Can You See Who Viewed Your Instagram Video?

Profile photo of Karen Lin, author

Karen Lin

Instagram Tips | Nov 14, 2024

Want More Real Instagram Followers?

Instagram provides us with a glimpse inside the lives of others, from friends and family to celebrities and influencers. Videos are a great way to level up your social media game and get more Instagram followers. One of the most commonly asked questions is “Can you see who viewed your Instagram video?” On the flip side, you may also be wondering if people can see when you view their videos.

Of course, there is a lot that you can see when it comes to Instagram. For one, you already know who is following you on the app. Additionally, you also know who has liked or commented on your feed posts or sent you a direct message. But what about any video content that you post, share, or reshare? Can you see who views your Instagram videos?  Let’s make things a bit more clear and explain further below. 

Smartphone showing the Instagram app on the screen with blurred background.

What Are Instagram Videos?

Before we discuss the question of “Can you see who’s viewed your Instagram video?” let’s take a few steps back. First, you need to get up to speed on what Instagram videos are. We’ll also discuss how to create video posts

First, you can upload video content that you’ve pre-recorded. If it’s accessible on your camera’s photo album, you can add it to Instagram. You can also use Instagram’s built-in camera to record videos. Then, you can either post your content as an Instagram story or an Instagram reel. Below, we’ll break down the difference between each option. And of course, we’ll get to the most important point. Can you see video views on Instagram?

Since their introduction in 2016, Instagram stories have reigned as one of the most popular ways to share content. This feature lets you quickly post your share of activities and moments throughout the day. You have the option to post in both photo and video formats. This content appears together as a slideshow format to create your story. 

Stories offer an easy way to interact daily with your followers. Similarly, Instagram reels let you post engaging and fun videos to share with a broad interactive audience. But what exactly is a reel? It’s a short, 15-90-second multi-clip video that lets you add audio and other effects. You can create reels in a quick series of separate clips or one continuous video stream.

Learn How to Post Videos on Instagram Stories

First things first. You’ve got to know how to post before you can see who views your Instagram videos, right? If you’ve never posted to your story before, we are here to help. Ready for the easy-to-follow steps? Check out this quick tutorial before we probe into ‘can you see who views your videos on Instagram?’.

  1. Open the Instagram app. Tap the plus sign square icon located at the top left corner of your screen. You can also swipe right anywhere in your feed.
  2. Select story in the bottom right corner.
  3. Tap on the circular record button icon at the bottom middle of the screen to take a picture. Or, tap and hold this button to record a video.
  4. You can also choose a photo or video that is already saved to your phone. Simply swipe up anywhere on the screen or select the camera roll icon in the bottom left corner. You’ll need to ensure you have given the app permission to access your camera roll.
  5. From here, use the edit icons at the top right of the screen to add on extras. You can add text, doodles, filters and more. Click on the three dots icon to access the draw tool and save your story to your camera roll.
  6. You can also swipe up to access stickers as well as the ever-popular selection of GIFs and emojis. Geo-tag your current venue with the location sticker or add a catchy tune by selecting music.
  7. When you’re done, simply select the next arrow and choose who you wish to share your story with.

Learn How to Post a Video as an Instagram Reel

We know you are wondering, could you see who views your Instagram videos shared as reels? First, let’s talk about how to make a reel. You are essentially combining pictures and video snippets. It just takes a little bit of editing magic to tie it all together. Follow the below steps and you’ll be an expert poster in no time.

  1. Open the Instagram app and go to your profile page. Click the plus sign button at the top right of the screen. Select reel from the bottom row of options. You can also access the reels editor by swiping left to open the Instagram camera from your home screen. From here, select the reel option located at the bottom of the screen.
  2. Click the camera roll icon at the bottom left of the screen. You can also swipe up from the live camera view for quick access. Tap on the photo or video you wish to add to your reel. Also, feel free to use Instagram’s built-in camera to record video in real-time.
  3. Next, you can adjust the length of time you want this photo to appear in your reel. Drag the slider to choose your preferred time under the default and maximum length of 5 seconds.
  4. Click add. This will take you back to the live camera view of your reel creator.
  5. Want to add more pictures to the same reel? Simply repeat steps 2 through 4.
  6. Got everything lined up and timed up to your liking? Edit your content by adding music, stickers, or special effects. Click next to preview your reel and next again to complete the finishing touches.

