Watch Instagram Stories Anonymously Without Anyone Knowing

If you’re a business owner like me, you understand how important it is to keep up with your competitors’ social media strategies. If you prefer to do this without leaving a trace, that’s even better. I’ve found some of the best methods and tools for watching Instagram stories anonymously, especially for business owners like you who want to understand and analyze competitors’ Instagram Stories strategies.

For non-business owners, I can understand some of the reasons you would like to watch someone’s Instagram stories without them knowing. This guide can also help you.

Whether for business research, privacy reasons, or keeping up with your spouse or children, I’ll provide you with detailed insights into the most effective free methods and tools for watching Instagram Stories secretly on PC, Android, or iPhone.

But first, the big question…

Table of Contents

Can You View Instagram Stories Anonymously?

Yes, it’s possible to view Instagram Stories without being noticed, but Instagram itself doesn’t offer a built-in option for this.

However, you must note that repeatedly viewing someone’s stories in secret means crossing personal boundaries and goes against Instagram’s goal of encouraging open engagement. Therefore, while the methods I discuss in this article provide several ways to view Instagram users’ stories anonymously, it’s important to use them responsibly.

Free Ways to Watch Instagram Stories Anonymously

Here are six free ways you can view any publicly posted or shared-with-closed-friends Instagram story anonymously:

1. Create a New Instagram Account

Creating a new Instagram account is one of the surest ways to watch Instagram stories anonymously. You simply have to create a new Instagram account with a name, photos, and other vital information that cannot be traced to you or your business.

If you already have an Instagram account, add a new one and switch between your accounts to view someone’s Instagram stories anonymously. If you don’t want to create a new account, you can also view your competitors’ stories through your friends’ Instagram accounts or any account that can’t be traced to you.

2. Use Airplane Mode

Another effective way to watch Instagram stories anonymously without creating a different account is to switch your phone to airplane mode before watching the story. This is one of the easiest ways to view Instagram stories with your identity hidden.

Follow these steps to watch Instagram stories anonymously by switching to airplane mode:

Open your Instagram app.
Log in to your account.
Open the user profile whose story you want to watch anonymously.
Wait for their stories to appear at the top of your screen.
Turn on airplane mode on your Android device or iPhone to disconnect from the internet.
Then, proceed to watch the stories.
Once you’re done, close the app before turning off your airplane mode.

Note: The airplane mode method of viewing IG stories anonymously works because once you open someone’s profile, Instagram automatically preloads the user’s stories so you can view them even without an internet connection. However, this is only effective when the user doesn’t have too many stories uploaded.

3. Swipe from Adjacent Stories

You can see a user’s Instagram stories anonymously by swiping halfway between adjacent stories. This method works when you’re already the user’s follower and have access to their stories.

Here’s how it works: Normally, when you finish watching the stories of an account, it automatically moves to the next account. This adds you to the view list. However, to avoid being seen as a viewer, you can swipe halfway and get a sneak peek of the story you want to view anonymously.

How to do the swipe-from-adjacent-story method:

Locate the account you want to view its stories on your feed
Tap on the Instagram story of the profile appearing before or after them.
Swipe until the last story of the account before the one you want to view and
Swipe halfway into the actual story you want to view, but don’t release your finger at this point.
Similarly, you can swipe from the first story of the profile that comes after the actual story you want to view, and as usual, don’t release your fingers.

Releasing your finger halfway into their story will automatically record you as a story viewer. The only downside to the swipe-from-adjacent-story method is that you can only view their first story if it’s an image, as moving to other stories will reveal your identity.

4. Switch to Incognito Mode

Viewing a user’s stories in incognito mode is another way to watch Instagram stories without the person knowing. While this method doesn’t give you anonymity on Instagram, it makes you anonymous to the owner of the Instagram stories.

To use the incognito method:

Open Instagram on your web browser
Switch to incognito mode.
Locate the Instagram profile you want to view its stories and watch the stories without being recorded as a viewer.

