How to Track an Instagram Account: 6 Methods

Monitoring someone's Instagram account isn't just about the number of followers they have. There are plenty of reasons to track an Instagram account ethically. By tracking an Instagram account, you can gain business insights, analyze competitors, and understand their strategies. This can significantly enhance business productivity in the digital realm. Additionally, you can track an Instagram account to verify relationships, receive updates, or even check someone's location.

Children, women, and older adults who are not tech-savvy are at risk of direct message scams, phishing, fraudulent transactions, and gender exploitation. Monitoring an Instagram account can identify suspicious activity and safeguard our loved ones from scammers and cybercriminals.

It’s not just about monitoring; it’s about caring, planning, and ensuring everything is in order.

Main Insight:?

Exploring Instagram analytics, I have utilized various methods, from simply following the account to employing tracking tools like mSpy and Kidsguard Pro and even interacting with posts. I also occasionally use an alternate account and monitor activity anonymously using Incognito mode. It's a delicate balance—curiosity drives me, but I'm careful to honor privacy and adhere to regulations. My motives range from gathering business intelligence to personal interest, always conducted with sensitivity and adherence to ethical norms.

How Can You Track an Instagram Account?

There are various techniques you can use to monitor an Instagram account. In this guide, I'll explain the different methods you can employ to track an Instagram account effortlessly.

Here are the methods and steps to track Instagram accounts based on my personal experience:

Method 1: How to Track an Instagram Account Using the Monitoring App

I discovered how to monitor Instagram by using specific monitoring apps. Here are the top two tools I employed to discreetly track other Instagram accounts. Let's explore them:

1) mSpy

The mSpy Instagram tracker was my go-to for quietly keeping tabs on Instagram communications. It served as a silent window into the messages and images shared and how my family and friends engaged with each other. Its thoughtful design prioritizes safety and my own peace of mind, allowing me to discreetly watch over their online behaviors.

Features:

• Direct Messages Monitoring: Gain access to messages sent and received on Instagram, including those that have been deleted later.
• Media Access: View photos and videos shared on Instagram, even in private messages. Note that there might be occasional delays in receiving the latest media.
• Followers and Following Lists: Get detailed insights into who the target account is following and who follows them.
• Likes and Comments Viewing: Track posts with the highest likes and comments to understand the target account’s frequent interactions on the platform.
• Stories and Highlights: Access Instagram Stories and save Highlights, even after they have disappeared.
• Activity Log: Monitor the user’s activity on Instagram, including their login times and actions on the platform.

How to Track an Instagram Account with mSpy: A Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1) Visit the mSpy website and choose a subscription plan that suits your needs. For first-timers, I recommend the 1-month plan to evaluate how well mSpy works for you before making a longer commitment.

Step 2) Download and install the mSpy application on the device you wish to monitor for Instagram activities.

Step 3) Create a personal account on mSpy to initiate the monitoring setup.

Step 4) Follow the provided setup instructions within the mSpy user dashboard to finalize the installation.

Step 5) Once the setup is complete, begin remote monitoring of Instagram activities on the target device.

Step 6) With everything in place, start tracking various Instagram activities such as messages, likes, posts, comments, stories, geographical locations, search histories, and shared images.

2) KidsGuard Pro

It's like I have a superhero's vision that lets me see into my child's Instagram world, even with all their privacy settings. With KidsGuard Pro, I can quietly make sure they're safe, watching over the conversations they have and the pictures they interact with.

Features:

• Private Account Viewing: I can keep tabs on my child’s Instagram use, even if their account is set to private.
• Screenshot Monitoring: This feature enables me to view any screenshots taken from the Instagram app on their device.
• Conversation Monitoring: I can discreetly read the messages my child sends and receives on Instagram, helping me understand who they talk to most. Occasionally, these messages may take a moment to appear.
• Photo Monitoring: I have the ability to check any photos my child saves from Instagram, which helps me keep track of what captures their interest.
• Complete Activity Oversight: The tool provides a thorough view of all Instagram activities, regardless of privacy settings or account configurations.
• Effortless Setup: After installing the app on their phone, I automatically gained these monitoring powers without needing to do anything else.

Step-by-Step Guide to Monitoring an Instagram Account with KidsGuard Pro:

Step 1) I visited the official ClevGuard website and navigated to the KidsGuard Pro section.

Step 2) I chose a subscription plan suitable for my needs. Starting with a one-month plan is advisable to test the tool's capabilities. If you encounter any installation issues or are dissatisfied, you can always cancel your subscription.

Step 3) I registered for an account with ClevGuard, providing my email address and creating a unique password.

Step 4) After purchasing the subscription, ClevGuard emailed me detailed instructions on how to install KidsGuard Pro on the target phone. Installation requirements differ: iCloud credentials are necessary for an iPhone, whereas physical access to the device is required for Android.

Step 5) Once the app was set up, I began tracking Instagram activities on the phone. The scope of monitoring was determined by the functionalities of KidsGuard Pro and any restrictions imposed by Instagram.

Step 6) I logged into my KidsGuard Pro account via the ClevGuard website and accessed the dashboard, where I could view all tracked data, including Instagram activities.

Step 7) Within the dashboard, I focused on the social media monitoring section to specifically review all activities related to the Instagram account.

Method 2: Check Their Recent Posts and Stories Updates

I believed I was keeping up with someone on Instagram, eager to see their latest posts and stories. Yet, I soon realized my method was inadequate. To truly stay updated, I immersed myself deeper into their Instagram activities:

Step 1) I picked up my phone and launched Instagram. I clicked on the magnifying glass icon at the bottom to start exploring.

