Does a Private IG Viewer Really Exist? Find Out Here!

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Karen Lin

Instagram 101 | Sep 05, 2024

Want More Real Instagram Followers?

There are plenty of people on popular social media platforms that you cannot trust, from catfish to scammers. So naturally, lots of people prioritize their safety and privacy online. Part of that means locking up their Instagram accounts and setting them to private mode. 

But that also means more people get curious about these “hidden” accounts. So curious that some might go out of their way to find a tool to lurk in private profiles. But does it work?

Today, we’ll break down what a private IG viewer is and whether it’s reliable for seeing a private page. Keep reading to see if you can trust these tools. We’ll also share other alternatives you can turn to if you don’t feel comfortable using them. Let’s jump right into it!

A woman in a red turtleneck holding up a magnifying glass to her eye.

What Are Private Accounts on Instagram?

Private accounts are exactly what they sound like—pages on Instagram that aren’t available for just anyone to view. Unlike public accounts that anyone online can freely visit, only a user’s followers can see their page if it’s private.

When you open a private profile on the Instagram app, you’ll see a message that says, “This account is private.” A padlock icon will also appear beside this note.

To view private Instagram accounts, you’ll need to follow the page. The owner of the private account then gets a notification of your request to follow them. They can either accept or deny your request. If they accept it, you’ll be able to look at their page whenever you want.

Private pages are quite popular nowadays. According to Statista, 45% of social media users in the US have all their online profiles set to private. This makes total sense, especially with so many scares about identity theft and scams. 

Having a private account allows people to share their personal photos and videos only with a select audience, ensuring their online safety. You can also keep Instagram spam at bay by locking strangers out!

Want to be more selective in who you share your content with online? Here’s how to make your Instagram profile private in a few simple steps:

1. Open the Instagram app and go to your profile.

2. Click the three horizontal lines at the top of the page to open your settings.

3. Under “Who can see your content,” select Account privacy.

Path Social’s screenshot of IG’s settings page with a pink box highlighting the “Account privacy” button.

4. Tick the toggle switch that says Private account.

Path Social’s screenshot of IG’s privacy settings with a pink box highlighting the toggle to switch to a private account.

5. Read the reminders in the pop-up message that appears. If you’re sure about your decision, click Switch to private.

Path Social’s screenshot of IG’s pop-up message asking a user to confirm if they’d like to switch to private mode.

What Is a Third-Party IG Private Profile Viewer?

An IG private profile viewer is a third-party app or website that claims to show you a private account’s content. These tools market themselves as the perfect tool for seeing a private page’s activity if you don’t follow them.

These private viewer tools are a dime a dozen on the internet. There’s the GWAA tool, the Story viewer site by Glassagram—the list goes on and on.

Their M.O. is pretty much the same each time. They’ll ask you to simply provide the username of the private page you want to spy on. Then, they say they can fetch their private content in seconds, allowing you to view it. From there, you can download the content they provide and keep a copy of it on your target device.

Can You Trust a Private IG Viewer Tool?

We’ll give it to you straight. It’s difficult to trust any third-party private Insta account viewer because they have a reputation for being unreliable.

First of all, Instagram doesn’t allow just anyone to fetch content posted in private accounts. It’s not information that’s publicly available. So, it would be essentially impossible for these tools to get their hands on these profiles’ posts.

There are also tons of users on online forums that claim to have used these viewer tools with zero success. Some fraudsters use an IG private viewer to lure you in and ask for your Instagram credentials, putting your account at risk. It’s also a popular tactic for phishing sites and scams. Some tools, although harmless, simply don’t show you accurate results.

Someone holding a magnifying glass on top of a laptop keyboard.

How To View Private IG Accounts: 4 Legitimate Ways That Work

But don’t worry. Using a third-party private IG account viewer isn’t the only way to view a private page. If you’re resourceful and can muster up the courage to ask friends for favors, there are workarounds for it.

Want to see someone’s private account in a way that works and doesn’t put your account at risk? Here’s how to view private IG accounts in four legitimate, honest ways that respect the boundaries of private users.