If you want to enhance your anonymity, you must ensure you’re not logged in to Instagram while using the incognito method to view Insta stories secretly, as it’s not foolproof.

5. Block the User After Watching

This is one of the most extreme ways to watch Instagram Stories anonymously, but it works. Blocking an Instagram user after viewing their story will remove your profile from their viewer’s list. However, this method only works if they stay blocked until the story has expired.

Here’s how to approach the view-and-block method of viewing Insta stories anonymously:

Open the Instagram app on your device
Go to the stories section and view the user’s story
After watching the story, click on the user’s profile and block them immediately
Keep them blocked until the story expires in 24 hours.

Note: If you’re following each other, the view-and-block method will require you to follow them again, and they’d have to do the same. This raises suspicion, especially if you’re active followers of each other.

6. Use Free Instagram Story Viewer Tools (Best Option for Business Use)

Just like you can view private Instagram accounts and Facebook stories, you can also view Instagram stories without being seen when you use online private story viewer apps.

There are many options, but you have to be careful about the apps you use so you don’t use any that don’t work effectively.

I’ve compiled a list of the best anonymous Instagram Stories viewer tools. I discussed them in the next section.

But first, here’s a table that summarizes the effectiveness and the pros and cons of each of the methods I’ve discussed so far:

Table Showing the Effectiveness of the Different Ways to View Instagram Stories Anonymously

Method	Pros	Cons	Effectiveness
New account	Maintains anonymity effectively, as your identity is concealed in a new profile.	Managing multiple accounts can be a hassle, and Instagram might flag the account as spam.	Highly effective
Airplane mode	Simple and doesn’t require additional tools or accounts.	Limited to preloaded stories and requires careful steps to avoid detection.	Moderately effective
Adjacent Stories	Accessible within the Instagram app; no additional tools needed.	Limited view; might not work well for video stories	Low to moderately effective
Incognito Mode	Simple and doesn’t require any additional tools	Works only on web browsers and might not provide complete anonymity	Moderately effective
Third-party apps	Provides a straightforward solution and complete anonymity	Tasking, downloading, or using a third-party app. Risky in terms of security, too.	Highly effective.

The Effectiveness of Each Above

Best Free Instagram Story Viewer Apps (Tested & Updated)

One of the best ways to watch Instagram Stories anonymously is to use private Instagram story viewer websites or applications. These third-party websites or applications helps you to discreetly watch people’s stories, videos, and images on Instagram without switching accounts or logging into the platform.

To view any user’s Instagram stories anonymously using third-party tools, you must provide their username or the link to their profile. With the username or link, the third-party apps can access their profiles and make their stories available for viewing or downloading.

You can use many third-party online tools to watch Instagram stories anonymously. Popular among them are:

mSpy InstaStories Viewer
Glassagram (Now Peekviewer)
IgAnony
StoriesIG
InstaNavigation
Ghostify
Airdroid Parental Control App
Inflact

1. mSpy InstaStories Viewer

mSpy InstaStories Viewer is a web-based platform that allows you to watch and download stories of Instagram users anonymously without registration or logging into your account. You can watch and download stories from public Instagram accounts even after the 24-hour time limit has expired.

The app allows you to secretly view stories and highlights, live broadcasts (online broadcasts, streams, recordings of broadcasts), posts (photos, videos, text publications), likes, comments, and subscribers of other Instagram users without even signing up on their platform.

It also allows you to download these stories, making it easy to use them for market research and competitor analysis later on. Another fascinating feature of InstaStories is that it allows you to view stories in any language.

How to Use InstaStories to View Instagram Stories Anonymously

To use InstaStories, you must:

Copy the name or link of the Instagram profile you want to view anonymously.
Paste into the search box on the InstaStories homepage.
Click on the search icon at the far right of the search box.
You’ll now be taken to the Instagram profile, where you can view and download the person’s stories anonymously.

2. Peekviewer (former Glassagram)

Peekviewer is one of the best apps to view private Instagram stories because it provides a seamless and user-friendly experience. Using an advanced algorithm, Peekviewer can bypass Instagram privacy settings, enabling users to view private stories easily. The app ensures the utmost privacy and security, safeguarding user data and maintaining anonymity while accessing private content.

