How to See Someone's Instagram Activity (What's Actually Possible)
What Instagram still shows about an account's activity, what it removed, and how to analyze posting patterns.
The short answer
You **cannot** see a live feed of what someone likes or comments on — Instagram removed the 'Following Activity' tab back in 2019. What you **can** still see on a public account is their **posts, reels, stories, who they follow, and their posting patterns** (how often and when they post).
To turn that public data into a clear picture, the free Activity Analyzer shows an account's posting frequency, peak times and content mix — no login required.
What you can still see
- **Posts, reels & stories** — everything a public account shares is visible without following.
- **Following / followers lists** — who they follow and who follows them (public accounts).
- **Posting patterns** — frequency, most-active days and times, and reels-vs-posts mix.
- **Engagement signals** — likes and comments per post show how active their audience is.
See who an account follows and engages with using our guide on seeing who someone follows and likes.
What you can't see (and why)
Instagram deliberately hides private activity to protect users:
- **A live like/comment feed** — the old 'Following' activity tab is gone for everyone.
- **Their DMs or who they message** — private and never exposed.
- **Private accounts' content** — locked unless you follow and they approve.
Note:Any app claiming to show someone's live likes, DMs, or 'who they're talking to' is a scam — Instagram doesn't expose that data. Stick to public, ethical signals like posting patterns.
Frequently asked questions
Can you see what someone likes on Instagram?
No. Instagram removed the 'Following Activity' tab in 2019, so there's no way to see a live feed of someone's likes or comments. You can only see the posts, reels, stories and follow lists on a public account.
How can I see someone's Instagram posting schedule?
Analyze their public posts' timestamps. A free activity analyzer shows how often an account posts, its most active days and times, and its reels-vs-posts mix — useful for research or planning your own schedule against a competitor.
Can you tell if someone is active on Instagram right now?
Not reliably. Instagram removed the 'active now' green dot from public view in most cases, and it only ever showed for accounts you message. You can infer activity from recent posts and stories instead.
Do apps that show someone's Instagram activity work?
Apps claiming to show live likes, DMs or 'who someone talks to' are scams — Instagram doesn't expose that data to anyone. Only public signals (posts, follows, posting patterns) are genuinely available.