1. Follow the Private Account

The easiest way to gain access to a private page on Instagram is by simply following the account. If you’re lucky, this user will approve your request. This allows you to view their feed posts, Instagram Stories, Notes, and any other content they post.

If that person doesn’t accept your request right away, you can try sending them a direct message on Instagram. Introduce yourself and tell them why you want to follow their page. Hopefully, this will strengthen your case and convince them to approve your request to follow their page.

2. Make a Secondary Account and Follow Them With That

Another tip for how to view a private IG account is to create a secondary, anonymous “burner” account. Then, follow the private page there. That way, you can legitimately follow the page and see its content without giving away your identity. It’s perfect if you want to see someone’s page without letting them know who you are.

Our biggest tip for this is to create the most realistic second profile you can. Use a high-quality profile picture and post content on the feed so you don’t look like a spam account. Follow a few other accounts as well before attempting to follow the private page you’re targeting.

3. Ask Mutual Friends if You Can Take a Peek at Their Page

Even if you can’t see the content within a private Instagram profile, you can see who your mutual followers are. It should show up right under their bio on their profile. If you’re close to these people, you can ask them if you can look at this page through their phones.

Talk to a mutual friend you trust who might understand why you want to see this private page. Explain why you want to see it, then ask if they’re open to showing you their posts on their device.

If they say no, it’s important to respect their decision. Sharing someone else’s content with you can affect their friendship and dynamic with that person. So, if they’re not comfortable doing it, don’t push it.

A woman with an orange blazer showing her friend something on a mobile phone.

4. Get a Friend To Introduce You to the Person With a Private Page

Another alternative is to ask those mutual friends to introduce you to the person who owns a private page. Tell your friend why you’re curious about this person and their profile, then see if they’re willing to introduce you.

They can introduce you to the person with a private page in person or in real life. Either way, it creates a connection between you. Make some small talk and get to know them a little. This makes it more likely for them to approve your request to follow them on Instagram later.

A man and woman shaking hands and another woman with glasses smiling.

Is There Such a Thing as a Private IG Story Viewer?

Unfortunately, there are also no private IG Story viewer tools that can actually work. You can only view someone’s Instagram Stories if you follow their page. Third-party tools can’t fetch Story content because Instagram doesn’t make this data available to non-followers of private pages.

You can, however, use Instagram Story viewers to anonymously watch stories and highlights posted by public accounts anonymously. Path Social’s Story viewer tool is one that lets you watch people’s public Stories at the touch of a button!

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I see Instagram if it’s private?

You’ll know if an account is private if you can’t access their page without following them. When you visit their profile, you might see a message that says, “This account is private.” To see that account’s posts, you’ll need to follow them first.

Can a private Instagram be viewed?

Only people who follow a private account will be able to see its main profile and feed posts. There are plenty of third-party apps claiming to show you these private pages, but they hardly ever work. It’s better to try your luck and send a Follow request to that private page.

Is there a real private Instagram viewer?

There is no known private Instagram profile viewer that can do the job accurately. Many online viewer apps end up being scams, phishing attempts, or just incompetent services that don’t give good results.

Can I see who views my private Instagram account?

No. As with public accounts (and any kind of Instagram account), you can’t see who views your page. You can only see who views your Instagram Stories.

Don’t Dwell On Private Profiles; Focus On Your Own IG Growth Instead!

There are plenty of viewer apps that promise the nearly impossible task of showing you private pages on Instagram. If you want to successfully see private accounts on the app, stay away from these viewers. It’s much better to take things into your own hands and follow these users or ask friends to introduce you. That way, you can legitimately see their account while respecting their boundaries.

At the end of the day, though, Instagram is all about presenting yourself to others in the way you want. It’s not about dwelling on other people’s private profiles. So, don’t waste time looking for a private IG viewer, and focus your energy on your own Instagram growth.

One way to grow fast on the platform is by working with Path Social. We implement organic promotional strategies to make sure your content hits the right people, increasing your chances of attracting followers. Before you know it, you’ll have new fans eagerly waiting to engage with the content you post. Grow a big, sustainable Instagram community with Path Social today!