How to Request to Follow a Private Instagram Account (Step-by-Step Guide)

To request to follow a private Instagram account, navigate to their profile and tap the blue "Follow" button. The button will change to "Requested," and the account owner will receive your request in their Activity section. They can then approve or deny your request. It typically takes anywhere from minutes to days for a response, depending on how active the account owner is.

Who This Is For: Anyone wanting to follow private accounts, whether they're celebrities, businesses, or people they know in real life.

Key Considerations: Your profile appearance affects approval odds. A blank or incomplete profile may result in denial. Account owners can also see your follow history and public posts before accepting.

• Only legitimate method for accessing private Instagram profiles
• Account owners have complete control over approval decisions
• No way to view content before request is accepted

Step-by-Step: How to Send a Follow Request on Instagram

Step 1: Find the Private Instagram Account

Use Instagram's search bar to find the account you want to follow. You'll know it's private because the profile will display a lock icon next to the username. Private accounts also show limited or no public posts on their profile page.

Step 2: Tap the "Follow" Button

Navigate to their profile and locate the blue "Follow" button at the top of their page (or on mobile, near their profile picture). Tap it just as you would for any public account. The process is identical; the difference is what happens next.

Step 3: Your Request Is Now "Pending"

Once you tap Follow, the button immediately changes to "Requested." This indicates your follow request has been sent to the account owner. You'll now have to wait for them to approve or deny your request.

Step 4: Wait for a Response

The account owner will receive your follow request notification in their Activity section (the heart icon). They may respond within minutes or take days, depending on their activity level. There's no way to expedite this process through Instagram's official features.

Step 5: Request Approved or Denied

If approved, you'll automatically start following the account and can view all their posts, stories, and content. If denied or ignored, you'll remain unable to access their profile. You can resend a follow request if the account owner denies it, but sending multiple requests in a short timeframe may look suspicious.

5 Tips to Increase Your Chances of Getting Approved

1. Complete Your Instagram Profile

Account owners often check who's requesting to follow them. If your profile is blank, has no picture, or has minimal posts, they're more likely to deny your request. Add a profile picture, write a bio, and post some content before sending follow requests to accounts you don't personally know.

2. Make Your Account Look Authentic

Avoid following hundreds of accounts quickly or having an unnatural follow/follower ratio. Accounts that appear to be bots or spam accounts are frequently denied. If you have a real account with genuine activity, you're much more likely to be approved.

3. Send a Direct Message (DM)

If you want a higher approval rate, consider sending the account owner a polite DM before or after sending your follow request. Explain briefly who you are and why you'd like to follow them. Many account owners appreciate the personal touch and are more likely to approve if they know you're a real person.

4. Be Patient

Don't resend the same follow request multiple times in quick succession. This can seem like spam and may permanently turn off the account owner. Give them at least a week before considering resending a request.

5. Follow Publicly Available Content First

Engage with the account's public content (if they share any) by liking or commenting on their posts before sending a follow request. This shows you're genuinely interested in their content and aren't just a random person trying to access their profile.

What Happens After You Send a Follow Request?

Once your follow request is sent, you're in a waiting period. Here's what you need to know about this stage:

You Cannot View Private Content Yet

Unlike public accounts where you can see posts immediately after following, private accounts keep all content hidden until the owner approves your request. You'll only be able to see their profile picture and bio.

The Account Owner Sees Your Request

Your follow request will appear in their Activity section under "Follow Requests." They can see your profile, your follower count, mutual connections, and your recent activity. This information helps them decide whether to approve or deny your request.

You Can't Track the Status

Instagram doesn't send you notifications when a request is approved or denied. You'll need to check manually by going back to their profile to see if the button now says "Following" (approved) or still says "Requested" (still pending).

If Denied: You Can Try Again

If your request is denied, you have two options. You can try sending another request in the future, or you can respect their privacy and move on. Sending too many requests to the same account that repeatedly denies you may get you blocked.

Understanding Why Private Accounts Deny Follow Requests

Private account owners deny follow requests for various reasons. Understanding their perspective helps you appreciate why monitoring what someone follows (or doesn't accept) can matter in relationships built on trust.

Unknown Followers

Many private account owners prefer to only follow people they know personally. If they don't recognize you, they're likely to deny your request, especially if your profile looks suspicious or incomplete.

Too Many Followers

Some accounts have strict follower limits and carefully curate who has access to their content. This is common among micro-influencers or those who share very personal content.

Security and Privacy Concerns

Some account owners use private settings specifically to control their audience. They may deny requests as a deliberate privacy choice and aren't trying to be unfriendly.

Spam or Bot Accounts

If an account looks inactive, recently created, or suspicious, private account owners will deny the request to protect themselves from spam and scams.

Can You View a Private Instagram Account Without Following?

No. The only legitimate way to view a private Instagram account is to have your follow request approved. Legitimate third-party apps or methods claiming to bypass this restriction pose significant security risks and violate Instagram's terms of service.

However, if you're concerned about monitoring a partner's Instagram activity, there are ethical alternatives. SnoopInsta specializes in tracking follow activity for accounts you already follow. This allows you to see who someone recently followed, get alerts about new follows, and track changes in their Instagram behavior over time – giving you visibility into relationship trust without violating privacy.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I see a list of people who requested to follow me?

Yes. Go to your profile, tap the menu icon, select "Settings," then "Privacy," and choose "Follow Requests." You'll see all pending requests. You can approve, delete, or block users from this menu.

What if I accidentally sent a follow request to the wrong person?

Navigate back to their profile and tap the "Requested" button. You'll get the option to cancel the follow request. The account owner will no longer see your request, and it won't be held against you.

Do they know I sent them a follow request?

Yes, they will receive a notification and can see your follow request in their Activity section. They can view your profile to help them decide whether to approve.

How long does it take to get approved?

It varies widely. Some account owners check requests daily and respond within minutes. Others check infrequently and may take weeks. There's no way to speed up the process.

Can I message someone before they accept my follow request?

No. If someone has a private account and hasn't accepted your follow request, you cannot send them direct messages. You need to be following them first.

What if someone rejects my request repeatedly?

Resend the request occasionally (maybe once every few months), but don't spam them. If they consistently reject your requests, respect their decision and focus on other accounts.

Key Takeaways

• The process is simple: Find the private account, tap Follow, and wait for approval.
• Your profile matters: Complete profiles with authentic activity are approved more often.
• Account owners control access: There's no way to bypass a private account's privacy settings legitimately.
• Monitoring matters in relationships: If you're concerned about a partner's Instagram behavior, tools like SnoopInsta let you track follow activity transparently for accounts you already have access to.

Ready to Monitor Instagram Activity in Your Relationship?

Understanding how Instagram accounts work is the first step. If you're looking to build trust in your relationship by monitoring follow activity, SnoopInsta provides real-time alerts on who your partner recently followed, chronological follow history, and multiple account tracking – all while maintaining complete privacy and confidentiality.

Start getting peace of mind today. Track suspicious Instagram activity, get instant email alerts, and know exactly what's happening on accounts you care about.