How To Perform Instagram Account Search: 6+ Lookup Methods

Instagram is a popular platform with over 2.4 billion users worldwide. Each user on Instagram has a unique profile name called a username. People can easily find others by using this username. 

However, many Instagram users—especially new ones—don’t know how to perform an Instagram account search. 

This article will walk you through different ways to search Instagram accounts, including how to hide your account. 

How To Search an Instagram Account

Do you want to find an Instagram account but don’t know what their username is? Luckily, there are many ways to search for a user on Instagram, even without their usernames. 

Here are a few easy ways how to search an Instagram account:

1. Search by Name

One of the easiest ways to find someone on Instagram is by searching for their real name. Follow these simple steps:

1. Open Instagram.
2. Tap the “Magnifying Glass” icon.
3. Click the “Search Bar.“
4. Enter the full name, and matching profiles will appear.

Keep in mind that not everyone uses their real name on Instagram. So, if this doesn’t work, don’t worry—we have more tricks up our sleeve!

2. Search by Places

Did you know you can find people on Instagram by searching for specific places? Many users add locations while uploading their photos.

Although time-consuming, it may help locate the user you’re searching for. Here’s how to do it:

1. Open the IG app.
2. Click the Magnifying Glass.
3. Tap Places.
4. Type the specific location you want to search.
5. Scroll through photos until you seek the person you’re looking for.

This method is great if you know where someone was last. If they have uploaded photos, you can filter them based on the publication for better results.

3. Instagram Account Search by Hashtags

According to one report, IG users add an average of 7 hashtags to each post. You can search Instagram accounts using hashtags. Here’s how:

1. Open your app.
2. Go to the search bar.
3. Type different hashtags.
4. Click the desired hashtag.

You’ll see images and profiles associated with the hashtag. Remember to use specific hashtags for better results.

4. Search by Following

Instagram allows you to see people that users follow. To do this, locate the IG account of a friend or relative of a user you wish to find. 

This is an effective way to find accounts if the user you’re looking for is on these people’s follower lists. Here’s how to search for a user:

1. Open a mutual friend’s IG profile.
2. Tap Followers.
3. Scroll through the follower list or use the search filter.
4. Repeat the steps for as many friends as possible. 

If you can’t find them in followers, check out who your mutual friends are following by opening a mutual friend’s profile. Then, tap Followers. Scroll or use the search function.

These methods might take some time, especially if the mutual friend or relative has many followers. 

How To Search Instagram Without an Account: Is It Possible?

A login screen will open if you go to ‘Instagram.com’ without signing up. This means you need a profile to access all IG features. Without one, you won’t be able to use Instagram like regular users—regardless of the device. However, there are some ways to search Instagram even when you don’t have an account. Let’s find out.

Are you wondering how to search Instagram without an account? You can see IG profiles without an account, provided they’re public and you have the username. 

Enter the Instagram URL and the username, like ‘www.instagram.com/[username].’ This will only work for public content and profiles. Moreover, the user won’t know who sees their posts, only who views their Instagram Stories.

Search Instagram Without an Account Through Third-Party Services

Another effective way is using a third-party Instagram viewer. They enable users to search Instagram anonymously. 

There are numerous IG viewers available that you can choose from, such as Path Social, Imgsed, Inflact, and Dumpor. 

How To Search Instagram by Phone Number Without Account

You can search Instagram by phone number without an account. However, it only works if the user you search for connects their account with the number. 

Here are step-by-step instructions to search by phone number:

1. Add the person’s phone number to your Contacts.
2. Open Instagram. Now, tap the three menu bars to find Settings.
3. Select Account.
4. Tap “Contacts syncing.“
5. Slide the “Connect Contacts” toggle to the right. Instagram will sync all phone numbers and search its database.
6. Restart the app and go back to Settings. Choose Discover People.

A list of IG accounts with phone numbers will appear in your phone contacts.

When Is It Impossible To Find an Instagram Account by Phone Number?

Are you looking for IG accounts by phone numbers but unable to find them? There can be several reasons, such as:

• The user failed to link their account to the phone number.
• You don’t know the registered phone number for the account. 
• Identifying which person has a fake profile/page without an avatar is challenging. 

How To Search Instagram Messages

Now you know how to search Instagram accounts, but do you know how to search Instagram messages?

As a business or influencer, Instagram is an effective way to connect with your target audience and share content. However, dealing with messages can be challenging—particularly if you get hundreds of them daily.

Fortunately, Instagram has a search feature that lets you find messages by phrase or keyword. 

Here’s how you can search Instagram direct messages:

1. Open your IG app.
2. Tap the “paper airplane” icon.
3. You’ll see a search bar, so hit it to start the search.
4. Type in a phrase or keyword from the conversation you are looking for. Instagram will show you all the messages with that keyword or phrase.

