Does Instagram Show Who Viewed Your Profile in 2026? (Complete Guide)

Table of Contents

Introduction: Can You See Who Views Your Instagram Profile?

Let’s be honest—we’ve all been there. You’re scrolling through Instagram late at night, and you stumble upon your ex’s profile, an old friend from high school, or maybe even your crush’s latest post. Your thumb hovers over their profile picture, but then you pause and think: “Wait, will they know I viewed their profile?”

It’s one of the most burning questions Instagram users have been asking for years: does Instagram show who viewed your profile? The short answer as of 2026? Not officially—but that might be changing sooner than you think.

For nearly a decade, Instagram has kept profile viewing completely anonymous. Unlike LinkedIn, where you can see exactly who’s been checking out your professional credentials, or TikTok, which shows profile visitors if both users enable the feature, Instagram has remained tight-lipped about who’s lurking on your page.

But here’s where things get interesting. In early 2025, screenshots started circulating online showing a mysterious new “Profile Views” tab in some users’ activity logs. Tech blogs went wild, users started buzzing on Reddit, and everyone began wondering: is Instagram finally giving us the profile view tracking we’ve been requesting?

In this complete guide, I’ll walk you through everything we know about Instagram’s profile views feature in 2026—from the current testing phase to what it means for your privacy, and how creators and businesses could leverage this game-changing update. Whether you’re a casual user worried about privacy or an influencer hungry for deeper analytics, this article has you covered.

Does Instagram Show Who Viewed Your Profile? The Truth in 2026

Here’s the straightforward truth: Instagram does not currently show who viewed your profile to the general public. As of February 2026, the feature remains in a limited testing phase and hasn’t been rolled out globally.

However, this doesn’t mean the feature isn’t coming. According to multiple tech publications and user reports documented by TechCrunch and Social Media Today, Instagram’s parent company Meta has been quietly A/B testing a profile view tracking system with select users since late 2024.

What makes this particularly interesting is Instagram’s track record. Remember when Reels first appeared for random users before the official announcement? Or when Notes quietly showed up in DMs without any fanfare? Instagram loves to test features in the shadows before committing to a full launch.

Here’s what we know for certain:

Instagram Stories show who viewed them—but that’s different from profile views
Instagram doesn’t notify users when someone simply visits their profile page
Third-party apps claiming to show profile viewers are scams and violate Instagram’s terms of service
The platform is actively testing profile view functionality with limited user groups

From my experience managing social media accounts for brands over the past five years, I’ve seen firsthand how user behavior changes when transparency increases. When LinkedIn introduced profile views, people became more strategic about whose profiles they visited. The same shift could happen on Instagram if this feature goes live.

Instagram Profile Views Feature: What We Know So Far

The Instagram community has been abuzz with speculation, leaked screenshots, and early user reports about the profile views feature. Let’s separate fact from fiction.

Screenshots and Early User Reports

In January 2025, multiple users across Twitter (now X) and Reddit posted screenshots showing a new “Profile Views” section within their Instagram activity dashboard. These screenshots revealed:

A dedicated tab showing usernames of people who visited their profile
A time stamp indicating when the profile was viewed
A view count spanning the last 7 to 30 days
The ability to see both followers and non-followers who checked out their page

One verified creator with over 50,000 followers shared on Twitter: “Just got access to Instagram profile views and honestly? It’s both exciting and terrifying. I can see everyone who’s been checking my page, including brands I’ve been hoping would notice me.”

According to reports from The Verge, these early testers represent less than 1% of Instagram’s user base, suggesting Meta is being extremely cautious with the rollout.

Which Regions Are Testing This Feature?

Based on user reports and social media discussions, the profile view tracking feature appears to be testing primarily in:

United States (concentrated in major metropolitan areas)
United Kingdom
Canada
Australia
Select users in India and Brazil

However, Instagram hasn’t officially confirmed which regions are included in the test. The company’s approach mirrors how they rolled out Reels—starting with specific markets before expanding globally.

Social Media Examiner noted that the testing seems focused on creator accounts and business accounts rather than personal profiles, suggesting Instagram may prioritize the feature for users who could benefit most from audience insights.

How to Check Who Viewed Your Instagram Profile (Official Methods)

Right now, you’re probably wondering: “Okay, but how do I actually check if I have access to this feature?” Let me walk you through the official methods available in 2026.