Additionally, Peekviewer offers a wide range of wonderful features, including quick and easy installation, real-time updates, and compatibility with various devices. It is the top choice for those seeking to view private Instagram stories.

How to Use Peekviewer to View Anonymously IG Stories

To view private Instagram stories using Peekviewer, follow these steps:

First, download the Peekviewer app from the official website.
Then, install the app on your device.
Next, open the app and log in to your Instagram account.
Once logged in, you can view private Instagram stories of the users you follow.

3. IgAnony

IgAnony Instagram story viewer to view anonymously IG stories

IgAnony is easily one of the best Instagram story viewers out there. In addition to offering you the basic features of an Instagram story viewer – the ability to watch, save, and download stories anonymously – the web-based app provides one of the best interfaces you can ask for to view IG stories anonymously.

How to Use IgAnony to View Instagram Stories Anonymously.

To use IgAnony, you must:

Copy the name or link of the Instagram profile you want to view anonymously.
Paste into the search box on the IgAnony homepage.
Click on the search icon at the far right of the search box.
You’ll now be taken to the Instagram profile, where you can view and download the person’s stories anonymously.

4. StoriesIG

StoriesIG is another third-party online tool you can use to view and save Instagram stories without revealing your identity. You can watch and download photos, videos, IGTV videos, reels, carousels, photo albums, and more.

How to watch Instagram stories with StoriesIG

To watch and download Instagram stories on StoriesIG:

Open Instagram from your browser or launch the app.
Copy the URL or username of the profile you want to watch.
Paste the link in the search box on the StoriesIG homepage for the profile to appear.
Watch or save the stories for later.

5. InstaNavigation

InstaNavigation is a third-party online tool for viewing Instagram stories secretly. It doesn’t require you to log into your account to view people’s stories and allows you to download stories and view them later.

The app has a distinct and easy-to-navigate user interface. Even without prior experience with how Instagram viewer apps work, you can navigate InstaNavigation and make the most of it.

How to watch Instagram stories with InstaNavigation

To use InstaNavigation to watch stories anonymously, here are the simple steps to follow:

Open Instagram from your browser or launch the app.
Copy the URL or username of the profile you want to watch its stories.
Paste the link in the search box on the InstaNavigation homepage for the profile to appear.
Watch or save the stories for later.

6. Ghostify

get ghostify to watch anonymously IG stories

If you prefer using your computer to browse Instagram, Ghostify might be your favorite Instagram story viewer. It works differently from others, allowing you to log into your Instagram account and view profiles and their stories without leaving a trace.

This is possible because Ghostify has a Chrome extension that, once turned on, makes you anonymous while browsing Instagram. There is also a mobile app that lets you watch Instagram stories anonymously on your mobile device.

How to watch Instagram stories with Ghostify

To use Ghostify on your computer, here are the steps to follow:

The owner will not know the stories you view while your Ghostify extension is turned on.

Download and install the Ghostify extension on your Chrome browser.

Start browsing Instagram anonymously.

7. AirDroid Parental Control

AirDroid wasn’t designed specifically for viewing Instagram Stories, but for parents who want to protect their children from digital dangers. However, it also works well for discreetly watching your kids’ Instagram Stories.

The parental control app gives you real-time access to the live screen of the Instagram User’s phone, enabling you to view their stories while they’re uploading or rewatching them. This keeps you completely anonymous, as you’re viewing their phone screen, not their stories in particular.

How to watch Instagram stories with AirDroid

To use AirDroid to watch stories anonymously, here are the simple steps to follow:

Install the AirDroid software on your phone
Sign up and sign in to your AirDroid account
Install the software on your kid’s phone and input a binding code to connect both devices
Start watching their Instagram stories anonymously

Note: This AirDroid app method requires you to have access to the phone of the Instagram user you want to watch their stories anonymously. While it works effectively, it also means this isn’t the best method for watching a competitor’s Instagram stories, as you don’t have access to their phone.

