on platforms like Instagram is more important than ever. Studies show that teens addicted to social media are 2.1 times more likely to develop anxiety disorders, so you need to stay aware of how they spend their time online.

While open communication should always be the foundation, there may be times when you feel the need for extra insight into their Instagram activity without needing direct access to their mobile phone. 

Whether you’re concerned about their Instagram engagements or just want to ensure they’re using Instagram safely, you can observe their account activity remotely. 

Want to know how? We have compiled the five solutions on how to see someone’s Instagram activity discreetly.

Can You See Someone’s Activity on Instagram? Separating Rumors from Reality

Yes, you can see another person’s activity on Instagram – but with significant limitations. Today, Instagram only shows a user’s activity if their account is public or if you follow their private account, and even then, the details you see are quite limited.

Previously, Instagram had a “Following” tab that let users view the interactions of people they followed, such as who they liked or commented on. However, this feature was removed in 2019 due to privacy concerns.

Without the “Following” tab, seeing someone’s Instagram activity is much more restricted. Now, you will only come across glimpses of their interactions if Instagram’s algorithm happens to show it in your Feed, and even then, it is indirect and inconsistent.

Because of these changes, parents who need to stay informed must consider alternative, ethical ways to gain meaningful insights into their child’s activity on Instagram. 

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How to See Others’ Activity on Instagram Without Accessing the Target Phone: 5 Proven Methods

Since 45% of teens feel they can’t live without Instagram, parents have no choice but to keep an eye on their child’s app activity. So today, we will explore five effective ways on how to see someone’s activity on Instagram without them knowing. 

1. Using XNSPY

If you’re looking to check another person’s Instagram activity without physically accessing their phone, XNSPY is an all-around solution. It provides you with complete insight into the other person’s Instagram activity, even if you do not have access to their account. 

By using it, you can not only stay aware of what is showing up on their Instagram algorithm, but also how they are interacting with it. 

To access their complete Instagram activity logs, XNSPY uses several features. Its screen recorder, for instance, provides screenshots at 5-10 second intervals. Through its screenshots, you can get a detailed view of all their Instagram activity, even if it is on separate accounts. 

Moreover, XNSPY’s built-in keylogger records every keystroke the target user makes on their device, including Instagram messages and search queries. This can be particularly helpful in understanding what they are searching for or typing on Instagram in real time.

Therefore, if a comprehensive way is needed to address how to see others’ activity on Instagram discreetly, XNSPY might be the way to go. 

Follow these steps to view their Instagram activity using XNSPY: 

1. Subscribe to an XNSPY plan best suited to your needs.
2. Install and set up the application on the target mobile.
3. Use the credentials received in your email to log into the user dashboard.
4. Go to the “Screen recorder” or “Keylogger” to keep an eye on their Instagram activity. 

2. Using Instagram’s Family Center 

Instagram’s Family Center can be a great option if you are looking for easy-to-set-up controls to keep an eye on someone’s Instagram activity. Its controls allow parents to see how much time their child is spending on the app, their followers, following, etc. 

You can also view their privacy settings and see if any changes have been made to them. Overall, the Family Center gives parents insights that can be used to have open and meaningful conversations about healthy social media use. 

Here’s how to see activity on Instagram of another person remotely with the Family Center: 

1. Access your child’s Instagram on your device. 
2. Locate “Settings” in the menu icon and scroll down to “Privacy.” 
3. Tap on Supervision under the “Privacy and Security” settings.
4. Follow the prompts to send a Supervision invite to your child’s account.
5. Once they accept, you can monitor their app usage, followers, and privacy changes directly from your Family Center dashboard. 

While this is an efficient way to track Instagram activities at a basic level, it falls short in some ways. For example, it might not be very reliable if your child ends up creating a second secret account. So, you will once again be in the dark about what goes on on their Instagram. 

3. Check Activity from Your Account 

One of the simplest ways to see someone’s activity on Instagram remotely is by using your own Instagram account. After following the target person on Instagram, you can take certain actions to passively observe their general Instagram activity. 

For example, refreshing your Feed may show you recent updates about their interactions, depending on Instagram’s algorithm. You can also use the search function to find their account quickly and look for any visible signs of recent engagement.