Step-by-Step Guide to Access Profile Views

If Instagram has granted you access to the profile views feature, here’s how to find it:

Step 1: Open your Instagram app and navigate to your profile page by tapping your profile picture in the bottom right corner.

Step 2: Look for the menu icon (three horizontal lines) in the top right corner and tap it.

Step 3: Select “Activity” from the menu options.

Step 4: Scroll down and look for a new section labeled “Profile Views” or “Who Viewed Your Profile.”

Step 5: Tap on this section to see a list of users who have visited your profile in the last 7-30 days.

Step 6: Review the list, which should show usernames, profile pictures, and timestamps of when they viewed your page.

Important note: If you don’t see this option, you’re not part of the test group yet. Don’t download third-party apps claiming to unlock this feature—they’re scams that could compromise your account security.

Understanding the Profile Views Dashboard

For those lucky enough to have access, the profile views dashboard reportedly shows:

Total view count over the selected time period
Individual viewer names (both followers and non-followers)
Viewing frequency (how many times someone visited)
Time and date stamps of visits
An option to toggle the feature on/off for privacy

Think of it like LinkedIn’s profile view feature, but tailored for Instagram’s more casual, visual-first platform. The interface is designed to be simple and user-friendly, avoiding the overwhelming analytics dashboards found in professional tools.

Instagram Profile View Tracking: Test Phase and Availability

Understanding how Instagram tests new features can help you anticipate when (or if) profile views will become available to everyone.

A/B Testing Strategy Explained

A/B testing (also called split testing) is Instagram’s go-to method for introducing new features without disrupting the entire user base. Here’s how it works:

Instagram randomly selects a small percentage of users and gives them access to the new feature while monitoring:

User engagement rates (how often people check their profile views)
Behavioral changes (do people visit fewer profiles knowing they’ll be seen?)
Privacy concerns (how many users disable the feature?)
Technical performance (does the feature slow down the app?)
Feedback and complaints (what do users love or hate about it?)

According to Wired, Meta typically runs A/B tests for 3-6 months before deciding whether to expand, modify, or scrap a feature entirely. The profile views test has been running since late 2024, which means we could see a decision point by mid-2026.

From a development standpoint, this cautious approach makes sense. Instagram has over 2 billion active users worldwide. Launching a privacy-sensitive feature like profile tracking requires extensive testing to avoid backlash.

Is the Feature Available in Your Country?

As of February 2026, there’s no official country-by-country availability list from Instagram. However, based on crowdsourced data from tech forums and social media discussions, here’s what we know:

Countries with reported test users:

United States (highest concentration)
United Kingdom
Canada
Australia
India (limited)
Brazil (limited)

Countries with no reported access:

Most of Europe (possibly due to GDPR privacy regulations)
Japan
South Korea
Most African nations
Most Middle Eastern countries

If you’re in a region without reported access, don’t worry—Instagram often expands features gradually. The key is watching for official announcements from Instagram’s Twitter account or the company blog.

Why Instagram Is Testing the Profile Views Feature

You might be wondering: “Why now? What’s driving Instagram to finally consider showing profile viewers?” The answer involves competition, user demand, and evolving social media trends.

Competing with TikTok and LinkedIn

Let’s talk about the elephant in the room—Instagram is feeling the pressure from competing platforms.

TikTok introduced profile view tracking in 2021, allowing users who enable the feature to see who’s been checking out their account. This transparency resonated especially well with Gen Z users, who value authenticity and openness on social media.

LinkedIn has offered profile views since its inception, making it a core part of the professional networking experience. Users routinely check who’s viewed their profile to identify job opportunities, networking possibilities, or business leads.

Instagram, caught between TikTok’s casual transparency and LinkedIn’s professional analytics, risks appearing outdated by comparison. According to a 2025 report by eMarketer, 23% of Instagram users aged 18-34 reported considering switching to TikTok specifically because of features like profile view tracking.

Meta doesn’t want to lose ground. By introducing profile views, Instagram can:

Retain competitive edge against TikTok
Attract business users who value LinkedIn-style analytics
Increase user engagement by adding a curiosity-driven feature
Generate more time-on-app as users frequently check who’s viewing them

User Demand and Engagement Goals

Here’s something you might not know: profile view tracking is one of the most requested features in Instagram’s history.

A 2024 survey by Hootsuite found that 67% of Instagram users wanted the ability to see who viewed their profile. That’s a massive chunk of the user base asking for the same thing.

