How to See Instagram Private Account Posts: 11 Methods
Katherine Young
On the other hand, following random methods usually leads you to dead ends. Moreover, using tips and tricks that have not been reviewed may provide only outdated information or cause technical errors. Hence, I spent over a week testing 25+ tools and methods to curate this article. This content is backed by my hands-on experience, and I have given my unbiased opinion, mentioning each of their strengths and shortcomings. Overall, no matter which method you use, always prioritize user privacy and respect their boundaries.
Disclaimer: This article has been produced solely for educational purposes only. We do not support unauthorized access to private Instagram account posts. Guru99 also does not encourage stalking or harassing users in any form. Additionally, we do not condone violations of privacy laws.Method 1: How to See Instagram Private Account Posts Using Peekviewer
Chance of success: Very High
Peekviewer is one of the top tools used for viewing private Instagram account posts. I used it multiple times to see what my competitors were up to since I run a small online and offline home decor boutique. It helped me view their photos, videos, reels, stories, carousels, and even download this content and store it for up to 3 months. Hence, whether you are a generally curious individual or have a crush on someone, Peekviewer will give you access to whatever they upload.
During my review process, I found it quite reliable, however, for a few private accounts, I had to retry at least three times. You can refresh the site if it refuses access at first, or just give it a few minutes before you reattempt. However, it is not advised to stalk users continuously using such apps, as it is unethical and a breach of privacy.
How to See Instagram Private Account Posts Using Peekviewer Anonymous Instagram Viewer App
Here are the steps on how to use Peekviewer to see Instagram private account posts:
Step 1) Visit Peekviewer
First, go to https://peekviewer.com, tap on Watch now, then select Private and hit Next.
Step 2) Search Username
Now, enter the username of the person/business with a private account that you would want to view and tap on Watch.
Step 3) Check Account posts
This will show you the posts of that particular account.
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Method 2: Using Spokeo People Lookup Tool
Chance of Success: Medium
Spokeo is an instant people lookup service. It includes various search parameters such as name, email, username, phone number, and address. You can use any of these search parameters to look for an Instagram private post, except the address. People who have been victims of harassment in the past or individuals curious about their online date can use it. That’s because it provides a detailed report on the target person’s background, including criminal records.
However, Spokeo is not a direct image search tool, but it gave me sneak peeks at some possible pictures linked to the individual. Therefore, you have to combine it with other tools using its information to extract a desired result. At times, you may also receive outdated information or gaps in the data. Anyway, it didn’t disappoint me, since Spokeo sends alerts as soon as your existing report is updated with new information.
Here’s how I used Spokeo to look up a person and see their IG’s private post:
Step 1) Go to https://www.spokeo.com/ and either enter their full name or username and tap on Search Now. (You can also use a phone number or email to find the username or full name, if you don’t have this information.)
Step 2) You will then find some information that lets you choose the right person from the results based on some identifiers. You can also filter them by their location, age, etc. Now, select the person from the list of output and tap on See Results.
Step 3) This will take you to their social profiles, their videos, pictures, and more.
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Method 3: Using xMobi Phone Spy App
Chance of Success: High
xMobi is a superior phone spy app that helps you monitor entire activity and view files, plus the apps of the target device. I tested it on my teen’s phone to find out what they post on their IG. This allowed me to monitor them and intervene if I came across anything inappropriate. However, since it doesn’t provide a direct view of the Instagram pictures, I had to use some workarounds. I went through my kid’s phone gallery and accessed their Instagram folder (since their IG’s auto-save was on). Here I found multiple videos and images that were posted and shared on their stories.
The other trick that I used was its Screen Capture feature to take random screenshots, which showed me their Insta posts and stories. However, its battery consumption might signal the target person, even if it runs in stealth mode. Additionally, if you jailbreak/ root the device to use xMobi, you will void the phone’s security features and warranty. Thus, use it in moderation and apply caution while using parental control apps.
Here’s a step-by-step on how to use xMobi:
Step 1) First, go to https://xmobi.co/, purchase a plan, and log in to your account. If you are targeting an iPhone, you can simply add its iCloud credentials. While for Android, you will have to physically access the phone and then set it up to finally add it to your xMobi account.
Step 2) Once the first step is complete, come to your Dashboard and select the Instagram option. This will show you DMs and the media shared in the chat, which could also give you some hints.
Step 3) Now, go to the Media section and view the phone Gallery.
Step 4) You can then use its screen capture feature as well and start taking random screenshots. I recommend doing this by noting your target person’s social media usage habits to successfully carry out this method.
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Method 4: Using Social Catfish Reverse Image Look Up
Chance of success: Medium
Social Catfish is a widely used people search site that offers a powerful reverse image lookup tool. Its reverse lookup image feature can help you find similar photos and other pictures of the same individual. A friend of mine met a beautiful gentleman in her French summer, but all she did was take a picture instead of asking for his number or Gram. So I took it upon myself to help her and cropped him out of their picture carefully to search for him. The report brought up several images, social media usernames, and other details. One thing that disappointed me was that I didn’t receive direct access to all IG posts. But we did get images which were recent, some as new as the same month or even day.
