Many Instagram users wonder: “Who unfollowed me?” Sadly, Instagram doesn’t show a list of people who unfollowed you — so you cannot just open a menu and see that information.
But don’t worry — there are ways to find out, if you’re willing to manually check, or use trustworthy third-party tools carefully. In this post, I’ll walk you through how to see who unfollowed you on Instagram — step by step — and highlight what is safe / what might be risky.
Whether you use a simple manual method, export your data, or use a third-party tracker — this guide will help.
🧮 Why Instagram Doesn’t Show “Unfollowed You”
Before we see how to check unfollowers, it helps to understand why Instagram doesn’t show them by default.
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Instagram only shows you your current followers/following list. It does not show a history of when someone followed or unfollowed. (Don't Follow Back)
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Because of that design, there’s no direct “who unfollowed me” notification or menu inside Instagram. (Don't Follow Back)
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To find out who unfollowed you, you need a snapshot comparison — i.e. record your follower list now, and compare it to a past snapshot to see who’s gone.
In short: Instagram leaves it to you (or external tools) to track changes over time — that’s why you need manual or external methods.
✅ Method 1: Manual Checking (No App Needed)
If you have only a few followers or you suspect a few specific people, manual checking may work fine. Here’s how to do it:
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Open Instagram and go to your profile. Then tap on Followers to see who follows you, or Following to see whom you follow. (Android Authority)
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In the Followers list, use the search bar at the top and type the username of the person you suspect might have unfollowed you. If their name appears, they still follow you. If you see “No users found” — they unfollowed (or never followed). (Android Authority)
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Alternatively, go to that person’s profile, then tap on their Following (or sometimes “Friends” / “Mutual”) list and see if your account appears there. If you are missing — it means they don’t follow you now. (Android Authority)
🔎 Pros:
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Totally safe — you don’t give Instagram password to any third-party.
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Works for small accounts or when you only want to check a few people.
⚠️ Cons:
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Very time-consuming if you have many followers.
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You need to remember whose usernames to check.
So manual method is reliable but not practical if you have large follower counts or want to track many unfollows over time.
📥 Method 2: Using Instagram Data Export + Offline Tools
A safer and more systematic method is to use data export offered by Instagram, then compare old and new data.
How it works
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Instagram allows you to download a copy of your data, which includes a file containing a list of your “followers and following.” (unfollowtool.com)
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Once you have the export (a ZIP file, containing JSON or HTML files like
followers_and_following.zip, or similar), you can upload it to an offline or browser-based “unfollowers checker” tool. These tools compare your follower/following lists at two different times and highlight which accounts are missing (i.e. unfollowers). (unfollowtool.com)
Example tools
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UnfollowCheck — works without needing your Instagram password. You simply export your Instagram data, upload it, and it shows who unfollowed you. (UnfollowCheck)
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Another tool in this category: UnfollowGram — they claim to detect unfollowers in real time using public data (no login required). (UnfollowGram)
🔎 Pros:
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Much safer than apps that ask for login credentials.
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Works well if you have many followers.
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Allows tracking over time — you can compare snapshots every few days or weeks.
⚠️ Things to watch out for:
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Not instantaneous — you need to download data periodically.
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For some tools, if privacy policy is unclear, there might be risk to your data. Always verify.
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Works better if you export data regularly so you have multiple snapshots for comparison.
📱 Method 3: Trusted Third-Party Apps or Browser Extensions
Because manual and export-based tracking can be cumbersome for many users, several third-party apps or browser extensions and tools have emerged to help. These claim to show who unfollowed you, who doesn’t follow back, new followers, etc.
Examples of such tools:
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FollowMeter — popular among Android and iOS users. Once you log in, it analyses your account and shows who recently unfollowed you, who doesn’t follow back, and other follower stats. (msafely.com)
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Browser-based trackers / extensions like INSSIST — with “Growth Assist” and “Unfollower Tracking” features. They scan your followers list periodically (daily or so) and show a log of who unfollowed you. (Inssist)
✅ When this method makes sense
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If you are an influencer or manage many followers.
