How to See If Someone Has Multiple Instagram Accounts
Katherine Young
Therefore, I tested over 35 tools and methods and shortlisted the most robust apps and straightforward tricks that are helpful in real life. This article is backed by my firsthand experience and offers transparency on the tools and method’s strengths and weaknesses. You can now dive into this article and find the most suitable methods as per your scenario.
Disclaimer: This article is created only for educational purposes. We urge you to use all of these methods by applying caution and without any malicious intent. The reader is solely responsible for the outcome and consequences. Guru99 does not support stalking and harassment, both online and offline.Method 1) Using Spokeo Reverse Name Look Up
Method Reliability: Very High
Spokeo is a people lookup tool that provides comprehensive reports and scans over 120 social networks. To look for someone’s extra Instagram accounts, you can use any of its search parameters. However, I’d recommend using the Full Name or Username Search in this case. People who want to verify that their online connection is genuine or who are previous victims of fraud can use this method. It helped me verify my nephew’s date by bringing up multiple social media accounts linked to the individual.
Moreover, I was able to gather criminal records on some users, adding value to my research. However, at times, its output includes outdated information or may have missing data. To avoid this, I cross-verify with public records or wait for Spokeo to update the existing report. It sends an alert via email whenever it adds any new data to your old report.
How to See If Someone Has Multiple Instagram Accounts Using Spokeo
Here’s how I used Spokeo to find if someone has multiple IG accounts:
Step 1) Go to Spokeo
Visit https://www.spokeo.com/, enter the full name or the username of the target person, and tap Search Now.
Step 2) Click on See Results
Next, select the person from the list of results you received. You can also filter them by age, location, etc., to find the right person. Then tap on See Results.
Step 3) Add Additional Info
This led me to find their other social media, including any additional Instagram accounts.
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Method 2) Using Social Catfish Reverse Image Look Up
Method Reliability: High
Social Catfish is a reverse lookup tool that offers a robust image search. This tool lets you find similar images, related pictures, duplicates, linked social media, etc. I found it quite useful for looking up my new flatmate since I had to do a background check on her. If you are an influencer facing harassment, this method might help you find out the individual behind the trolls as well. This led me to find her other profile, where she uploaded her crochet work for selling.
Although the issue with this method is that Social Catfish may not be able to scan low-quality images. If you do not have any other image, use a photo enhancer to improve the quality. You must also use pictures that are front-facing and do not have too many accessories.
Here’s how I used Social Catfish to look up an image:
Step 1) First, visit https://socialcatfish.com/, enter the image you want to look up, then tap on continue.
Step 2) Allow the tool to scan the image; it is usually done within 2 minutes.
Step 3) You can then enter your email ID and get the full report. As shown here, 44 possible matches were found.
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Method 3) Using mSpy Phone Monitoring App
Method Reliability: High
mSpy is a phone monitoring app that can help you view all the activities on your target device. This is a great tool if you want to find out whether your kid or your spouse has any additional Instagram profiles that you are unaware of. It shows you all the IG DMs and media shared in the chats with timestamps. Using mSpy, I found out that my partner has a secondary Insta. However, it was his old inactive account.
It doesn’t give a direct IG profile access, but you can take screenshots, view chats of multiple IG accounts, if any, and access the media gallery. mSpy also allowed me to track device location, view call logs, etc. It runs in a stealth mode, but excessive tracking can result in high battery consumption. Hence, this could alert the tech-savvy users. It’s also a highly intrusive app, thus, never install it on anyone’s device unless it’s your kid or a family member.
Follow the steps below and find out how to see if someone has multiple Instagram accounts using mSpy:
Step 1) Go to https://www.mspy.com/ and sign up. You do not have to download it on your device– install only on the target Android phone. If it’s an iOS device, you will just need the iCloud credentials.
Step 2) Now, log in to your dashboard and add the device. This is how your dashboard will look:
Step 3) Now, go through the left-hand side menu and tap on Instagram and view the chats.
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Method 4) Search Their Name on Instagram
Method Reliability: Medium
Typing their name into Instagram might be one of the easiest solutions. All you have to do is type the name of the person in the search bar and see what comes up. I tested this method to see if a friend of mine had a secondary account. After carefully going through every profile that had a similar name, I found his secondary Insta ID. It was created when he forgot the password to his main account.
However, not every user wants to be found, therefore, some people might use complicated usernames and add a fake full name. This can make the search complicated, in such cases, you can use a reverse lookup site such as Spokeo. It is useful for business owners looking to collaborate with someone and need to run a check to view an influencer’s online image.
Method 5) Check Their Bio
Method Reliability: High
I have noticed many users add their second Insta ID to their bio. It may either be directly given on the bio with @ or you could tap on the link, which will take you to their other accounts. People usually do this when they have a business account, a backup profile, or a gallery on display for their hobby, art, portfolio, etc. It’s great for users who want to learn more about an individual or gather some information on someone’s business.