I also had to use a photo enhancer, since Social Catfish doesn’t work with lower-resolution images. It also fails to search for a person if you use a side profile or if there are too many distractions in the snap. Hence, you must crop the image and make sure you are always using high-quality pics to avoid false positives.
Here’s how to see Instagram private account posts using Social Catfish:
Step 1) Start by going to https://socialcatfish.com/, then select Image and upload the picture of your target individual.
Step 2) Once the upload is complete, click Continue and allow the tool to scan the picture.
Step 3) Then enter your email and tap on Unlock my report now to get the result.
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Method 5: Using Google Search
Chance of Success: Medium
Google Search is one of the oldest methods that exists, which helps in various research. Whether you are a curious individual or a journalist who wants to gather some information on someone, you can give Google Search a try. Since you are looking for a private account, you may not come across the latest snaps of the person. Some of the images that I found of my target individual were from three years back, when their Instagram profile was public. There might also be identity confusion because of how vast the Google results can be. In order to filter my search, I add certain details such as their occupation or location. For example: Site Name (Instagram)+Full Name+Occupation (Singer) or Location (San Jose), etc. This is also known as a Google Advanced search method.
Here’s how I use Google Search to find private IG images:
Step 1) Go to https://www.google.com/, then enter the Site Name+ Full Name+ (Some Idenifier such as location or occupation).
Step 2) Next, tap on the Images section and view what pictures appear in the result.
Link: https://www.google.com/
Method 6: Using Other Social Media Platforms
Chance of success: Medium
When you have exhausted yourself by looking for people’s private account posts on Instagram, why not try their other social profiles? Many users have open accounts on Threads, Twitter, Pinterest, Facebook, and TikTok. These users may usually cross-post or upload the same content across different platforms. Being a small business owner, as I mentioned earlier, I was highly interested in collaborating with a particular influencer. However, her account is private and exclusively for users who like her decor content. I did send her a follow request, but I guess my account got overlooked. Therefore, I decided to go through their Threads and Pinterest, which were the only social media she kept public. Hence, some recruiters might also find this method helpful.
The issue with this method is that some users who are extremely private may not use any other social network. In such cases, you may have to use Advanced Google Search or reverse lookup services. Additionally, I found some profiles with completely different names on other social media. Hence, try looking for them using variations of their names, such as nicknames, favorite movie characters, etc.
Method 7: Using a Fake Account
Change of Success: High
I tested this trick and sent out a follow request to my friends. Some of them accepted my dummy profile within a few hours/days, while the rest gave me feedback on why they didn’t. Using this information, I’ll tell you what worked and what gave me away. First of all, create an account with a name that is nowhere near your actual one. Then post a few images, at least 5, but they shouldn’t be uploaded on the same day. As this indicates, you are doing this solely to pretend you are genuine. Make sure to get some likes and comments as well from your friends. Therefore, plan a month ahead if you are serious.
Your bio must also look real; thus, add some believable information, such as your fake full name, location, and a fun hobby. I also suggest getting a good number of followers, anywhere between 60 and 80 at least. Furthermore, do not keep a huge gap between follower and following list, for example, 65 followers and 1000 following makes you look like a creep. Moreover, IG adds a New tag on recently created profiles, which is a dead giveaway. So you can add something like “Hi, this is my new account, got hacked at 10k” in your bio to cover it up. This is an excellent method if you have a crush on someone or need an update on your ex. However, delete the account right after your purpose is served, and respect boundaries if someone doesn’t accept your request.
Method 8: Using a Friend’s or Relative’s Account
Chances of success: High
Asking your friend or a relative to help you view someone’s private Instagram account’s content can also be a good option. Usually, my best friends are always up for a little detective game, so I use it to my advantage. This method can help check some rival accounts, for example, if you are a content creator or someone curious about the new partner of their ex, etc. You can either sit with them to view the account or ask them to screenshot and forward it to you if they don’t live nearby.
However, they will have to send a friend request to this person if they aren’t already following them. This is where some of your friends or relatives may hesitate. Consider unfollowing each other for a while so the target user doesn’t get suspicious by finding you in your detective friend’s following list. However, if your friends or relatives are unwilling to help, respect their decision and do not pressurize them.
Considering that your friend or your relative has refused to help you– well, you still have your mutual social media friend. You may not even contact them as much, but they might tag your target in their snaps or stories and help you indirectly.
Method 9: Checking a Mutual Friend or Tagged Posts on Open Profiles
Chance of success: Medium
At times, you might hit a jackpot by checking your mutual friend’s stories and recent uploads. First, find out if you have any mutual friend in your list and check their profile. You will then have to watch what they upload religiously. That’s because if they decide to post any collaboration content or share any tagged stories from their private profile, you will be able to view it.