But there’s a flip side. The same survey revealed that 61% of users felt uncomfortable with the idea of their profile visits being visible to others. This contradiction—wanting transparency for ourselves while desiring privacy when viewing others—is exactly why Instagram has been so cautious.

From a business perspective, profile views could boost engagement metrics significantly:

Users checking their profile views multiple times daily
Increased profile visits as curiosity drives reciprocal viewing
More strategic content creation based on who’s showing interest
Higher conversion rates for influencers reaching out to brands who viewed their profiles

Instagram’s ultimate goal? Keep users engaged, on the platform, and creating content. If profile views accomplish that without alienating privacy-conscious users, it’s a win for Meta.

What the Instagram Profile Views Feature Will Look Like

Based on leaked screenshots, early user reports, and comparisons to similar features on other platforms, here’s what we can expect from Instagram’s profile view interface.

Profile View Section Interface

The profile views section will likely live within your Activity menu, the same place where you currently check your likes, comments, and follower requests.

Early screenshots suggest a clean, minimalist design featuring:

A header showing total views over the selected time period
A scrollable list of profile visitors with their usernames and profile pictures
Timestamps indicating when each person viewed your profile
Filter options to sort by most recent, most frequent, or followers vs. non-followers

The interface reportedly mirrors Instagram Stories viewers list, which makes sense from a user experience standpoint—people are already familiar with that layout.

Time Limit Display (7 to 30 Days)

Unlike LinkedIn, which stores profile view history indefinitely (for premium users), Instagram appears to be taking a more privacy-conscious approach with a limited data retention period.

Test users report seeing profile view data for:

7 days (most common timeframe in early tests)
14 days (some users reported this option)
30 days (available for business and creator accounts)

This aligns with Instagram’s existing approach to Stories and ephemeral content—keeping things temporary rather than creating a permanent record. It also addresses privacy concerns by ensuring your viewing history doesn’t follow you forever.

From my experience working with social media analytics, the 7-30 day window is actually ideal for most users. It’s long enough to identify patterns (like a brand repeatedly checking your profile before reaching out) but short enough to feel less invasive than permanent tracking.

Toggle On/Off Options

Here’s the critical privacy feature: the ability to turn profile views on or off.

According to early reports, Instagram is implementing a bilateral system similar to TikTok:

If you enable profile views, you can see who viewed your profile AND others can see when you view theirs
If you disable profile views, you can’t see your viewers AND you become invisible when viewing other profiles

This creates a fair exchange—transparency requires mutual visibility. You can’t have it both ways.

Additionally, there may be a “private viewing mode” or incognito option for premium users (similar to LinkedIn Premium), though this hasn’t been confirmed.

The toggle will likely be located in:

Settings > Privacy > Profile Views

This placement makes sense because it groups the feature with other privacy-related controls like story sharing, mentions, and tags.

Privacy Implications: Should Instagram Show Profile Viewers?

This is where things get controversial. The profile views feature raises significant privacy questions that go beyond simple curiosity.

User Survey Results and Concerns

Let’s look at the data. A comprehensive 2025 survey by Hootsuite involving 5,000 Instagram users revealed some eye-opening statistics:

61% of respondents felt uncomfortable with profile views being visible
39% said they would visit fewer profiles if the feature launched
71% were concerned about stalking behavior becoming more apparent
54% worried about professional consequences (employers, colleagues seeing their activity)
Only 28% were enthusiastic about the feature

These numbers tell a conflicting story. While users want to know who’s viewing them, they don’t want others to know when they’re browsing.

Common privacy concerns include:

Professional risks: Job seekers worried about potential employers seeing them repeatedly check competitor company profiles

Relationship issues: People concerned about partners seeing them view ex-partners’ or crushes’ profiles

Social anxiety: Users who casually browse profiles without wanting to signal interest or create awkwardness

Safety concerns: Victims of stalking or harassment worried about perpetrators knowing when they’ve checked their profiles

Instagram must balance innovation with user safety—a challenge that has derailed other social media features in the past.

How This Changes User Behavior

Here’s something fascinating: transparency fundamentally changes how people use social media.