8. Inflact

Inflact is another free online tool for watching Instagram stories anonymously. It offers the basic features of an anonymous Instagram stories viewer tool, including 100% anonymous view, watching stories without an account, and tracking and saving stories.

How to watch Instagram stories with Inflact

To watch and download Instagram stories on Inflact:

Open Instagram from your browser or launch the app.
Copy the URL or username of the profile you want to watch.
Paste the link in the search box on the Inflact homepage for the profile to appear
Watch or save the stories for later.

Why People Watch Instagram Stories Anonymously (Core Benefits)

Here are the benefits of watching Instagram stories anonymously:

1. Privacy Protection

The first benefit of watching Instagram stories anonymously is that there’s no trace of your identity. This means your username doesn’t appear on the “viewer list” of the person you’re researching. That way, you avoid your competitors knowing you’re checking them out.

2. Competitive Analysis

Viewing competitors’ Instagram stories in your niche helps you gain a competitive edge by keeping you updated on what they’re up to. This enables you to effectively and extensively analyze their Instagram marketing strategy and develop better tactics.

3. Freedom to Explore

When your competitors notice you’re following their Instagram marketing moves, they become more discreet and might even block you to limit your access.

By watching them anonymously, you have the freedom to explore their profile and gather the insights you need.

FAQs on Watching Instagram Stories Without Being Seen

How can I view Instagram stories anonymously without an account?

To view Instagram stories anonymously without an account, use third-party websites or apps like InstaStories, IgAnony, etc.

Can someone see if I viewed their Instagram story if we are not friends?

Yes, someone can see that you viewed their Instagram story even if you’re not following each other.

Can people see how many times you viewed their Instagram story?

No, Instagram never displays how many times you’ve viewed a story. If you view someone’s Instagram story, the algorithm only shows when you viewed it. It doesn’t show if you re-watch the story later.

Can you view a story without the person knowing?

Yes. Here are three key ways to view a story without the owner knowing:
1. Create another Instagram account with your identity concealed.
2. Turn on airplane mode on your device before watching the story.
3. Use third-party websites or apps to view the stories without having an account.

How can you see someone’s story if they hide their story?

If someone hides their Instagram story from you, you can only see it by viewing it with another account. This is because Instagram allows people to choose who to display their stories to and who to exclude from seeing them.

Will Instagram notify the person if I screenshot or save their post or story?

No. Instagram doesn’t notify users when you save or screenshot their stories, posts, or reels. However, they’ll be notified when you screenshot a message in vanish mode.

Is it possible to view everyone’s story without an account?

You can view people’s stories without an account using third-party websites or apps like InstaStories. These third-party online tools only require you to provide the user’s username or URL, and you can view their stories, photos, videos, and every other public information on the account.

Where can I watch Instagram stories anonymously?

You can watch Instagram stories anonymously on third-party websites like InstaStories, IgAnony, StoriesIG, InstaNavigation, etc.

How can I see someone’s old stories on Instagram?

The only guaranteed way to see someone’s old Instagram stories is if they saved them as highlights. With this, you can go to their profile and view their highlights to see the old stories you’re searching for.

What is the best app to watch Instagram stories anonymously?

Peekviewer is currently the best app for watching Instagram stories anonymously. This is mainly because of its commitment to ensuring users’ privacy. It does this by protecting users’ information and actions with SSL encryption.

Enjoy Your Research Watching IG Stories Anonymously

Instagram stories are powerful tools for social media marketing. Studying your competitors’ Instagram stories will help you implement your Instagram stories better.

With these different ways to watch IG stories anonymously without giving your competitors a clue that you’re monitoring them, I hope you achieve your research goals.

Author
Recent Posts

Lisa Sicard

Owner at Inspire To Thrive, Inc.

Lisa loves helping others to thrive online through Social Media, Blogging, and SEO.
She has 30+ years of experience in marketing/advertising with 14 years of experience in content marketing, social media, blogging, and SEO.

Lisa helps her clients with social media, email marketing and some SEO.