On the other hand, I found a user who followed my target person’s profile, but their account was public. Therefore, I didn’t have to follow anyone. All I had to do was see if this person had uploaded any new pictures, videos, or other IG media that included my target. Friends who have drifted apart or former followers who are curious can give this method a try. There’s a chance that you might miss important updates even while using this idea. Hence, tap on the Bell icon of the mutual friend’s or the public account owner’s profile to get instant notifications. If you still miss it, watch their highlights.
If your mutual friend or the person in the target’s following list has no tagged posts, don’t get disheartened. Since the individual you are curious about may have some details in their bio. Such information is available to the public, so this means you do not have to access their private profile.
Method 10: Check Their Bio for Additional Accounts or Links
Chance of success: Medium
Many users include the username of their other Insta account or provide a link to their different social profiles in their bio. Going through the bio of some of the private accounts, I found their other IG business profile, Snapchat, Threads, Facebook, YouTube, OF, and various subscriber-based platforms. This method is useful for people who want to research or run a background check on someone whom they know only from online.
However, at times, the bio of some of these users is empty and has no other information but only their name and a quote. If so, go for other methods like trying to find them on different social media using their name/username, or send a request from your Finsta. At times, the URL could be broken or lead to a dead page, so give URL shortening sites a try, such as Bitly, or use web archive services like Wayback Machine to see their old content.
If the user has no additional social media or any links in their bio, that leaves you with a final option of sending a normal follow request. Gather all the courage you need and go ahead, what’s worse that could happen other than getting unaccepted!
Method 11: Send a Follow Request If All Else Fails
Chance of success: medium for genuine users, very low for exes and former friends
If all of the above method fails, you can just send a follow request to the person from your original profile. This may work for admirers and people who have mutual friends. In case they do not accept the request, you can send a polite follow-up DM. In the DM, you can mention where you know them from, and that it’s the reason you sent a request. If you are aware of some work that they have done, for example, a social work, a book that they have written, etc., mention it and tell them that you loved it.
However, I wouldn’t suggest adding any compliments on their looks or asking if you can be friends. That’s because such conversations sound outdated and make you look weird. Although exes and friends who have drifted apart might not be able to use this method.
What to Keep in Mind While Accessing Instagram Private Accounts?
Here are some of the important things that you should consider or keep in mind before accessing private Instagram accounts:
- Instagram’s security system might ban or suspend your account if your profile is reported or if it sees any unusual activity. It may also blacklist your IP and block access.
- Using any third-party tool that is prohibited in their guideline is a serious violation.
- If you use any tool that breaches the app’s privacy policy or if you utilize it to harass or blackmail a user, you might have to face legal consequences.
- Some of the areas have stricter jurisdiction than others; hence, you must check the privacy laws in your location.
- Accessing private content can trigger unauthorized access laws, such as the U.S. CFAA, or may be charged as an invasion of privacy.
How to Spot Fake or Scam IG Viewer Sites?
Here’s how you can spot which Private Instagram viewer apps are a scam:
- Login Details: Apps and tools that ask for your login credentials are usually a scam or pose a threat to your privacy. Therefore, it’s best to avoid them.
- Pressurized Free Access: Fraudulent sites usually create urgency to make you click on malicious links. For example, you will see countdown timers, pop-up ads with Click and Get Free Access Now, etc.
- No Company Details: You will see that these fake third-party apps usually do not provide any company details, nor do they give any contact information.
- Redirects and Survey Walls: The sites that aren’t genuine usually redirect you to random pages, which might trigger a download or lead to a phishing site.
- Claims Free Unlimited Access: To lure the users, scammer sites promise free unlimited access with real-time view. They may also provide what they claim, but they may have something sinister hidden behind, and abruptly close down their app/site.
- No User Reviews/ Bad reviews: Go through multiple reviews of a tool before you choose them. However, a fake IG post viewer may have no reviews or only feedback where the users are mentioning that it’s a scam.
- Poor Design and Grammatical Errors: The scammy sites often have broken English, and the layout of the site is poorly designed. The functionality of the website doesn’t really care about the user since they are mainly designed to harvest data.
FAQs
Conclusion
It can be challenging to access a private Instagram account due to the strict privacy policy of the app. However, as per my research, Peekviewer is the best way to access a private account. Trying Spokeo‘s reverse lookup can give you important background details that you would want to find out via IG. While parents, guardians, and spouses who suspect their partner can try the xMobi phone spy app. The other methods, such as viewing the target person’s various social platforms, asking your friends and relatives for help, and using a fake account, can also be resourceful. Usually, a combination of these methods has helped me achieve better results. However, you must never stalk a person or harass them using these methods. It is also best to be respectful and not share your findings with anyone. If the person doesn’t want to accept your request or blocks your account, leave them be and respect their privacy.