Nope, Instagram doesn’t spill all the tea on someone’s activity anymore. Gone are the days when you could peek at every like, comment, and follow in real time. Now, you’re pretty much limited to what’s public, like new posts, stories, reels, and maybe their “Active now” status if they haven’t turned it off.
But if you’re itching to see more without letting them know, Peekviewer can show you how to see someone’s activity on Instagram. It lets you quietly check out someone’s posts, stories, tagged pics, and even snag a look at stories that disappeared without an account or tipping them off that you were there.
What Activity Instagram Shows by Default
Instagram doesn’t hand out a full play-by-play of someone’s life anymore, but it does leave a few breadcrumbs you can follow. And when you know how to see someone’s activity on Instagram, this is what you can see:
- Posts and stories: You can see anything they share publicly or with followers, including photos, reels, and stories that are up for 24 hours.
- Followers and following list: Check who they follow and who follows them to get a sense of their circle. However, if the person changes their privacy settings, even followers may only see the number of followers/following, not the actual usernames.
- Comments on public posts: If they leave a comment on someone’s public post, you can scroll through and spot it.
- Activity status (online indicator): If they haven’t turned it off, you’ll see a little “Active now” or “Active X minutes ago” in DMs.
What Instagram No Longer Lets You See
Instagram has tightened up privacy over the years, so a lot of the old “snooping” options are gone. Instead of learning how to see someone’s activity on Instagram, you are stuck with:
- Removal of the “Following” activity tab: That old tab where you could watch every like, follow, and comment your friends made? Instagram killed it.
- No access to others’ likes or comment history: You can’t check who or what someone’s been liking or commenting on outside of public posts.
- Limited transparency for privacy reasons: Instagram keeps most interactions private now, so unless it’s a public action (like a post or story), you’re left in the dark.
How to See Activity on Instagram

If you want to learn how to see someone’s activity on Instagram, you have a few options at your disposal:
- Start with the basics: Open their profile and check their latest posts, reels, and highlights. Stories at the top of the feed give you the freshest updates, but remember, they disappear after 24 hours.
- Peek at their followers and following list: Tap Followers and Following on their profile. Changes here can hint at new friends, collabs, or “mysterious” new follows.
- Look at comments on public posts: If they’ve been active on other people’s posts, you can spot their comments by scrolling through public posts they interact with. It’s tedious, but it works if you’re patient.
- Check their activity status in DMs: Slide into your Direct Messages and see if they’re showing as Active now or Active X minutes ago. This only works if they haven’t turned it off in settings.
See Someone’s Recent Posts
Instagram only shows you the obvious, like posts and reels they share publicly. But if you really want the full picture of someone’s recent activity, like the posts they’re tagged in or who they’ve been interacting with, the native app just doesn’t cut it. With Peekviewer, you can learn how to see someone’s activity on Instagram and quietly check someone’s Instagram activity without ever logging into Instagram or leaving a trace. Here’s what makes it different:
- View their recent posts and tagged photos: Even if they’re on private, Peekviewer lets you see new uploads and the photos they’re tagged in.
- Check recent likes and “hot likes”: Curious who’s getting their attention? Use an Instagram likes viewer to see hot likes highlight the posts and accounts they engage with most.
- See comments and recent followers: Track new connections and interactions without scrolling for hours.
- View blocked or private accounts anonymously: Even if they’ve blocked you or keep their profile locked, you can still get your anonymous view from a distance.
View Someone’s Online Status
Sometimes, someone can be practically living on Instagram without posting a single thing. If you’re trying to figure out how to see activity on Instagram, here’s how to spot it:
- Using a secondary “Finsta” account: Many people have a backup account just for quiet browsing, letting them watch stories and scroll feeds without interacting on their main profile.
- Hide stories: If their main account rarely shows your stories, but you see signs they’re active elsewhere, they might be hiding their own stories to browse in stealth mode.
- Comments: Even if they don’t post, spotting their occasional comments on mutual friends’ posts is a dead giveaway they’re online.
- Spending a long time on the app but not posting: When they’re always the first to view private Instagram or react to reels, it’s clear they’re scrolling silently behind the scenes.
See Someone’s Followers/Following
So, can you see someone’s activity on Instagram this way? The answer is yes. In fact, one of the easiest ways to get a feel for someone’s Instagram activity is by checking who they follow and who follows them back. It sounds basic, but it can tell you a lot about what’s going on behind the scenes.
Start by opening their profile and tapping on Followers and Following. Sudden changes here can hint at new friendships, collaborations, or even suspicious behavior. For example, a flood of new followers could mean they’re exploring new circles, while a drop in followers might suggest they’re cleaning up their list.
Check Likes and Comments
If you want to learn how to see others’ activity on Instagram, see close friends story Instagram, and what someone is engaging with on Instagram without using any tools, you’ll need to do it the old-fashioned way: manually. Instagram no longer shows a “Following” activity tab, so keeping up with someone’s likes and comments takes a little digging.
- Start by scrolling through posts from mutual friends, popular accounts they follow, or any hashtags you know they’re into.
- Look for their username in the likes or spot their comments under those posts. This is often how people catch subtle interactions, like someone quietly liking every photo from a specific account or leaving casual comments that might otherwise fly under the radar.
It’s not the fastest method, but if you’re patient, manually checking likes and comments can reveal a lot about someone’s activity without leaving any trace on your own account.
The Best Way How to See Someone’s Activity on Instagram
Manually checking posts, stories, likes, and followers can take forever, and Instagram no longer gives you the full picture. If you want an easier, private way to learn how to see others’ activity on Instagram, Peekviewer is the go‑to solution.
Peekviewer Features