Step 2) In my quest to follow a particular individual, I entered their name in the search bar. I selected their profile from the results. Sometimes, however, I encountered profiles that were set to private, blocking further access.

Step 3) Curious about the reactions to their posts, I selected one to view the comments. I witnessed lively discussions, friendly disagreements, and laughter, much like the dynamic of a social gathering.

Method 3: See Their Online Status

With Activity Status turned on, I was able to determine the last time my followers and contacts were active or online on Instagram.

Step 1) I looked for a green dot or a time stamp beside the profiles of users I followed or communicated with.

Step 2) In my direct messages, I reviewed the latest activity status of each contact.

Method 4: Follow Them on Instagram Incognito

Here's a guide on how to navigate someone's Instagram account anonymously, outlined in detailed steps:

Exploring in Private Browsing Mode:

Step 1) Open your preferred web browser on either a computer or smartphone.

Step 2) Locate the option to initiate a new private or incognito window, typically found in the menu at the top right corner of the browser.

Step 3) Enter Instagram's web address (www.instagram.com) and hit enter. Remember, in incognito mode, you won't be signed into your account.

Step 4) Use Instagram’s search function on the login screen to search for the individual of interest. This allows you to view public profiles without needing to sign in, though access to private profiles will be blocked.

Using an Alternate Account:

Step 1) Create and log into a secondary Instagram account.

Step 2) Use the search function to locate the Instagram profile you wish to monitor discreetly.

Step 3) Click the follow button to follow the person's profile anonymously, as this account doesn't tie back to your main identity.

Step 4) Browse their Instagram activities, including posts and stories, without revealing your primary identity.

Method 5: Use the Instagram Account Tracker

To analyze an Instagram profile using the Inflact Profile Analyzer, I followed these simple steps:?

Step 1) I launched my web browser and navigated to the Inflact Profile Analyzer website.

Step 2) I found the search bar on the site and entered the Instagram handle of the account I wanted to examine, omitting the "@" sign.

Step 3) Once I keyed in the handle, I pressed the "Analyze" button. The tool then proceeded to scrutinize the profile using the available data.

Step 4) Within about 30 seconds, Inflact delivered an extensive analysis of the profile, showcasing details such as total followers, the posts with the highest likes, peak activity times, and more.

Step 5) The analysis was provided in a format that was clear and straightforward, offering me a deeper understanding of the audience interaction and the overall effectiveness of the account.

Step 6) I was able to analyze multiple public profiles at no cost. It's important to note that Inflact is unable to assess private Instagram profiles.

Method 6: How to Track an Instagram Account Location by IP Tracking Link

Here's how I utilized the Grabify IP Logger to monitor an Instagram account:

Step 1) I selected a URL that would likely appeal to the Instagram account owner, such as a link to an engaging article, video, or other pertinent material.

Step 2) I then went to the Grabify IP Logger website and inputted the URL into the provided field to generate a new tracking link. Grabify created a new link for sharing and a tracking code to monitor the link's activity.

Step 3) The link could be shared directly with the individual via Instagram DM or placed in a location where the target was sure to notice and engage with it. The sharing method was influenced by my existing relationship and interaction pattern with the person on Instagram.

Step 4) With the tracking code from Grabify, I accessed the tracking page, where I could see when the link was clicked, the IP addresses of those who clicked it, and other information such as the type of device used, the approximate location, and the time of the click.

Step 5) This information helped me pinpoint the geographical area and potentially the type of device used by the individual who clicked the link.

How to Hide Activity on Instagram

Here’s a comprehensive tutorial on managing and concealing different kinds of activities on Instagram:

Setting Your Account to Private

To keep your activities private on Instagram, start by setting your account to private.

a) Launch Instagram and navigate to your profile by clicking your profile picture at the bottom right corner.

b) Click the three horizontal lines in the top right, proceed to Settings, and then Privacy.

c) Select Account Privacy and enable the Private Account setting.

Concealing Your Online Status

Prevent others from seeing your active status on Instagram by hiding it.

a) Access Settings and Privacy, then go to Message and Story Replies.

b) Choose Show Activity Status.

c) Disable the Show Activity Status option.

Managing the visibility of stories and posts

Control who can see your stories and posts by setting visibility preferences.?

For Stories:

a) Tap your profile picture, then the small plus icon.

b) On the Story page, click on the side and select Hide Story From to specify who shouldn’t see your stories.

c) Alternatively, use the Close Friends feature to share stories with a select group.

For Posts:

Note: You cannot hide specific posts from certain followers unless you make your account private. Consider blocking or restricting specific users if needed.

Regulating Comments and Tags

Decide who can comment on your posts and who is allowed to tag or mention you.

For Comments:

a) Navigate to Settings and Privacy, then to Comments.

b) Set your preferences for who can comment on your posts (Everyone, People You Follow and Your Followers, People You Follow, or Your Followers).

For tags and mentions:

a) Go to Settings and Privacy, then to Tags and Mentions.

b) Choose who can tag or mention you (everyone, only people you follow, or no one).

Restricting or blocking users

To further hide your activity from certain users, you can either restrict or block them.

To Restrict:

a) Visit the profile of the person you wish to restrict.

b) Tap the three dots at the top right.

c) Choose to restrict.

To Block:

a) Go to the profile of the person you want to block.

b) Tap the three dots at the top right.

c) Opt for Block.

Handling Your DM Activity Status

If you prefer not to show when you’ve read messages or are typing, consider using third-party apps since Instagram does not support hiding Read Receipts or Typing Status natively. Alternatively, open messages only when you’re prepared to respond.

Verdict

"In my experience, tracking an Instagram account involves a mix of technical know-how and ethical consideration. They are especially critical when ensuring the digital safety of loved ones or monitoring market competitors discreetly."