Not every user wants to display their other profile, thus, some may just have a blank bio. In such scenarios, try to look at their follower and following list and tagged posts. However, I recommend respecting user privacy and not going overboard unless finding their other Instagram profile is going to help a serious matter.
Method 6) Check Tags, Stories/ Highlights, Hashtags
Method Reliability: High
People with multiple accounts usually follow their main profile. This is why checking tags on posts, stories, and highlights may give you some clues. I have also seen some folks use their other ID as a hashtag, because they could be trying to trend their business. Thus, looking into these sections and elements of an Insta profile might also lead you to find their secondary ID.
It is a helpful method for a social media marketing specialist or someone who is just curious if a person has multiple accounts. Moreover, if you find out that they own a business profile, you can promote each other or create a collab product. For example, how Lily Maymac, an influencer, and a model, collaborated recently with Diesel. If you are unable to find the other ID anywhere on their profile, then you can try going through their friend list or using a reverse username/ fullname lookup.
Method 7) Check Interaction on Their Posts
Method Reliability: High
The interactions on the post, such as likes, comments, etc., could also be an individual’s own second Insta profile. At times, people do this to build engagement on their content for better reach. Some users with very little following might also do this since they feel underconfident and need to look like they have admirers, etc. Therefore, you can check for the usernames that are consistent and keep liking every post or comment on all of their content. I observed a certain MUA who had about 300 followers since they were just starting out.
However, when I looked at her likes and comment section, a particular username was consistent throughout. Tracking this user, I found out that it was her main private account. This method was also helpful when I wanted to find out why my friend had gone quiet on their main account. However, not every individual follows this pattern, moreover, it got quite overwhelming for some of the users who had a vast number of followers. Thus, you can expand the search to the bio and tagged content, etc., to find out.
Method 8) Directly Search on Other Social Media
Method Reliability: Medium
When it gets impossible to find the other accounts on Instagram directly, it’s time to explore different social media platforms. Many times, users who are active on other social media might cross-post from their secondary Insta ID. However, it is not always a cakewalk to find someone on Facebook, X, Threads, etc. First, start by looking for them using their full name, and then try the variations of their username. You must also look for visual cues such as similarities in profile pictures, location tags, and style of writing when you come across similar IDs.
If you notice some variations in their username or name on other platforms, you can use them to search for their other ID on IG. This is how you may land on their additional profile. When I couldn’t find images or other visual cues to confirm that it was the same person, I looked into their followers. I viewed their main IG account’s followers and the friend list on other social media to determine if it’s the same person. This method might be useful for people who wanna know if their ex has created a second ID to stalk them.
Method 9) Just Google Them
Method Reliability: Low
You can also simply Google the person’s name directly and see what you can find. If you aren’t tech-savvy, then this can be one of the best methods. The other day, I thought of looking up an old colleague because she is always inactive on her Instagram account. Turns out she has a different main account now, and I was following her in her discarded ID that she hasn’t deactivated. Although not all my searches were a child’s play, as this one was.
Some took me several minutes since I received an overwhelming amount of links and similar usernames in the results. Thus, you should consider filtering by searching for a person using some keyword such as their occupation, location, hobby, etc. For example, use the format: Username+Site+Keyword or Site+Username+Keyword, to get more accuracy.
Method 10) Sync Your Contacts with Instagram
Method Reliability: Medium
Instagram allows you to sync your contacts with the app. This helps you find out if anyone from your contact list has any other hidden accounts that you do not know of. Any account linked with the contact number and email saved in your device will show in “People You Might Know“. This is how I found out my niece had another profile where she uploaded daily life update reels.
However, if their other ID is created using a different email and phone number, this method will not work. You might have to ask your contacts for their updated number, since some of them might have changed their details. In case the syncing doesn’t show them in suggestions, wait for about 24 to 48 hours and try syncing again. Logging out, logging back, and clearing my cache also helped me find more suggestions. Recruiters who require doing such a background check might find this process helpful.
Here’s how you can sync your contacts with Instagram:
Step 1) Go to your Instagram profile and tap on the hamburger sign menu (three lines menu). This will lead you to settings and activity, scroll down and select Device Permissions.
Step 2) This will lead you to what access you have allowed to the app. Here, select contacts to sync them with Instagram.
Step 3) This will lead you to the page where you can set your preferences and then tap on Turn on Permissions.
Method 11) Check Their Following and Follower List
Method Reliability: Medium
Viewing the followers and following list of the accounts can also lead you to multiple accounts that a person could be hiding from you. Amateur researchers and anyone who hasn’t been able to find anything, even by going through the posts might be able to pick something valuable here. I suggest viewing every profile carefully, get into your comfortable position, cause this might take a while. Put the follower and following list next to each other to analyse them properly.
