Instagram unfollow tracker: how to see who someone unfollowed
By the Stalkie teamUpdated · 4 min read
Quick answer
Instagram doesn't tell you when someone unfollows an account, yours or anyone else's. To see who a public profile unfollowed, you have to compare its following list at different moments; an unfollow tracker runs that comparison on its own and shows what disappeared.
When someone follows you, Instagram tells you. When they unfollow, silence. The same goes for other profiles' activity: there is no alert, history or unfollow list anywhere in the app.
This guide separates the two kinds of unfollow, shows how to check each one by hand, explains how a tracker detects the change and lists the cases where a name drops off a list without anyone unfollowing.
Does Instagram tell you when someone unfollows?
No. Instagram notifies you when an account starts following you, but never when it stops. There is also no alert about who other profiles follow or unfollow.
What's left is the follower and following count at the top of each profile. It tells you something changed, but not what. If one account came in and another left, the number doesn't even move.
The two kinds of unfollow
When people talk about unfollows, they can mean two different things, and each one shows up in a different place.
| Question | Where the answer is | How to find out |
|---|---|---|
| Who did this profile unfollow? | In its following list | Compare the following list over time. This is what Stalkie does. |
| Who unfollowed this profile? | In its followers list | Compare the followers list; for your own account, compare exports of your data. |
Stalkie tracks who a public profile starts and stops following and also tells you when it gains new followers.
How to check by hand
To see who a profile unfollowed: note how many accounts it follows, screenshot the list and repeat a few days later. If the number dropped, look for the name that disappeared. It's the same process as finding out who someone followed, in reverse.
To see who unfollowed you: the most reliable route is Instagram itself.
- Open Accounts Center and go to Your information and permissions.
- Tap Download your information and pick only Followers and following.
- Keep the file and request it again a few weeks later.
- Compare the two followers lists: anyone on the first and not on the second unfollowed you.
How a tracker detects an unfollow
A tracker keeps an eye on the profile's public following list. When a name that was there disappears, it shows up as an unfollow. On Stalkie this happens several times a day.
- @sample.profile unfollowed @fictional.bandToday, 6:10 PM
- @sample.profile started following @john.exampleToday, 11:45 AM
- @sample.profile unfollowed @gym.exampleYesterday, 8:30 PM
Each line shows when the change was detected.
When an unfollow isn't really an unfollow
A name can drop off a following list without anyone tapping Unfollow. Before drawing conclusions, open the profile that disappeared.
- The account changed its handle. The old name goes and the new one appears; it looks like an unfollow followed by a follow.
- The account was deactivated or deleted. It vanishes from every list while it's offline and may come back later.
- Someone blocked someone. If either account blocks the other, the follow is removed automatically.
- Instagram removed fake accounts. In spam cleanups, several accounts disappear at once.
- The owner removed a follower. Any account can remove someone from its followers list.
Use it with common sense
An unfollow isn't always a message. People clean up their lists, switch accounts, move on from accounts that change handles. A tracker shows what changed, not why. Use it to satisfy your curiosity, not to confront anyone.
If you'd rather know right away without opening the app, see how to get alerts for changes.
Frequently asked questions
Does Instagram tell me when someone unfollows me?
No. Instagram only tells you when someone starts following you. To find unfollows, you have to compare your lists over time.
Can I see who someone else unfollowed?
Yes, if the profile is public: compare its following list at different moments. An unfollow tracker does that automatically.
Why did an unfollow show up that the person says never happened?
A handle change, a deactivated account, a block or a fake-account cleanup also remove a name from the list. Open the profile before concluding anything.
Will the person know I saw the unfollow?
No. Tracking a public following list sends no notification to the profile owner.
Do I need to give my Instagram password to see unfollows?
No, and you shouldn't. Public profiles need no password, and apps that ask you to log in put your account at risk.