How to See Who Doesn’t Follow You Back on Instagram
Last Updated on January 9, 2026 by Ethan
Instagram won’t tell you who doesn’t follow you back. They never have, and they probably never will.
I’ve been managing Instagram accounts since 2014, personal, business, and clients. The question comes up constantly: “How do I find out who’s not following me back?” And honestly? Instagram makes it way harder than it needs to be.
Here’s every method I’ve actually tested, which will learn you how to see who doesn’t Follow You Back on Instagram, ranked from safest to sketchiest.
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Wait : Non-Followers vs Unfollowers: What’s the Difference?
Before we dive in, let’s clear this up because people mix these up constantly:
- Non-follower = Someone you follow who doesn’t follow you back. They never did, or you never noticed.
- Unfollower = Someone who used to follow you but recently hit that unfollow button.
Most people searching “who doesn’t follow me back” want to find non-followers — clean up that following list, improve your ratio.
But let’s be real. The juicy stuff? That’s the unfollowers. Did your ex just unfollow you? That coworker who’s been acting weird? Your best friend after that argument last week?
Yeah. That’s what you actually want to know.
Both methods below help with both, but I’ll point out which is better for each.
Method 1: Manual Check (Works for Small Accounts)
If you follow fewer than 100 people, you can do this the old-school way:
- Go to the profile of someone you suspect isn’t following back
- Tap their Followers count
- Search for your username in their list
If you’re not there, they don’t follow you. Simple.
The problem? This takes forever if you follow 500+ accounts. I tried it once with a client’s account that followed 1,200 people. Gave up after 45 minutes and maybe 80 profiles checked. Not worth it.
Best for: Finding non-followers on small accounts. Useless for tracking unfollowers over time.
Method 2: Download Your Instagram Data (Free, No Apps)
This is the method Google recommends — and it actually works. Instagram lets you export your own data, including your followers and following lists.
Here’s how:
- Request your data: Open Instagram → Settings → Account Center → Your Information & Permissions → Download Your Information
- Wait for the email: Instagram sends you a .zip file within 48 hours (sometimes faster, sometimes not)
- Extract and compare: Open
followers.jsonandfollowing.json - Find the difference: Anyone in your “following” list who isn’t in your “followers” list = not following you back
You can compare these manually in Excel or Google Sheets using VLOOKUP.
The downside? You have to repeat this process every time you want updated info. And if you’re not comfortable with JSON files, it’s confusing.
Best for: One-time cleanup of non-followers. To catch unfollowers, you’d need to download your data regularly and compare old vs new lists yourself.
Method 3: Use a Safe Follower Tracker App (Fastest)
Look, the manual methods work, but they’re tedious. If you check this stuff regularly, an app saves hours.
The catch is finding one that won’t get your account banned, shadow-banned, or restricted.
Red flags to avoid:
- Any app asking for your Instagram password directly
- Apps not available on official app stores
- Tools promising “unlimited” features for free
I’ve tested probably 15-20 of these over the years. Most are garbage. Some got accounts I was testing were temporarily restricted.
What actually works: UnfollowGram’s Instagram Unfollowers Tracker doesn’t require your password, and it’s 100% safe. You add usernames manually, and it tracks public data. Takes longer to set up initially, but you keep your account.
Best for: Both non-followers AND unfollowers. The app compares your data over time, so it catches who unfollowed you since your last check.
Why Most Follower Apps Are Dangerous
Real talk for a second.
Those apps flooding the Play Store and App Store with names like “Followers+ Pro” or “InstaTracker”? Most of them work by logging into Instagram as you. That’s a Terms of Service violation. Instagram’s security catches this stuff constantly.
⚠️ What actually happens: These apps log in as you, scrape your data, and Instagram flags it immediately. Result? Action blocks, shadow bans, or permanent account suspension. I’ve seen it happen dozens of times.
I watched a friend lose a 12K follower account in 2023 because she used one of these apps for three weeks. One day, boom, permanently disabled. No warning, no appeal accepted.
Instagram’s gotten way more aggressive about this since 2024. They’re actively detecting third-party logins and restricting accounts. If you want the full breakdown on safe apps for finding who doesn’t follow you back, I wrote a separate guide on that.
What to Do After You See Who Doesn’t Follow You Back on Instagram
So you’ve got your list. Now what?
Don’t mass unfollow everyone at once. Instagram has daily limits (roughly 100-200 unfollows per day, though it varies). Go too fast, and you’ll get action-blocked.
If you need to clean up a lot of accounts, check out the guide on mass unfollowing safely.
Think before you unfollow:
- Accounts in your niche that post valuable content? Keep following.
- Brands you genuinely like? Keep them.
- Random accounts you followed during a “follow for follow” phase in 2021? Yeah, clean those up.
Your follower-to-following ratio matters more than people admit. An account following 3,000 people with 200 followers looks spammy. Cleaning up your following list helps your credibility.
Quick Comparison: Which Method Should You Use?
| Method | Best For | Time Required | Risk Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manual check | Under 100 following | 30+ minutes | None |
| Instagram data download | One-time cleanup | 48 hours wait | None |
| UnfollowGram app | Regular tracking | 5 minutes setup | None — 100% safe |
| Password-based apps | Nobody | Instant | High — avoid |
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Instagram notify someone when I unfollow them?
No. Instagram doesn’t send notifications for unfollows. They might notice if they check their follower count or use a tracking app themselves, but there’s no alert.
Can I see who unfollowed me recently?
Not through Instagram directly. You’d need to track your followers over time. The who unfollowed me feature in UnfollowGram shows this by comparing snapshots of your follower list.
What’s the difference between a non-follower and an unfollower?
A non-follower is someone you follow who doesn’t follow you back — they might never have. An unfollower is someone who used to follow you but stopped. Unfollowers are only detectable if you’re tracking your followers over time.
What about private accounts?
You can only see follower data for accounts that have accepted your follow request. Public accounts show everything. Private accounts are limited.
Will checking non-followers get me banned or shadow-banned?
Using Instagram’s official data download? No. Using a safe app that doesn’t require your password? No. Using sketchy apps that log in as you? Yes, you risk bans, shadow bans, and account restrictions.
Conclusion on How to See Who Doesn’t Follow You Back on Instagram
Three legitimate ways to see who doesn’t follow you back:
- Manual: free, tedious, works for small accounts
- Data download: free, takes 48 hours, requires some tech comfort
- Safe tracking apps: fastest, catches unfollowers too
Avoid anything that asks for your password. Seriously. Your account isn’t worth the risk.
Ready to find out who doesn’t follow you back?
Related: Instagram Follower Tracker • View Instagram Stories Anonymously
Ethan is the founder of UnfollowGram with more than 12 years of experience in social media marketing. He focuses on understanding how Instagram really works, from follower behavior to engagement patterns, and shares those insights through UnfollowGram’s tools and articles.
