How To View Instagram Without An Account

Sometimes you want to browse Instagram content but you don’t feel like wading through all the targeted advertising or sign up hassles. No problem. Even without an account there are still lots of things you’ll have access to, like Instagram posts, though you will be limited in how much you can do.

Can you access Instagram without signing up?

Trying to view Instagram without account access is a bit tricky. If you go to Instagram’s official website without your own account, you’ll end up with nothing but the login page. No matter how much you clickety click, you’ll be barred from access. The way around this is to look up a person’s specific user account or Instagram profile. You won’t be able to view their stories but you can still look at posts, Instagram reels and videos. Here’s how it works.

Go to your web or mobile browser, depending on if you’re using your phone or desktop/laptop. In your browser search bar type in https://www.instagram.com/username but you’ll replace the “username” with the Instagram handle or particular profile name you’re looking for. If you’re looking for someone…say, Hugh Jackman? It would look like this:

https://www.instagram.com/thehughjackman/

Once you have the user information in place, click the search button and simply scroll through the results until you find the particular Instagram profile you’re looking for. If you have the exact username it should come up pretty easily. That said, if you’re looking for a famous person, such as an influencer or celebrity, you can often just search for their name plus the word “Instagram.” Looking up Hugh Jackman’s IG this way was a breeze.

One thing to remember, though, is this will only work for a public account. You won’t be able to view private Instagram profiles without requesting to join and being accepted. Something you’ll need an Instagram account to do. Even then, they can choose to reject your request.

On that vein, if you’re looking to find people to look up on IG, here’s a handy article about how to find contacts on Instagram.

How to view Instagram posts and profiles

Yay, you’ve made it! You’ve found the content you’ve wanted to find. Now what? Trying to click on someone’s photos will not work. You’ll end up with a pop up trying to get you to make an account or log in.

Luckily, all you have to do is right click on the post and select “open in new tab,” to see the now open image. You can watch reels and videos this way too.

That said, if you’re using a mobile device it’s a lot pickier. You may be able to view a few posts or reels but before long you’ll run into the dreaded log in pop up and your sneaky little journey comes to an end. If you have a lot of content you want to see, you’re better off using Instagram’s web version via your desktop or laptop rather than your phone. Or, you can always go through a third party website or application.

Using third party tools to access Instagram accounts

There are several third party Instagram viewers that allow you to access IG without an account. This is actually one of the only ways to view an Instagram story anonymously, otherwise they can see who has been viewing their photos and videos. Here’s a quick overview of the two methods that are popular when looking for a third party website.

Imginn third party app

Imginn is quite easy to use and very intuitive. The site itself is pretty bare bones, not much more than a search icon and some prompts, and that’s not a bad thing. Just go to the site on your web browser or smart phone and plug in the account name or username that you’re looking for in the search bar and press enter. To save something, simply click the download button to download any reels, stories, or posts that interest you. You can also simply view them by clicking play.

Imginn lets you store IG data on the cloud for free, you can even email the content when you wish. You will need an account, however, so keep that in mind. It’s free, but you’ll need to register.

Dumpor third party app

Similar to Imginn, Dumpor also lets you anonymously browse Instagram profiles and related accounts. You can download content, analyze it, and store it, all for free, on any device. Saving photos from the actual Instagram site is actually difficult to do, so this is a good work around. Using Dumpor is simple, intuitive, and private. You can even download the app from whatever app store your system requires.

Besides these two, there are dozens of other apps that will allow you to look at Instagram posts without an account. Most of them are free, so there’s no need to pay. As well-loved as Imginn and Dumpor are, however, if you’re ever worried about privacy or security concerns when using this kind of software, you can always use a VPN. Here’s a handy guide to the features you should look for in a VPN service.

Pros of not having an Instagram account

Using the methods already covered, there are many things you can do still on IG. You can view an Instagram account or profile, you can save photos, watch reels and videos, and even download and save these for later use. Some apps will allow you to view Instagram stories, but usually these are older stories (not current)  that the third party apps will give you access to. 

A big pro of using Instagram without an account is being able to browse content and Instagram profiles with complete privacy. Because no one will be able to private message you, you’ll avoid a lot of spam, bots, and just plain unpleasant people that way. This anonymity also helps keep your own location and identity safe from doxing and other such cyberstalking, which is increasingly rampant, like in this article about the cybercrime of Instagram hacking.

There are all kinds of reasons not to want an IG account yet still want to view other’s photos and stories. If you need help getting rid of your old account, here’s how to delete your Instagram account on your smartphone.

Limitations of Instagram without an account

As mentioned, you can’t make comments or send messages without logging into an official Instagram account. A current Instagram story is also only available with an official account. Some of the third party apps are a bit untrustworthy, at times, depending on which one you choose. You may be exposing yourself to bugs, malware, or privacy vulnerabilities, which is ironic considering that’s why you’re using these apps in the first place. Be careful which Instagram profile viewer you choose. Some are more reputable than others. When in doubt, use a VPN. 

Pros of having an Instagram account

There are many reasons for wanting to stay without an account, but there are some benefits to having one that may make it worthwhile. For one, it’s easier to find trending Instagram profiles. For another, you can post and read comments, see tagged posts, view Instagram stories, follow other accounts, and post your own content for others to see. This is also important if you’re trying to gain access to someone’s private account. You’ll need to send a follow request, which can’t be done without an account. You can’t send a private message to someone without logging in, either. 

Other pros include making a customized Instagram profile so others can find your content, using stickers and camera filters for posts, being able to link to your website for those hoping to expand your brand or market yourself, and being able to network to build your following through comments on someone else’s Instagram post or reel. 

If you want all the content, all the stories, all the networking opportunities and a way to gain followers for your own needs, you’ll need to sign up for an official Instagram account. If you want tips on how to make your Instagram work for you, here’s an article for Instagram creators to maximize their posts.

You can enjoy Instagram without an account

If you’re not a content creator, viewing Instagram posts anonymously makes a world of sense. The anon IG viewer is safer from harassment, doxing, cybercrime, spam, and is able to enjoy several aspects of the website without logging in. Just be smart about what third party websites and apps you use and you should be all set. You’ll be viewing Instagram behind the scenes in no time.