Photo of person filming a music concert and stage lights with a smartphone.

Can You See Who Watched Your Instagram Video Shared as a Story?

Alright, it’s finally time for the big reveal. Can you see if someone views your Instagram video that you posted as a story? The answer is yes. Now, are you eagerly asking how can you see who watched your IG video shared as a story? It’s easy, we promise. To access this feature, simply pull up a frame of your story. This is easily done by clicking on your profile photo on the upper left corner of your main feed page. Next, you’ll want to swipe up from the bottom of the screen. This will show you a list of viewers along with usernames. From this screen, you’ll also have options. Clicking on the three dots next to their name will let you restrict, block, or view their Instagram profile.

There’s a couple things to remember. First, people can view the different segments of your story at different times throughout the day. So, you’ll want to repeat the above steps on each portion of your Instagram story. Of course, be sure to check back frequently within the 24 hours to catch any new viewers. If your story has already expired, don’t worry. You can still check out who viewed your Instagram story for up to 48 hours. Do this by accessing your posts and stories archives. Follow the same swipe-up steps as when your story is live and you’ll see the complete list of viewers. 

Can You See Who Views IG Videos: Reels?

You already know the answer when it comes to Instagram stories, but what about reels? Does Instagram show who views your videos as reels? If you are hoping for another yes, then you may be a bit disappointed. With reels, the answer is no. The social media app does not currently track and show who views your Instagram reels. 

Popular reels can get thousands, if not millions of views. A complete list of viewers would be extremely lengthy and may slow things down. Additionally, Instagram often recommends reels for you to watch based on their algorithm. Sometimes viewing them is involuntary and viewers may not want their usernames connected to certain videos. 

Not tracking viewers means you can freely watch all the reels you want without being seen. While you can’t see the username names, you can see a few other things when it comes to Instagram reels. Similar to feed posts, you can view the usernames of people who have liked your video. This means they’ve double-tapped on it or hit the heart icon. 

You can also tell exactly how many times the reel has been viewed. This tidbit is especially helpful to brands or businesses who are wondering how to increase their engagement. It allows them to gauge how their content is performing and capitalize on what is working for them. This can lead to better visibility and a larger following. However, when it comes to the question of “Can you see who watches your IG videos shared as reels?”, the answer is no.

Close-up of gold vintage film reel on a flat surface with a blurred background.

Can You See Who Viewed Your Instagram Video: Grow Your Views

Being able to see video views on Instagram is more important than you may think. Sure, it’s nice to check in to see who’s enjoying your content. But if you’re an influencer or hoping to become one, staying on top of notifications is a must. You can use these notifications to identify your target audience, see what content performs the best, and other insights. Then, you can use this information to improve your future content.

Now you know the answer to the question “Can you see who viewed your Instagram video?”. It’s time to enhance your Instagram presence and engage with a more targeted audience. Path Social offers advanced AI-targeting technology and an extensive network of Instagram influencers. We can help you reach the right users and grow your follower base effectively. Start building a more engaged Instagram community with Path Social today!

FAQs

Can someone see who viewed their Instagram reels?

No, Instagram does not currently allow users to see who viewed their reels. You can see the total number of views, but not the specific usernames of viewers. This is for privacy reasons and because popular reels get thousands or millions of views. So a complete list of viewers may be too lengthy. However, you can get engagement insights from the total number of viewers. 

Can you see when someone views your Instagram profile?

No, Instagram does not notify users when someone views their profile page. This means that users can visit other profiles and check out posts without revealing their identities.

On Instagram can you see who viewed your videos?

Instagram does not show specific viewers for feed videos or reels. It only shows the total view count and interactions. However, you can see the usernames of people who view Instagram stories. You can only see a list of viewers for 24 hours while the story is active.