Another useful indicator is their online status. If they have not disabled the activity status in their settings, you can see when they were last active. With the online activity at hand, you get a sense of how frequently the target is using the Instagram app.

Here’s how to check someone’s activity on Instagram secretly using this method:

1. Open Instagram on your cell phone.
2. Look up their account on Instagram.
3. Check their following and follower lists. 
4. Regularly revisit their account for new activity updates.

However, it’s important to understand the limitations of this method – it only works if the user accepts your follow request and hasn’t restricted their activity visibility. Plus, tools like “Close Friends” or other hidden accounts can make it an unreliable method for consistent insights.

4. Accessing Their Instagram Accounts 

Another indirect method on how to check someone’s Instagram activity without them knowing is to observe their activity through a device they frequently use, such as a laptop or computer. 

On the device, you might find their Instagram account already logged in. If so, you can passively view their recent IG activity and engagement. Moreover, the app notifications, open tabs, or visible interactions might offer clues into how they are using the platform.

However, if the Instagram account is not logged in, you can still gain some insight by checking the device’s browser history. Frequent visits to Instagram’s web version, related searches, or login attempts can reveal usage patterns and engagement.

Here’s how you can keep an eye on their activity by accessing their Instagram accounts: 

1. Get access to their most frequented device where they use Instagram.
2. See if their account is logged in and check Instagram activity. 
3. Or, go to their browsing history and gain some insight into their activity.  

Even though this method can provide valuable clues, its limitations, like a logged-out account, cleared history, etc., can make it less effective. 

5. Using Shared Activity and Mutual Follow 

Instagram’s built-in “Shared Activity” feature can offer a limited but useful understanding of their app usage. Since the feature highlights interactions between you and any target individual, you can get a glimpse into their Instagram activity without needing direct access to their mobile device.

Moreover, even if their Instagram interactions are not with you directly, you may still observe some of their activity if you follow the user and the people they are engaging with.

Let’s see how to view someone’s activity on Instagram remotely using this method:

1. Open your Instagram account on your phone.
2. Go to the account of the user whose “Shared Activity” you want to view.
3. Tap the hamburger menu (three-line icon) and go to “Shared Activity.” 
4. Select whatever you want to view from the provided options. 

This method offers a basic level of visibility because if the target person engages with users you do not follow, then most of their Instagram activity will remain hidden.

FAQs

How to see activity on Instagram of another person without installing the software?

If you don’t want to install the software, Instagram’s built-in parental controls allow you to link your child’s account to yours for limited activity insights. However, these controls can be bypassed through alternate accounts. Instead, you can use the XNSPY Instagram monitoring app for more comprehensive and real-time updates, as it offers a clearer view of their overall Instagram activity across multiple accounts.

How to check someone’s activity on Instagram without logging into their account?

If you are wondering how to see people’s activity on Instagram secretly and without logging into their account, you can start by checking their activity from your own account if you follow them. Alternatively, you can also explore Instagram’s Shared Activity tab to view any mutual engagements. Though limited, these features help you stay aware without needing direct access to their Instagram login credentials.

How to see someone’s Instagram activity even after they block you?

If blocked, you can check someone’s Instagram activity by using a device they frequently use. With their Instagram account already logged in on that device, you may find clues about their activity. Plus, even if logged out, their browser history might reveal engagements and other activity details. However, since physical access is not always practical, XNSPY’s screen recording and keylogging features provide a more effective way to discreetly observe ongoing Instagram activity without account access.

How to check someone’s Instagram activity if their account is private?

In case the target person’s account is private and you don’t follow them, viewing their Instagram activity becomes nearly impossible through standard means. While tools like Instagram viewers or checking other social media platforms may offer minor insights, they are unreliable. Instead, for detailed and consistent Instagram activity updates, advanced applications like XNSPY are a far more effective solution.

How to see people’s activity on Instagram if they use a second or fake account?

When the target person uses alternate or fake IG accounts, traditional methods like Instagram’s Family Center offer little control. Even checking their activity through your own account becomes ineffective if you’re unaware of the second account. In such situations, the only partial workaround is checking a frequently used device for any logged-in Instagram accounts or browser history. But these insights are still limited. For unrestricted access, use XNSPY, which captures their Instagram activity in real time across all accounts.