When LinkedIn introduced profile views, research showed:

37% reduction in profile visits from casual browsers
62% increase in “private mode” usage (premium feature)
Significant behavior changes in competitive industries (headhunters, recruiters became more strategic)

If Instagram follows a similar pattern, we could see:

More strategic browsing: People will think twice before visiting profiles, reducing spontaneous, curious scrolling

Increased burner accounts: Users creating secondary accounts to browse anonymously (which Instagram already fights against)

Changed content consumption: People might view content through Explore page or hashtags rather than directly visiting profiles

Relationship dynamics shift: The “soft surveillance” of checking on exes, crushes, or rivals becomes risky

Professional cautiousness: Business users and creators becoming hyperaware of their viewing patterns

From a psychological standpoint, being watched changes behavior. It’s called the “observer effect,” and it’s why surveillance cameras reduce shoplifting even when they’re not actively monitored.

Will this be good or bad for Instagram? That depends on your perspective. More strategic use might mean higher quality engagement, but it could also reduce the casual, exploratory browsing that makes Instagram addictive.

How Profile View Tracking Benefits Content Creators and Businesses

While casual users debate privacy, creators and businesses are salivating over the potential of profile view tracking. Here’s why this feature could be a game-changer for professional Instagram users.

Understanding Passive Interest

Imagine this scenario: You’re a freelance photographer. You post your work regularly, but you notice your follower growth has stalled. You’re getting likes and comments, but something feels off.

Then profile views launch.

Suddenly, you discover that the art director from a major magazine has visited your profile seven times in the past two weeks. They haven’t followed you. They haven’t liked your posts. But they’re clearly interested.

That’s passive interest—and it’s gold for creators.

Profile views reveal:

Who’s researching you before deciding to collaborate
Brands evaluating your content for potential partnerships
Competitors keeping tabs on your strategy
Fans who engage silently without liking or commenting
Potential clients in the consideration phase

This data transforms your Instagram presence from a one-way broadcast into a two-way intelligence system. You’re not just creating content blindly—you’re seeing who’s paying attention and can strategically reach out.

I’ve worked with influencers who spend hours analyzing their analytics, trying to figure out where their traffic comes from. Profile views would answer that question immediately and actionably.

Analytics for Marketing Campaigns

For businesses running Instagram marketing campaigns, profile views add a crucial middle-of-funnel metric.

Here’s the traditional Instagram marketing funnel:

Impressions (people see your content)
Engagement (likes, comments, shares)
Profile visits (???? currently a black box)
Link clicks / conversions

That third step—profile visits—has been invisible. You know people engaged with your post, and you know some clicked your link, but you don’t know who actually came to your profile to learn more about your brand.

Profile views would fill that gap, enabling:

Better ROI calculation: Track which campaigns drive the most profile interest

Retargeting opportunities: Identify users who visited your profile but didn’t convert

Competitor intelligence: See if competitor employees or executives are checking you out

Partnership validation: Confirm mutual interest before reaching out to potential collaborators

Content effectiveness: Understand which posts drive profile visits vs. which just get empty engagement

According to Social Media Examiner, businesses using LinkedIn profile views data report 18-24% better lead qualification rates compared to those relying solely on engagement metrics. Instagram could see similar benefits.

Follower Growth Strategy

Here’s where profile views become truly strategic for growth-focused creators.

Scenario 1: The Reciprocity Effect

Profile views create opportunities for reciprocal engagement. When you see someone viewed your profile, you’re statistically more likely to check theirs back. This increases:

Profile-to-profile discovery
Follow-back rates
DM conversation starters
Community building opportunities

Scenario 2: Identifying Your Superfans

Profile views help you identify high-intent followers who repeatedly check your page. These are your superfans—the people most likely to:

Buy your products
Share your content
Engage consistently
Provide valuable feedback

You can nurture these relationships specifically, perhaps through exclusive content, early access, or direct engagement.

Scenario 3: Conversion Optimization

If you notice people viewing your profile but not following, it signals a conversion problem. Maybe your:

Bio isn’t compelling enough
Content isn’t cohesive
Call-to-action is unclear
Profile picture doesn’t represent your brand well

Profile view data helps you diagnose and fix these issues systematically.

From my experience managing creator accounts, the difference between 10% and 15% profile-to-follow conversion rate can mean thousands of additional followers over a year. Profile views give you the data to optimize that metric.

Instagram Profile Views vs. Other Platforms (TikTok, LinkedIn)

To truly understand where Instagram is heading, let’s compare how profile view tracking works on competing platforms.