Remember, this search only includes messages from people you follow. If you’re searching for a message from someone who doesn’t follow you, this method may not work.

What’s Reverse Image Search Instagram and How To Perform It?

Reverse image search Instagram is an effective technique to find someone’s profile using their photos. 

If you want to find an old friend from your childhood, this method can help you reconnect if you have a photo of them.

You can also check if someone reuses your Instagram photos without permission. This helps protect your photos and content. 

However, you can’t do a reverse image search directly on Instagram. Instead, you have to take a screenshot and use a tool like Google Image Search.

Google Image Search is a widely used and powerful tool to find the source of images. It’s particularly useful for Instagram as it quickly reveals accurate and similar results. 

The process is simple—just upload your image to the search engine. If you have a URL, you can get additional information related to the profile.

Here’s how to do a reverse image search on Google:

1. Go to “Google Images” and click on “camera icon.“
2. You’ll see two search options: Paste the image URL and Upload an image. Choose any option, as both give similar results.
3. Analyze Google’s findings. Make sure to look carefully at photos from the Instagram.com domain. This helps you identify any unauthorized use of your image on social networks.

How To Hide My Instagram Account From Search

Do you want to know how to hide my Instagram account from a search? 

Instagram is a public platform, and you need to be cautious when sharing data on the platform. For instance, it’s important not to reveal your real name or other information and keep posts private. Here are a few ways you can prevent users from searching for you on Instagram:

1. Make the Account Private

Making your Instagram profile less visible on search is incredibly simple—just set your account private. If someone manages to find you, they won’t see your IG posts unless you permit them. 

Follow the steps to make your Instagram account private:

1. Open Instagram and tap the “Profile icon.“
2. Tap the “menu icon” and choose “Settings and Privacy.“
3. Scroll down to tap on “Account Privacy.“
4. Enable the “Private Account” option.

2. Change Username and Profile

Even when your profile is private, chances are users can see the account name and username. To enhance privacy, make sure not to use your real name. Instead, choose a random username and account name to conceal your identity better.

 In addition, be cautious with your bio—anyone, including non-followers, can view it. Refrain from including details that may be too personal in your bio, as people may recognize your account.

3. Disconnect Contact Syncing

When you set up your IG account for the first time, you’ll encounter the “Sync your Contact” option. Enabling this allows individuals in your list of contacts to find you on Instagram easily. 

If you create a new account, ensure you don’t enable this option. However, if you’ve already enabled it, here’s how to turn it off: 

1. Open your IG app and navigate to your profile page.
2. Tap the menu icon and select “Settings and Privacy.“
3. Go to “Account.”
4. Choose “Contact Syncing” and disable “Connect Contacts.”

4. Remove Email & Phone Number

According to one report, hackers attack 1.4 billion accounts monthly on social media platforms. This shows how crucial it is to protect your privacy. 

You can do it by not sharing your email address and phone number publicly on Instagram. If you have already added them to your IG account, follow the steps below to remove them:

1. Open Instagram and your Profile.
2. Hit the “menu icon” and choose “Settings and Privacy.”
3. Tap “Accounts Center.”
4. Go to “Personal Details.”
5. Click “Contact Info.”
6. Choose your email, click “Delete email address,” then tap the phone number to delete it.

5. Disable Suggested Similar Accounts

Instagram often suggests similar accounts to follow. However, if you prefer not to appear on someone’s recommendation list, it is possible. 

Here’s how you can disable this feature using Instagram on your desktop:

1. Open Instagram and go to your IG Profile.
2. Click the “Edit Profile” button.
3. Scroll down to find “Similar Account Suggestions.”
4. Untick it to exclude your account from recommendations.

6. Remove Facebook Account

While Instagram enables you to link your Facebook account for easier sharing, this can compromise your privacy. 

If you don’t want your Facebook connections to find your Instagram account, it’s best to unlink it. 

Follow these steps to un-sync your Facebook and Instagram accounts:

1. Launch the Instagram app and navigate to Profile.
2. Tap “menu icon” and choose “Settings and Privacy.”
3. Hit “Accounts Center” and select “Accounts.”
4. Click the “Remove” icon next to your Meta profile to unlink the accounts.

Increase Your Instagram Following With Path Social

If you don’t have someone’s Instagram username, don’t worry—you can still find them using the tricks from this blog. 

Connecting with the right audience on Instagram is crucial for influencers and marketers to achieve better results. If you want to improve your Instagram account search and get more followers, choose Path Social! 

Our team specializes in helping brands and influencers boost their visibility and get more followers through state-of-the-art strategies and tools. Our cutting-edge AI-targeting algorithm will make your IG profile stand out from a slew of creators. So, get in touch with us to find the audience that engages and converts. Sign up and start growing and gaining Instagram followers today!