How to Read Instagram Messages without Seen (2025)

You may want to read Instagram messages without being seen because you may be ignoring a user and do not want them to know that you read their messages. It may also be out of curiosity, but you do not want to reply to them immediately. You might also be interested to know what your child is up to on Instagram, or you may want to find out if your partner is cheating on you.

It is possible to read IG messages without letting the person know using several methods. Hence, I have tried numerous methods and shortlisted the 8 most helpful ways to read Instagram messages without being seen. Let us now look at these methods one by one.

Method 1: Read Instagram DM without Seen Using Third-Party Apps

Some of the best apps to read Instagram messages without being seen are mSpy, uMobix, and ClevGuard. These are spy tools that can help you read Instagram messages without the Seen receipt. Let us now look at each one of them in more detail.

1) mSpy

mSpy is a widely used parental control phone tracker app that helps you view all the activities of a target device. You can install it on anyone’s device and run it in the background without being noticed, as it operates in stealth mode.

It helps me monitor social media, text messages, incoming and outgoing calls, and much more. I could also view the websites the target individuals visited and what they have bookmarked.

Features:

• View shared media: mSpy is powerful enough to help you see images, videos, and links shared on Instagram and even access a phone’s gallery. Therefore, I viewed all the DM content without triggering the Seen receipt.
• View IG accounts: I could not only access the messages but also view all that the individual scrolled through, the profiles they visited, comments on posts, etc. It basically allowed me to view their Instagram as if it were my own.

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Step-by-step process to read Instagram messages without being seen using mSpy:

Step 1) Go to the mSpy website Instagram tracker page and click on the Get it Now.

Step 2) Now, you can enter your email and click on Continue. On this page, you can select the operating system of the device you are targeting or choose it later.

Step 3) I selected the iPhone and then chose its monthly plan to start monitoring a device.

Step 4) Once you complete the payment, you can start monitoring and viewing the Instagram messages.

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2) uMobix

uMobix is a cellphone tracker app that can provide full access to a target device and even view deleted content. It includes features such as a keylogger, GPS location tracking, geofinder, and more.

I could access all Instagram activities and view their account as if it were mine. When I used it on an iOS device, I could get the complete view; however, on Android, I received screenshots. Also read my uMobix Review.

Features:

• Message viewing: For iPhone, I directly read the messages and accessed the photos, videos, and links shared on a person’s chat.
• Unfollow and restrict: Using uMobix, I could unfollow and restrict some Instagram accounts on my child’s phone. There were a few predatory messages, and inappropriate accounts that he followed. Hence, I blocked these people from his chat and unfollowed the content that could be harmful to him.

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Here is a step-by-step process to read Instagram messages using uMobix without triggering Seen:

Step 1) Visit the uMobix official site, go to the Instagram monitoring page, and click on Try Now.

Step 2) Next, put in your email address and click on Create an Account, then select the target device’s operating system from its options. I selected the one-month plan for research, you can select any of the plans that you prefer.

Step 3) Once you select the plan, you can complete the payment and start monitoring the device.

Step 4) After your account is set, go to your dashboard, select the chat name, and view the latest message received and sent.

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3) ClevGuard

ClevGuard is a comprehensive Instagram monitoring app that offers numerous products, such as KidsGuard Pro, KidsGuard, KidsGuard for WhatsApp, and more. I used it to secretly read conversations from several apps, including Instagram, Line, and WhatsApp, which helped me intervene during inappropriate chats.

I could also monitor data like contacts, notes, calendars, and other activities. It let me not only view photos and videos but also download them from the chats.

Features:

• Monitor all activities: ClevGuard helped me view messages and media shared without showing the Seen status. I could also capture screenshots, record screens, view browser histories, check call logs, find device locations, and more.
• Keylogger: Its keylogger feature allowed me to view the words being typed on the target device. This gave me the idea about the chat and helped me decide if I should intervene and restrict the conversation when my child was chatting.

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Follow this step-by-step process to read a message on Instagram without opening it using ClevGuard:

Step 1) First, go to the KidsGuard Pro website and click on Buy Now. This will lead you to its different plans; select the plan that meets your requirements. If you are looking for a free version, you can download KidsGuard without any payment by going here.

Step 2) Now complete the purchase by entering your details.

Step 3) Once it is set, you can start monitoring the Instagram account and view all the target person’s chats.

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Method 2: Turn Off Read Receipts Directly

In my opinion, this is one of the best methods for your own DMs. It is the latest setting that was introduced on Instagram in early 2024. You can use this setting to turn off the read receipts for everyone or a specific person.

Here is a step-by-step process on how to turn it off for all:

Step 1) Start by going to your profile and selecting the three-bar menu on top on the right-hand side.

Step 2) Now you are on Instagram’s Settings and Activity page. Next, go to the Messages and Story Replies option and select Show read receipts.

Step 3) You can then turn off the Read Receipts button.

Here is a step-by-step process on how to turn it off for an individual:

Step 1) Go to your DMs and open the chat with that particular individual.

Step 2) Click on their username on top in the chat and go to Privacy & Safety

Step 3) Here, you will find the Read Receipts option; now, toggle the switch to turn it off.

This is by far the simplest and easiest method. However, if you want to use other methods due to different circumstances, you can try them as discussed below.