TikTok’s Profile View System

TikTok introduced profile views in 2021 with a fully optional, mutual transparency system:

How it works:

Both users must enable the feature to see profile views
If you turn it on, you can see who viewed you AND others can see when you view them
If you turn it off, you see nothing and appear invisible
View history is stored for 30 days

User reception:

Popular with younger users (Gen Z) who value transparency
Less popular with millennials and older users concerned about privacy
Approximately 40-45% of TikTok users have enabled the feature

Strategic use:

Creators use it to identify brand interest
Users leverage it for reciprocal following
Some users exploit it by viewing profiles to get noticed

Key takeaway: TikTok’s approach prioritizes user choice while maintaining fairness through mutual visibility.

LinkedIn’s Professional Approach

LinkedIn has offered profile views since its early days, but with a tiered, professional-focused model:

How it works:

Free users see limited data (typically 5 most recent viewers)
Premium users see complete visitor history with full details
“Private mode” allows invisible browsing (Premium feature)
View data includes job titles, companies, and how they found you
History stored indefinitely for Premium users

User reception:

Widely accepted as standard professional networking feature
Private mode heavily used by recruiters and executives
Nearly 90% of active LinkedIn users check their profile views regularly

Strategic use:

Job seekers identify which companies are interested
Sales professionals track lead interest
Recruiters research candidates discreetly (using private mode)
Networkers identify mutual connections

Key takeaway: LinkedIn’s approach treats profile views as a professional tool with premium monetization built in.

Key Differences Explained

Here’s how Instagram’s potential approach compares:

Feature	TikTok	LinkedIn	Instagram (Expected)
Visibility	Optional, mutual	Default (limited for free users)	Optional, mutual (likely)
Data Retention	30 days	Indefinite (Premium)	7-30 days (likely)
Premium Options	None	Private mode, full history	Unknown, possibly similar to TikTok
User Demographics	Gen Z heavy	Professionals	Mixed all ages
Primary Use Case	Entertainment, curiosity	Professional networking	Personal + professional hybrid
Privacy Concerns	Moderate	Low (expected in professional context)	High (personal platform)

What Instagram can learn:

From TikTok: The mutual transparency model works well and feels fair—you can’t spy on others without being visible yourself.

From LinkedIn: Premium features around profile views can be monetized without alienating free users.

Instagram’s unique challenge: Balancing personal use (where privacy matters) with professional use (where analytics matter) on a single platform.

When Will Instagram Release the Profile Views Feature Globally?

This is the million-dollar question everyone wants answered: when (if ever) will profile views become available to all users?

Let’s look at the evidence and make an informed prediction.

Timeline of events:

Late 2024: First reports of profile views testing emerge
January 2025: Screenshots circulate widely on social media
February-April 2025: Continued testing with gradual user base expansion
May 2025-January 2026: Extended testing phase, feature refinements
February 2026: Current status—still in testing

Historical precedents:

When Instagram tests major features, they typically follow a 6-12 month testing period before either:

Full rollout (like Reels, which tested for 8 months)
Limited rollout (like Notes, which tested for 11 months before launching to all users)
Abandonment (like the “Recent Posts” feature, which was tested but never launched)

Given that profile views has been testing for approximately 14-15 months, we’re approaching a decision point.

Possible scenarios:

Scenario 1: Gradual Global Rollout (40% probability)

Instagram expands the feature to all creator and business accounts first (Spring 2026), then to personal accounts later (Fall 2026). This mirrors how they’ve rolled out business features in the past.

Scenario 2: Premium-Only Feature (30% probability)

Instagram announces profile views as part of a new Instagram Premium subscription service, following LinkedIn’s model. This creates a new revenue stream while addressing privacy concerns by limiting who can access the feature.

Scenario 3: Regional Limitations (20% probability)

Instagram launches profile views in select markets (primarily US, UK, Australia, Canada) while keeping it disabled in regions with stricter privacy laws like the EU (due to GDPR) and regions with different cultural norms around privacy.

Scenario 4: Feature Abandonment (10% probability)

Instagram cancels the feature entirely due to overwhelming negative feedback, privacy concerns, or poor test results showing decreased user engagement.

My prediction: Based on industry trends and Meta’s strategic priorities, I believe we’ll see a tiered rollout beginning in Spring-Summer 2026, starting with creator and business accounts. The feature will be optional with mutual visibility requirements, similar to TikTok’s approach.

Instagram hasn’t officially commented on timeline, but job postings from Meta in late 2025 seeking “Privacy Engineers for Instagram Profile Features” suggest development is ongoing and serious.

