3 Ways to See Who Someone Recently Followed on Instagram 2025

Instagram is one of the most-used social platforms today, with users spending an average of 33 minutes per day on the app. So, it’s no surprise you might want to know who someone recently followed—it could be your friend, partner, or your child. Maybe you’ve noticed a change in behavior, or you're just plain curious.

The challenge is that Instagram no longer shows follow activity by date in 2025, this makes it tricky to track who someone recently followed. And if their account is private or you’re not following them, it gets even harder.

But, you're not out of options. There are a few workarounds that can help you see who someone recently followed—without needing to hack anything or break Instagram’s rules.

In this guide, you’ll discover three smart methods—ranging from simple manual steps to reliable third-party tools—to help you learn how to see who someone recently followed on Instagram.

Part 1. How to See Who Someone Recently Followed on Instagram

There are simple ways to help you see who someone recently followed on Instagram. Now let’s discuss three of them.

Method 1. Use a free online tool (e.g., RecentFollow)

RecentFollow is a free, web-based tool that helps you view the recent follow activity of any public Instagram account.

It is one of the fastest and easiest ways to see who someone recently followed—no login, no app installs, and the person will never know you looked them up. Even though the results aren’t always timestamped or perfect, they’re generally reliable for casual use.

✨RecentFollow is best for: Quick lookups of public profiles and people who want a no-login, no-download option. Also, curious users who want a risk-free method can use it.

How to use RecentFollow to see who someone recently followed on Instagram:

Step 1. Visit RecentFollow website.

Step 2. Then enter the person’s Instagram username

Step 3. The tool scans the profile’s public data to show you the most recent accounts they’ve followed or who’s recently followed them.

Method 2. Try a Chrome extension

IG Follower Export Tool is a helpful Chrome extension that lets you export the full list of accounts someone is following on Instagram. Once installed, you can use it to download and compare their follow list over time—making it easier to spot who they’ve recently added.

This tool is especially useful if you already follow the person or have access to their account. It won’t automatically highlight new followings, but by exporting and comparing lists, you can track changes manually. It’s a great option for parents, partners, or anyone doing a bit more in-depth digging.

✨It is best for:

• Users who already follow the account or have access.
• People who want more detailed tracking over time.
• Tech-savvy users who are comfortable using browser tools.

How to Use IGExport Follower Export Tool to see who someone recently followed on Instagram:

Step 1. Search IG Follower Export Tool in the Chrome Web Store and click "Add to Chrome".

Step 2. Confirm by clicking "Add Extension."

Step 3. Pin the extension to your toolbar using the puzzle icon in the top-right corner.

Step 4. Log into your Instagram account.

Step 5. Find the username of the person you want to check.

Step 6. Click on the IGExport icon in your browser.

Step 7. Paste the username into the box and select "Following."

Step 8. Click "Export Following" to download their following list.

Step 9. Compare the list over time to spot new followings.

Method 3. Use a monitoring app

Finally, if you want to see who someone recently followed on Instagram you can use a monitoring app like Msafely.

Msafely is one of the most advanced tools for monitoring Instagram activity—especially when you want to know who someone recently followed. It gives you real-time access to the target device's Instagram interactions, allowing you to view Instagram activity (even for private profiles), including follows, messages, posts, and more, all without the target user knowing.

Msafely runs silently in the background and is fully compatible with the latest versions of Android and iOS, and provides real-time updates via an easy-to-use online dashboard.

Msafely uses a cloud-based system which means you don’t even need to install anything on the target phone. This results in less interference with the device’s performance and eliminates the need for jailbreaking.

Msafely is designed for people who need complete access—like parents watching over their teens, employers monitoring company devices, or partners trying to verify suspicions.

Key Instagram monitoring features of Msafely

•  Instagram follower tracking

View someone's Instagram following list in real time and track recent changes. You’ll be able to identify new accounts someone has followed and spot unusual or sudden changes in activity. Msafely also logs the exact time and date when someone follows another account. This helps you identify recent follows and monitor changes over time.

•  Detailed Instagram activity monitoring

Track everything someone does on Instagram—including who was followed, what posts were liked, comments made, and more. This offers a complete behavioral insight into someone’s Instagram usage.

