Two Ways to View Instagram Without an Account

If you know the person's username, you can visit a profile directly to see pics and comments. If you don't, a third-party site can help you out

By
Jennifer Allen
Jennifer Allen
Jennifer Allen
Writer
  • Swansea University, Staffordshire University
Jennifer Allen has been writing about technology since 2010. Her work has appeared in Mashable, TechRadar, and many more publications.
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Updated on October 12, 2022
Reviewed by
Jon Fisher
Jon Fisher headshot
Reviewed by Jon Fisher
  • Wichita Technical Institute
Jonathan Fisher is a CompTIA certified technologist with more than 6 years' experience writing for publications like TechNorms and Help Desk Geek.
lifewire's editorial guidelines

What to Know

  • If you know the profile name of the person you want to see, go to https://www.instagram.com/username (enter the username of the person you're trying to view).
  • If you don't know the username, go to Imginn's site and search for the profile.

This article explains two ways to view Instagram without logging into an official Insta account. It also explains the benefits and limitations of using these methods.

How to See Instagram Profiles Without an Account

It's possible to see Instagram profiles and photos without an account. However, you need to know the name of the profile you wish to view.

Follow these steps to see an Instagram profile without an account.

  1. On your smartphone or computer browser, type in https://www.instagram.com/username where username is the profile you wish to view.

    Click the x to the right of the login notification to remove the banner.

  2. To view a photo or video, right-click on the image.

    Instagram profile with a photo highlighted.

  3. Click Open Image in New Tab to avoid needing to log in or sign up.

    Instagram profile with image right clicked and Open Link in New Tab highlighted.

  4. You can now view the image. Click on a video to play it. It is also possible to scroll down and view all the comments. 

    Instagram profile with image open and comments displayed.

Search Instagram Without an Account Using a Third-Party Service

Using the official Instagram site does not allow you to search for profiles, but you can do that using a third-party website. One of the most effective is Imginn.

Follow these steps to use Imginn to search Instagram without an account:

  1. On your web browser, go to Imginn.

  2. In the search bar, type in what you're searching for and press enter.

    Imginn site with search bar highlighted.

  3. In the search results, look for the person you are searching for.

  4. Click their profile image to view the profile.

    Imginn website with profile results highlighted.

  5. Click any images to look at them.

    Imginn website with image highlighted.

What You Can Do on Instagram Without an Account

Viewing Instagram without an account is possible, but quite limited. Here's what you can do on Instagram without an account:

  • View profiles. If you know the profile name, you can check the user's profile information as well as see any links they may have in their bio.
  • View images and videos. It's possible to click on an image or video to see the content. 
  • See comments. It's possible to read comments left by registered users.
  • Browse anonymously. Instagram's algorithm means it can suggest related accounts based on what you've looked at. When not logged in, there's no way of your activity being traced.

What You Cannot Do on Instagram Without an Account

Without an Instagram account, you will face some limitations. Here's what you can't do without an Instagram account:

  • Post comments. It's not possible to leave comments or even likes on a photo or video.
  • Follow an account. There's no way of following an account anonymously. You need to be registered to follow someone.
  • Privately message a user. Without an account, it's impossible to privately message someone.
  • Search for a profile. Unless you use a third-party website, there is no way of searching Instagram without being logged in. 

Instagram is free, so if you're still having trouble finding and viewing the account you want to see it might be worth a few minutes of time to sign up.


FAQ
  • How do I view private Instagram profiles?

    The only way to see a private Instagram profile is if you send the owner a follow request, and they accept it. Only accepted followers or people who were already following when an account became private can see its contents.

  • How do I view an Instagram Story anonymously?

    You must be logged in to see Instagram Stories. Some sites and apps claim to let you download old Stories without being logged in, but you should be skeptical of these, especially if they ask for your password.

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