Have you ever wondered who’s following someone on Instagram? The process differs based on if the account is private or public.
Private accounts keep their follower lists hidden. They do this until the user approves a follow request. This allows only approved followers to see their posts and follower details.
Public accounts are more open. Anyone can see who follows them without approval.
Let’s dive into how you can view someone’s Instagram followers. Keep in mind these privacy settings.
Why Instagram Changed It’s Followers Order List Order By Recent?
Until mid-2021, the platform displayed followers in order of time. This made it easy to see the most recent followers at the top. This was particularly useful for monitoring who recently started following a profile.
However, Instagram revised this approach. Since June 2021, follower lists are no longer in chronological order.
Now, Instagram uses an algorithm. It sorts followers based on things like user interaction. These include mutual connections and engagement metrics.
This change raises an important question. Can you still see who someone’s recent followers are without a third-party app?
The new algorithm changes follower order. It can vary a lot across devices and accounts. It focuses on user privacy and experience, not on easy tracking of recent followers.
How to See Who Someone Recently Followed on Instagram?
Instagram has removed the default chronological order for showing new followers. But, you can still uncover who someone has recently followed. You just need to know where to look.
Here’s a simple way to see who someone recently followed on Instagram. You can do it without third-party apps:
- Access Instagram on a Computer: First, go to Instagram’s official website using a desktop or laptop. If you’re on a mobile device, switch to the Desktop View in your browser’s settings.
- Log In: Enter your username and password to log into your account.
- Search: Use the search bar to locate the profile of the person you’re interested in.
- Explore the ‘Following’ Tab: Click on the ‘Following’ tab at the top of their profile page. This will open their list of followings.

- Check the List: Look through the list under this tab. Ideally, the most recent follows should appear at the top, allowing you to see the latest additions to their following list.

Follow these steps. They let you navigate Instagram’s changes. You can still find out who someone recently started following.
How to See Who Someone Recently Followed on Instagram? (Free App)
Instagram no longer shows the order of recent follows. Using a third-party app can solve this.
IGExport is a free Chrome extension. It offers an easy way to check someone’s recent followers on Instagram.
- Open Chrome: Launch your Chrome browser and type ‘IGExport’ into the address bar of a new tab.
- Access Chrome Webstore: Click on the first search result to visit the Chrome Webstore page for IGExport.
- Install Extension: Click ‘Add to Chrome’ at the top right corner of the IGExport page.

- Confirm Installation: Click ‘Add extension’ to install IGExport onto your browser.

- Manage Extensions: After installation, click the Extensions icon (puzzle piece) in your Chrome toolbar.
- Pin IGExport: Locate IGExport in the dropdown menu and pin it to your taskbar for easy access.

- Log Into Instagram: Sign into your Instagram account to start exploring recent followings.
- Use IGExport: Copy the username of the Instagram account of interest, click on the pinned IGExport icon.

- Paste the username into the input box.

- Export Following List: Select ‘Following’ and then click ‘Export Following’ to generate a list of recent follows.

This method lets you bypass Instagram’s limits. It shows you a full view of someone’s recent follows. And it does this without sacrificing privacy and security.
In Conclusion To
By now, you should know how to find who someone followed on Instagram. You can do this by looking at follower lists on Instagram itself. Or, you can use tools like the IGExport Chrome extension.
These methods provide different ways to satisfy your curiosity. They can also help you manage your strategy on Instagram.
Feel free to explore these options and discover what works best for you. Remember, it’s exciting to dive into social media’s trails. But, always tread respectfully and respect privacy.
I’d love to hear from you! What has your experience been like using these methods? Do you have any tips or insights to share about tracking follows on Instagram? Drop a comment below and let’s discuss!