•  Instagram direct message monitoring

You will be able to see all sent and received Instagram messages on someone’s account, even if they’ve been deleted. This includes text, images, and video messages, helping you understand who someone is talking to—and what’s being said.

•  Instagram story and post viewing

You can access all content posted to someone’s Instagram feed and stories. You’ll be able to view photos, videos, and story highlights—even after they disappear from public view.

•  Live GPS location tracking

Msafely enables you to track the target device’s real-time location, so you can see exactly where the person is using Instagram from at any moment.

How to set up Msafely to see who someone recently followed on Instagram

To know how to see who someone most recently followed on Instagram, you can set up Msafely by following these steps;

Step 1. Go to Msafely website and register a free account.

Step 2. Select the target device: choose between iOS and Android.

Step 3. Select a subscription plan that suits your needs.

Step 4. Once the setup is complete, you’ll gain access to the Msafely monitoring dashboard, where you can track all activities on the target device, including:

• Text messages & call logs
• Live location & browsing history
• Social media apps (WhatsApp, Snapchat, Facebook, etc.)

To monitor Instagram follow activity in real-time, simply select the Instagram option—allowing you to track follow activity instantly.

Part 2. What Instagram Does & Doesn’t Show

Instagram doesn’t make it easy to figure out who someone recently followed. There are a few things Instagram doesn’t show you at all.

Instagram, for example, does not display a user's followings by the most recent. That means you won’t be able to see the most recent follows at the top.

The order you do see is based on several algorithmic factors like:

• How often you interact with the account.
• Shared connections or mutual followers.
• Instagram’s own ranking system (which isn’t public).

This is why third-party solutions and tools like Msafely are so useful—they give you accurate, time-stamped data that Instagram itself doesn’t provide. If you really want to see when someone followed another account, you’ll need a third-party solution.

Part 3. What’s the Most Effective Method? (Comparison + Recommendation)

Out of the three methods we’ve discussed, Msafely stands out as the most effective way to see who someone recently followed on Instagram.

Even though tools like RecentFollow and IG Follower Export Tool can help in specific situations, they have limitations—especially if you’re dealing with a private account or need more than just follow data.

Msafely offers full access to Instagram activity, even on private accounts. You’ll not only see recent followings, but also messages, story views, posts, and much more.

Msafely even goes beyond Instagram by letting you monitor calls, texts, emails, browser history, and live location. All this is delivered through an encrypted, cloud-based dashboard that works silently in the background.

Here is a quick comparison of the three methods:

So, if you’re just curious and the person’s account is public, tools like RecentFollow can work. IGExport is useful for desktop users who need a manual snapshot. But if you’re serious about monitoring and want full, private access to recent followings and beyond, Msafely is your best option by far.

Part 4. FAQs

Q1. Does Instagram show recent followings by date?

No, Instagram doesn’t list followers by the most recent, making it harder to track follow activity over time.

Q2. Can I track someone’s Instagram followings on private accounts?

Private accounts are difficult to track using free tools, but with a monitoring app like Msafely, you can view their following activity in real time.

Q3. Is there a Chrome extension to track recent followings on Instagram?

Yes, tools like the IG Follower Export Tool can help you export follow lists and compare changes over time, though they require some manual effort.

Q4. Can I track Instagram DMs and posts along with followings?

Yes, monitoring tools like Msafely allow you to track Instagram DMs, posts, and other activities, giving you a comprehensive view of someone's account.

Q5. Can I track someone’s Instagram activity anonymously?

Yes, tools like RecentFollow and Msafely allow you to monitor someone’s Instagram activity without them knowing.

Part 5. Summary

Now that you have learnt how to see who recently followed someone on Instagram, there is no doubt that Msafely is the best option for tracking someone’s recent Instagram followings. It gives you full access to both public and private accounts, along with extra features like message monitoring, GPS tracking, and email alerts.

Even though free tools like RecentFollow and extensions like IG Follower Export Tool can help with basic checks, Msafely offers a more complete and secure solution. Its easy-to-use interface and strong privacy features make it a great choice for parents, employers, or anyone who needs detailed insights.

Therefore, for anyone looking for real-time, reliable monitoring, Msafely is definitely the way to go.