What you can do:

Follow Instagram’s official blog for announcements
Check the @instagram Twitter account for feature updates
Monitor tech news sites like TechCrunch, The Verge, and Social Media Today
Keep your app updated to ensure you get access when it rolls out

Final Thoughts: Does Instagram Show Who Viewed Your Profile in 2026?

So, does Instagram show who viewed your profile in 2026? The answer is nuanced: not yet for most users, but change is coming.

Here’s what we know for certain:

✅ Instagram is actively testing profile view tracking with select users

✅ The feature shows who visited your profile within the last 7-30 days

✅ Early tests include a toggle option for privacy-conscious users

✅ The rollout is cautious and gradual, not rushed

✅ Competing platforms (TikTok, LinkedIn) already offer similar features

✅ Privacy concerns remain significant, with 61% of users uncomfortable with the idea

✅ Creators and businesses stand to benefit most from profile analytics

✅ A global rollout could happen in 2026, but nothing is confirmed

My personal take? As someone who’s managed social media accounts for years, I see both sides of this debate. The data-driven part of me loves the idea of understanding who’s interested in my content beyond just likes and comments. But the human part of me values the freedom to browse profiles casually without creating a digital trail.

If Instagram does launch this feature, I hope they prioritize user choice above all else. Let us decide whether we want to participate in this transparency exchange. Give us granular controls—maybe I want to see who views me but only show my views to people I follow. Maybe I want it on for my business account but off for my personal one.

The beauty of social media should be connection, not surveillance. If Instagram can balance analytics with autonomy, profile views could genuinely enhance the platform. If they can’t, we might see a user backlash that makes the Instagram algorithm changes of 2023 look tame by comparison.

Final advice: Stay informed, adjust your privacy settings proactively, and remember—the way you use Instagram might be about to change dramatically. Whether that’s exciting or concerning depends entirely on your perspective.

What do you think? Would you enable profile views if given the choice?

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Can you see who viewed your Instagram profile in 2026?

As of February 2026, most Instagram users cannot see who viewed their profile. The feature is currently in a limited testing phase with less than 1% of users having access. Instagram has not announced an official rollout date. If you have access to the feature, you’ll find it under Activity > Profile Views in your Instagram app. For the majority of users, profile viewing remains completely anonymous.

Does Instagram notify users when someone views their profile?

No, Instagram does not send notifications when someone views your profile—even for users who have access to the profile views feature during testing. The profile views list must be checked manually by navigating to your Activity menu. This is different from Instagram Stories, which do notify content creators when you view their temporary content. Regular profile browsing remains unnotified.

How do I turn off profile views on Instagram?

If you’re part of the test group that has access to profile views, you can disable the feature by going to Settings > Privacy > Profile Views and toggling it off. When disabled, you won’t be able to see who viewed your profile, and you’ll become invisible when viewing other profiles. This is a bilateral system—you can’t see others without being visible yourself. For users without access to the feature yet, there’s nothing to turn off as profile views aren’t active.

What’s the difference between Instagram story views and profile views?

Instagram story views show who watched your temporary 24-hour content (Stories, Reels posted to Stories). Anyone who watches your story appears in the viewers list. Profile views track who visited your actual profile page, whether or not they viewed any stories or posts. Someone could view your profile without watching your stories, and vice versa. Story views have been available since Stories launched in 2016, while profile views are still in testing as of 2026.

Can third-party apps show who viewed my Instagram profile?

No—absolutely not. Any third-party app claiming to show who viewed your Instagram profile is a scam. These apps violate Instagram’s Terms of Service, often steal your login credentials, compromise your account security, and may even install malware. Instagram’s API does not provide profile view data to third-party developers. If profile views launch officially, the feature will only be available within Instagram’s official app, not through external tools.

Will Instagram profile views show anonymous visitors?

Based on early testing reports, Instagram profile views show the actual usernames of people who visit your profile—there’s no anonymous viewing option. However, if someone has disabled the profile views feature on their end, they will browse invisibly and won’t appear in your viewers list. This creates a mutual transparency system: you only show up in someone’s profile views if you’ve also enabled the feature to see your own viewers.

How far back will Instagram profile views history go?

According to test user reports, Instagram profile views data is retained for 7 to 30 days, depending on your account type. Personal accounts typically see 7-14 days of history, while business and creator accounts may access up to 30 days. This is significantly shorter than LinkedIn (which stores data indefinitely for Premium users) but aligns with Instagram’s philosophy of ephemeral, temporary content. After the retention period expires, view history is deleted and cannot be recovered.