How to See Someone's Latest Followings/Followers on Instagram

On Instagram, the list of someone’s followers and following can reveal a lot — new interests, recent interactions, or even budding relationships. Out of curiosity or to get to know someone better, many people wonder how they can access this information. However, to protect users’ privacy, Instagram places some restrictions, especially on private accounts. This guide will show you some easy ways to view someone’s followers and following, whether their profile is public or private.

See someone's Following and Followers on Instagram.

Part 1. How to See Someone’s Followers and Following on Instagram

On Instagram, checking someone’s followers or followings can give you insight into their interests or help you spot new interactions. Here’s how you can access this information, whether the account is public or private.

1.1. How to see the following of a public account

It’s easy to check the followings of a public profile:

  • Open Instagram and search for the user using the search bar.
  • Go to their profile and tap on "Following."
  • You’ll see a list of the accounts they follow.

Keep in mind that Instagram doesn’t list them in the order they were followed. Instead, the order is based on Instagram’s algorithm, which prioritizes accounts you have in common or ones you're more closely connected to.

1.2. How to see someone’s most recent followings on Instagram

Instagram doesn’t sort followings by the date they were added, but there are some workarounds:

Third-party tools: Some services can track the follow history for public accounts.

Manual method: If you regularly check the profile, you can keep track of new followings by taking notes or using screenshots to monitor changes over time.

1.3. How to check following history on Instagram

Instagram doesn’t offer a built-in feature to see someone’s full following history, but there are alternatives. Third-party apps like Msafely are popular choices for monitoring Instagram activity, including a history of who someone has followed.

If you prefer a simpler manual method, you can regularly take screenshots of the profile to track any changes in their followings over time. Both options can help depending on how closely you want to monitor the account.

1.4. How to see someone’s new followers on Instagram

To spot someone’s recent followers:

Go to their profile and open the “Followers” section.

Keep in mind that, unlike your own followers list, someone else’s followers aren’t shown in chronological order. This makes it harder to spot new followers, especially for popular accounts.

Tip: Extensions like IG Follow can help you track the newest followers of a public account.

1.5. Limits for private accounts

For private accounts, you must be following them to see their followers and following lists. Instagram restricts access to this information to protect users’ privacy.

Part 2. Can You See the Followers of a Private Instagram Account

Seeing the followers or following list of a private Instagram account can be tricky because Instagram has strict privacy rules in place.

Unlike public accounts, where followers and following lists are visible to everyone, private accounts require you to get approved first. You have to send a follow request and wait for the person to accept it before you can see their followers or the accounts they follow.

This limitation ensures that only approved followers can view the private account’s followers, protecting personal data and keeping unwanted viewers out. It's an important feature for users who want to share their activities only with a close circle.

In short, if you want to see the followers or following history of a private Instagram account, you must be on their approved followers list.

However, there are private Instagram viewer tools that claim to bypass these restrictions in specific situations.

Whether you want to check someone’s latest followers, see who they follow on a private account, or track their new interactions, specialized tools like Msafely can help. These apps offer advanced features for discreetly exploring private account activities while still respecting privacy concerns.

Part 3. How to See the Followers of a Private Instagram Account

Accessing the followers of a private Instagram account might seem impossible, but tools like Msafely offer a discreet and effective solution. Whether you want to view a private account’s followers, check their interactions, or see their messages and media, Msafely makes it easy — and stays completely invisible.

Msafely homepage screenshot.

3.1. Why choose Msafely

Msafely offers advanced features for those who want to view private Instagram accounts without being noticed. Here's what it allows you to do:

  • View private followers and following: Get full access to a private account’s followers and the accounts they follow.
  • Track private messages: See conversations, including deleted Instagram messages, for a complete picture of account activity.
  • Access media content: View photos, videos, and stories, even those shared only with Close Friends.
  • Real-time monitoring: Msafely runs in the background, letting you track updates from the target account without being detected.
Msafely Instagram tracking demo.

3.2. How to use Msafely

Step 1. Sign up on Msafely’s official website using a valid email address.

Register a free Msafely account.

Step 2. Connect the target device, iOS or Android.

Choose the target device.

Step 3. Select your subscription plan, 1 month, 3 months or 12 months.

Step 4. Follow the page guides to complete the connection with the monitored device. Once set up, select the Instagram and then you will view followers, following lists, messages, and other collected data from an easy-to-use dashboard. You can even read Instagram messages without leaving a “seen” mark.


        The Android dashboard of Msafely.

3.3. A versatile tool for Instagram and beyond

Msafely isn’t just limited to Instagram. It also lets you monitor other platforms like WhatsApp, Snapchat, and Facebook, and offers extra features like GPS tracking and access to call logs and messages. It’s an ideal tool if you want to view the followers of a private Instagram account, follow someone on Instagram without actually following them, or browse Instagram profiles without needing an account.

In conclusion, if you’re looking for a way to see the followers of a private Instagram account or find out someone’s recent followers, Msafely is a practical and discreet solution.

With its ability to track the latest Instagram followings, analyze interactions, and access private content, Msafely is a must-have tool for anyone wanting to monitor an account confidentially.

Part 4. FAQ

Q1. How can I see someone’s Close Friends list on Instagram?

You can't directly see someone’s Close Friends list on Instagram. This feature is completely private and only visible to the account owner. However, if you are part of their Close Friends, you’ll notice that their related stories have a green circle around them, indicating they are for Close Friends only.

Q2. How to follow someone on Instagram without actually following them?

If the account is public, you can view their posts and stories without officially following them. Simply browse their profile anonymously or use the “View” option without hitting the follow button. This way, you can access their content without appearing in their notifications.

Q3. How to know who unfollowed you on Instagram without using an app?

Without using an unfollow tracker app, you can manually compare your current follower list to an older version. While this method is time-consuming, it’s a reliable way to find out who has unfollowed you without relying on external apps.

Q4. How to view an Instagram account without having an account?

You can view a public Instagram profile through a web browser by typing "instagram.com/username" into the address bar. You’ll be able to see their public posts, but features like stories and interactions will not be accessible without logging in.

Q5. How to see the following list of a private Instagram account?

To access the following list of a private account, you must get approval by sending them a follow request. Without their acceptance, Instagram won’t allow you to see their following list. Alternatively, tools like Msafely offer a discreet and secure way to view a private account’s following list.

Part 5. Conclusion

Understanding who someone follows or who follows them on Instagram can give valuable insights into their interests and interactions. While Instagram places privacy restrictions on this information, there are effective ways to access it — either through traditional methods or with tools like Msafely.

Whether you want to view the followings of a public profile or dive deeper into the activity of a private account, there are solutions available. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can enhance your Instagram experience and discover the information you’re looking for easily and discreetly.