Introduction
With millions of daily users, Instagram is one of the most popular social media platforms in the world. Instagram stories are a favorite way for users to share their everyday moments with their followers. However, sometimes we want to view someone’s stories without them knowing we have seen them. Maybe you want to check on someone secretly or just don’t want to leave a trace of your view. Whatever your reason is, in this article, we will cover how to watch Instagram stories anonymously.
Using a Third-Party App
One way to view Instagram stories anonymously is by using a third-party app. These apps work by allowing you to access Instagram through the app, and when you view someone’s story, you remain anonymous.
There are several third-party apps that offer this feature, such as StorySaver, StoryDownloader, and StoryViewer. To use one of these apps, follow these steps:
1. Download and install the app on your smartphone
2. Launch the app and log in with your Instagram account credentials
3. Search for the username of the Instagram account whose stories you want to view anonymously
4. View the stories directly from the app
While using third-party apps may seem like an easy solution to view Instagram stories anonymously, there are some potential problems and risks associated with using them. For example, downloading unknown apps from unofficial sources may expose your device to malware. Also, these apps may not be reliable or trustworthy and could compromise your Instagram account with hacking attempts.
Creating a Second Account
Another way to view Instagram stories anonymously is by creating a second Instagram account dedicated solely to anonymous viewing. By using this account to view stories, you can avoid any traces of your activity.
To create a second Instagram account, follow these steps:
1. Go to your regular Instagram account and tap on your profile icon
2. Tap the three lines at the top right corner and select ‘Settings’
3. Scroll down and tap ‘Add Account’
4. Follow the prompts to create a new Instagram account
5. Log into your second account
Once you’ve created your new account, you can use its search functionality to find the account whose story you want to view anonymously.
While creating a second account is a reliable way to view Instagram stories anonymously, it does require you to juggle between two separate accounts, and there may be an additional maintenance cost of managing two profiles.
Using Web Browser Incognito Mode
Another method to view Instagram stories anonymously is by using your web browser’s incognito mode. Typically, browsing in incognito mode doesn’t keep any search history, cookies, or cache and avoids leaving any digital traces.
To use incognito mode in a web browser, follow these steps:
1. Open the web browser of your choice
2. Open a new incognito tab by clicking on the three dots on the top right corner and selecting the ‘New Incognito Tab’ option
3. Go to Instagram in the new incognito tab
4. View the stories without logging in; it will not leave any history on your regular browser
However, it’s important to note that this method only works on desktop computers, and you still need to be careful as to not accidentally “like” or “react” to any story as it would disclose your identity.
Adding Users to Close Friends Group
Instagram’s Close Friends feature enables you to add users to a group and share your stories with only those people, allowing you to view their stories without others knowing.
To add users to a Close Friends group, follow these steps:
1. Go to your Instagram profile and tap on the three horizontal lines at the top right corner
2. Tap on ‘Close Friends’ and select ‘Add’
3. Search for the account you want to add, and once found, tap on the green ‘Add’ button to add them to the list of close friends
4. Once they’re added, their stories will be visible only to the group of close friends
This method could make your interactions inauthentic, as it could trigger notifications for those who are added to your account.
Watching Stories on Desktop
Another way to view Instagram stories anonymously is by accessing it on desktop computers. Once on desktop mode, it’s relatively easy to view someone’s story without leaving any traces.
To watch Instagram stories on desktop mode:
1. Open your web browser and log in to your Instagram account
2. Look for the story you want to view anonymously and click on it
3. The story will open in a separate window, and you can view it without the account user getting notified
However, this method only works on desktop mode, and there are still some limitations, such as not being able to interact with the story.
Muting Story
Instagram’s mute story feature allows you to stop seeing stories from an account without actually unfollowing them. This method allows you to view a user’s stories without frequently seeing their stories on your feed or interacting with their account.
To mute someone’s story, follow these steps:
1. Go to the Instagram account whose story you want to view anonymously
2. Tap and hold the user’s story profile icon at the top of your feed until a menu appears
3. Select ‘Mute’
4. Choose the ‘Mute Story’ option
This allows you to view their stories without them knowing while minimizing the chance of accidental interaction that could compromise your identity.
Disabling Internet Connection
The final method to view Instagram stories anonymously is by temporarily disabling the internet on your device when viewing someone’s story. When the internet connection is turned off, there’s no way for Instagram to know that you’ve viewed the story.
To disable the internet connection, follow these steps:
1. Turn on airplane mode in your phone settings
2. Open Instagram and view the stories
3. Close Instagram before disabling airplane mode
4. Remember to turn on the internet again
Although this method is straightforward, it may not be practical as it entirely disconnects you from the internet and involves additional steps to return to normal internet services.
Conclusion
In summary, the methods listed above are all ways for users to view Instagram stories anonymously. While each method has its unique advantages, they all have potential risks and limitations too. However, it’s important to choose a method that works best for your purposes. The key takeaway is that users can view Instagram stories anonymously by using third-party apps, creating a second account, using incognito mode, adding users to close friends, viewing stories on desktop, muting story, and disabling the internet connection. We hope this guide will help you become more comfortable using Instagram stories anonymously.