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If you want automated tracking without manual work or frequent data exports.
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If you want additional analytics (who doesn’t follow back, engagement, ghost followers, etc.).
⚠️ Risks & Warnings
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Apps that ask for your Instagram password — this is often risky. Might lead to account suspension or privacy issues. (followbuddy.com)
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Some tools may overstate their ability — promise “instant” results or extra features (auto-unfollow, mass unfollow) which can violate Instagram rules or raise privacy concerns. (Guiding Tech)
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Even if a tool seems legitimate, always check: does it store your login? Does it share data externally? What permissions does it require? A truly safe tool will use official data export or read-only public data and never ask for your password. (Don't Follow Back)
🛡️ Best Practices & Safety Tips
Given the risks involved, here are some recommendations if you want to check who unfollowed you:
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Prefer export-based or read-only trackers over tools that ask for password. Tools like UnfollowCheck or UnfollowGram (or other similar “data-export + tracker” tools) are safer.
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Avoid apps/extensions that promise “instant” unfollower detection and ask for your credentials. These often violate the terms of service of Instagram, and can lead to account ban, or even theft of personal data.
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If you use a tracker, export your Instagram data regularly (e.g. once a month or every few weeks), so you have multiple snapshots to compare — helps track unfollowers over time.
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Use the “why over who” mindset: instead of getting upset about everyone who unfollowed — try analysing why they might have unfollowed (post frequency, content quality, audience interest). Over time this helps improve your content and audience retention rather than fixating on names. This is a strategic, healthier approach. (Soundarya Laundromat)
📋 Recommended Steps Right Now
If you want to check who unfollowed you properly, here’s what to do (today):
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Go to Instagram -> Settings -> Download your data (choose “followers & following” list).
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Wait for the data ZIP file to come. Download and unzip it.
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Use a trusted tool like UnfollowCheck or UnfollowGram (or any other safe tool) to upload the file and get a list of who unfollowed you.
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Keep exporting data periodically (e.g. once every 2–4 weeks) so you can track changes over time.
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Avoid risky apps/extensions that ask for login credentials.
If you prefer manual checking, use the search bar in Followers/Following lists — but that only works for a few names.
💡 Why It’s Better To Focus on Growth, Not Just Unfollowers
Tracking who unfollowed you can be tempting. But constantly worrying about every lost follower may not be helpful. Instead:
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Use unfollower data to learn, not to judge. For example: look at which posts were up when you lost followers, what kind of content caused drop-off.
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Focus on engagement and quality content rather than just follower count. Sometimes unfollows are natural (people leaving Instagram, cleaning up, changing interests).
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Use data to improve — e.g. better posting schedule, better content mix, more consistent engagement.
So — check unfollowers occasionally (if important for you), but don’t obsess.
⚠️ Why You Should Be Careful With “Instant Unfollower Apps”
As many online sources warn, apps that promise instant unfollower detection often come with risks:
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They might ask for your Instagram password — that violates Instagram’s terms of service and increases the risk of account suspension or data leak. (Guiding Tech)
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They may store your data externally or use questionable methods (scraping, background tracking, automation), which might be unethical or insecure. (followbuddy.com)
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Over-reliance on such apps also encourages obsession over follower count, which might affect your mental peace or lead to “mass unfollow” behavior — not a healthy or meaningful social experience.
Hence, if you use external tools — choose only the ones with transparent privacy, preferably using official data export, or read-only public data.
Conclusion
Yes — it is possible to find out who unfollowed you on Instagram. But because Instagram doesn’t show that information by itself, you need to do one of the following:
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Manually check follower/following lists (only practical for small accounts).
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Export your Instagram data and use a safe offline or browser tool to compare snapshots.
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Use a trusted third-party tracker — but be careful about privacy, permissions, and account safety.
If I were you, I'd go with data-export + tracker method — it balances safety and convenience. You get a reliable history of your followers/unfollowers without risking your account or data.