If you’re tired of guessing someone’s activity on Instagram, Peekviewer Instagram viewer gives you the full picture in one place. Instead of scrolling endlessly or trying to piece together clues manually, this private viewer tracks all the activity you actually care about:
- Track recent followers and followings with exact names and dates, so you’ll always know who they’re connecting with.
- See comments and likes to understand which posts catch their attention most.
- Use Instagram tagged viewer to check tagged photos to spot where they appear on Instagram, even if they didn’t post it themselves.
- Get regular updates in your user space so that new activity shows up automatically without you having to search for it.
How to Use Peekviewer

You don’t have to be an engineer to make Peekviewer work for you:
- Choose the type of profile you want to monitor.
- Enter the Instagram username or profile link of the person you want to monitor.
- Choose your subscription plan and create your Peekviewer account.
- Log in to your userspace, where the system will automatically collect their activity.
- View everything in one place: recent followers and followings, likes, comments, and tagged photos, all updated in real time.
Things to Keep in Mind
Before you track someone’s activity on Instagram, it’s important to remember a few key points. Tools like Peekviewer make it easy to see what someone’s doing online, but using them responsibly matters.
- Respecting privacy boundaries: Curiosity is normal, but crossing into someone’s personal space without a valid reason can create trust issues. Use activity tracking for awareness or safety, not for harassment or obsessively monitoring someone’s every move.
- Avoiding misuse: Never use Instagram activity tracking for blackmail, bullying, or any malicious purpose. Misusing this kind of access can lead to real‑world consequences and, in some cases, legal trouble.
- Staying updated on Instagram’s policies: Instagram frequently updates its features and privacy rules. What’s accessible today might change tomorrow, so it’s smart to keep track of new policies to ensure your monitoring stays discreet and compliant.
Conclusion
Instagram isn’t the open book it used to be. That old “Following” tab is gone, and now you’re mostly stuck with the basics: posts, stories, and maybe a green “Active Now” dot if they forgot to turn it off. If you actually want to figure out what someone’s up to, scrolling through their followers and hunting for random likes or comments can eat up your whole evening.
That’s why a tool like Peekviewer is such a lifesaver. Instead of playing detective, it pulls everything from their private Instagram account into one place: new followers and followings (with dates), the posts they’re liking and commenting on, tagged photos, and even those “hot likes” that show who’s catching their attention the most. All of it lands in your private userspace, updating in real time, and they’ll never know you were looking.
FAQ
Not directly. IG doesn't show a "recently followed" list anymore. You can scroll through their list manually, but it's in order of relevance, not time. Tools like Peekviewer can make this easier by tracking new followers and followings with names and dates.
Nope. Instagram doesn't send profile view notifications. Your visit is only visible if you watch their stories or engage with their posts.
Yes, but choose carefully. Most random "spy" apps are either scams or risky. A legit option like Peekviewer works incognito and keeps your info private, letting you see followers, likes, tagged photos, and other activity without logging into Instagram.
Yes. Instagram has a built-in post notifications feature. Go to their profile, tap the bell icon (top right), and turn on posts, stories, or reels notifications. This way, you'll get alerts the moment they share something new.