A few days back, I went through a profile’s friend list and narrowed down the accounts I wanted to inspect. I did so by picking the common usernames that occurred in both the following and follower list. You can try sending a request or using an anonymous viewer app such as Peekviewer to see who is behind the private profiles in their following to research better.
While it is a reliable method, some users might find it exhausting and time-consuming. Hence, individuals who want a faster solution can read further.
Method 12) Do Not Overlook Suggested Accounts
Method Reliability: Medium
Many times, we overlook the suggested accounts that often appear on our feed. These profiles are displayed when Instagram finds your friends following an account. You can go through all these suggested profiles to find out if your target user’s second ID is listed here. However, do not jump to conclusions when you find any account in these suggestions. I recommend verifying the account first by manually checking the friend lists, going through their posts, interactions, etc., since there’s a possibility of lookalike profiles.
Yes, Suggested For You could have mutual followers, and there’s a possibility that you may come across someone’s second Insta here. However, it is slightly vague and needs way too much guessing and verifying, thus, try checking the tagged location.
Method 13) Check Location and Geotag Coincidences
Method Reliability: Medium
Tagged location can reveal a lot of information, including someone’s additional Insta profile/ profiles. You may notice that two or more accounts are posting similar location posts or geo-tagging the same places in their uploads. While it could be coincidences or they might be best friends who explore places together, you must pay close attention to how these accounts’ interact with each other. There was a case when I was following two accounts that would post identical stories of cafes, travels, balcony views, etc. In the beginning, I overlooked this coincidence, but these two accounts never tagged each other nor interacted in the comment section with one another. Thus indicating that they were run by the same owner.
If you do not find any recent location tags in their stories or posts, check the older content. You can also view their highlights and tagged post section. Nitpicking is bad, but in this case, look closely at their posting habits, mutual followers, style of taking an image, etc., for better verification.
While analyzing geo tags thoroughly can be helpful, it might consume too much time and energy. Hence, directly asking someone you think might have a clue about an individual’s multiple IG accounts could be the fastest way to get your answer.
Method 14) Ask Your Friends and Relatives
Method Reliability: Medium
If you have exhausted yourself looking for an individual’s secondary Instagram ID, try asking your friends and relatives for help. Ask them directly but politely if they have any idea about a particular person using more than one account. If they do not have a clue, you can ask them to help you with the other methods that I have mentioned. Since teamwork can yield better results and save you from exhaustion.
However, not every friend or relative might be comfortable with this idea, so respect their decision and do not push them to do it.
What to Do if You Find Someone’s Other Instagram Account
Here’s what you can do if you find someone’s other Instagram account:
- Sometimes people like to keep a secondary account to display their hobby or express themselves, such as photography. Therefore, it’s not always a bad intent, so consider this context.
- In case of your partner or spouse, do not get aggressive and resort to fighting. This might create further misunderstanding, so sit them down and confront them in a mature manner.
- If they aren’t your spouse and they aren’t someone impersonating you or harassing or stalking you, think about why it affects you. You aren’t entitled to spy on someone just because you found their fake account, unless it involves you.
- Check carefully if there’s a network of accounts like this in their following, this might be concerning, so it might be worth reporting.
- If they are harassing, stalking, or impersonating you or someone you know, bullying people online, etc. You can report them and ask your friends to report the account as well. Mass reporting is more effective for taking down such profiles.
How to Spot a Duplicate Instagram Account?
Here are the best ways to spot a duplicate Instagram account:
- Odd Follower-to-Following ratio: The fake accounts usually have very few followers but a high number of following. For example, 30 followers but 800 or over 1000 following.
- Generic, Random, or No Face DP: These accounts either use some generic celebrity images, random objects, cartoons, or anything to avoid showing their face.
- Inconsistent username: The username and the display name could be entirely different. Additionally, at times, you may see a weird username with several special characters.
- Vague or Empty Bio: You will see that the account has a vague bio that says nothing about them or has nothing on it. Duplicate account owners usually put no effort into their bios.
- New Profile with High Activity: The profile is new, but there are a lot of followers and engagement happening. Check these followers and find out if they have genuine names since the majority of them might be bots.
- Low-Quality Posts or None: You will see very few posts and content that are of low quality, with generic images and no faces. On the other hand, you might also see images that seem too good to be true.
- Spam Comments and DMs: The fake accounts usually send multiple DMs about giveaways, or they may harass you with troll comments, etc.
- No Real Interactions: Check their posts and see how many likes and comments they have. Usually, they may have very few likes and no comments or some generic comments from accounts that look fake as well.
FAQs
Conclusion
After a thorough review of each and every method given above, I found using Spokeo, Social Catfish, and mSpy to be the most reliable methods. Although using a combination of the methods always yields better accuracy. Therefore, I suggest you try the direct search on IG, checking their bio, tagged posts, interaction on their uploads, asking your friends, etc., as well. However, you must respect user privacy and do not start stalking someone just to find out if they have multiple Insta profiles unless it concerns you.