Method 3: Read the Messages without Internet

Airplane Mode is another easiest way to read Instagram messages without showing the Seen status. Once you receive a message, you can simply turn your phone on flight mode and read the message.

Let me take you through this method step by step:

Step 1) Go to your phone’s shortcut or settings menu and turn on the Flight mode/ Airplane mode. This will turn off both your Wi-Fi and cellular data.

Step 2) Next, you can open your Instagram DMs and read the messages.

Note: The limitation of this method is that the status was not shown “Seen” for any of the messages I opened with the flight mode on. However, as soon as I turned it off, the Seen tag was visible.

Method 4: How to Read Instagram Messages without Opening Using Web Version

You can also read Instagram messages on its web version if the target person likes using IG on their desktop. I tried a few PC monitoring software and came across Monivisor, which helped me view messages without being seen.

Monivisor by ClevGuard can monitor social media, read emails, view keystrokes, capture screenshots, and more.

Here is a step-by-step process on how to use it:

Step 1) For my research purpose, I purchased a one-month individual plan.

Step 2) I created an account, signed in, and bound it with a device.

Step 3) Once it was ready, Monivisor started collecting its data and I selected Web Chats from its left-hand side menu. Here I chose Instagram and began viewing the messages in stealth mode.

Note: It can be slightly expensive; therefore, choose this method only if you are dealing with a highly significant matter.

Method 5: How to view Instagram Messages through Email without being seen?

This is a method used to view Instagram messages via email without triggering the seen status. You can also get extra privacy and control over your Instagram chats and activities. For this method, I used a tool called Aigrow, that helps your DMs to turn into emails.

Here are the steps that I used to view Instagram messages via email:

Step 1) Sign up, go to your Aigrow dashboard, and navigate to the Direct Messages tab at the top.

Step 2) Within this tab, you will find the DM to Email option. With this option, you can view all the users on your Instagram account.

Step 3) Now select the accounts to which you do not want to show the Seen status. This will turn their DMs into emails, and you shall receive these messages in your email inbox instead.

Method 6: Disconnect from the Internet

Disconnecting from the internet to read Instagram messages is another trick. I have tried this method a few times and succeeded; however, I cannot guarantee it will always work. You can simply disconnect the internet and read the messages, but the Seen receipt will become visible as soon you turn on your data or Wi-Fi. To avoid this issue, I instantly log out of my IG account as soon I turn on the internet connection.

Method 7: Imposing sender restriction

By restricting a user, you can be assured that they will not see you open their message. When you restrict a user, all their messages go to the message request, preventing them from getting the Seen status.

Here’s how you can restrict a user on Instagram:

Step 1) Go to the profile of the user you want to restrict.

Step 2) Now, simply click on the three dots menu on the top right-hand side corner of their profile.

Step 3) In this popup menu, you will see the Restrict option, simply click on it. This account is now restricted, and all its messages will appear in the message request section.

Method 8: Android Notification History

Android phones mostly include a notification history feature that tracks 24 hours of notification history once it is enabled. I use it to read Instagram messages to avoid triggering the Seen status.

Here’s how you can enable the Notification History:

Step 1) First, you must go to the phone Settings, tap on Notifications, and select Notifications History.

Step 2) Now enable the Notifications History; if it is already enabled, scroll down to Instagram and read all the messages.

Note: If the messages are too long, you will not be able to read them entirely, as notifications only show the first few words.

Method 9: Lock Screen Notification

One of the simple steps that you must already be using is reading Instagram messages from the lock-screen notifications. You can read the messages as soon as they arrive or whenever you want, as they will remain on your lock screen. However, once you clear all the notifications or slide them away by mistake before checking, you cannot access them from your lock screen anymore.

Note: This trick works for me only if the messages are short. The longer messages appear only halfway through, so you won’t be able to read them entirely unless you open them in the app.

What are the risks of reading Instagram messages without being seen?

Reading Instagram messages without being seen does not have risks if it is your own account. However, reading someone else’s IG messages without being seen can come under the matter of privacy and ethical considerations. When I used spy apps like mSpy and uMobix, I made sure that my child was aware of them and they gave me consent to use them.

Therefore, it is also important to get consent before monitoring someone’s device. You must also know that it is illegal to read someone else’s message without their knowledge, and in this case, intent matters a lot.

According to the Computer Act of 1990, if you make unauthorized access to a computer and make a copy of any software on the computer, it can lead to up to 6 months of imprisonment. You will also be charged a $5000 fine for this unauthorized access. The other rule states 5 years of imprisonment and unlimited fine for unauthorized access with intent of further offenses like fraud.

Apart from this, if you intend to make the chats public without consent, you can be sued for breach of privacy. Considering all these, you must avoid reading someone else’s DMs, however, you can use these methods for your IG account or get consent from the target person before doing so.

Conclusion

In this article, I have discussed eight methods that you can use to read Instagram messages without triggering the Seen receipt. The official Instagram “Seen” receipt switch and restrict user option guarantees you can turn off the “Seen” status for your DMs. However, you can try other steps if you fail to use these methods in rare circumstances. Other procedures, such as third-party tools, may be useful but require extra work and charges. On the other hand, airplane mode and turning off data may not be foolproof. However, before you try out any of the methods for another person’s DM, think about your intent, as any wrong intention can lead you to destroy your relationship with the said person. Additionally, any plan to expose private messages can lead to jail time along with a heavy fine.