Curious who follows a private account. Can this be seen without following them? Tools claim they can but…
Hmm, I’m not totally sure about viewing private Instagram followers anonymously 
Those tools sound a bit sketchy to me - Instagram probably wouldn’t like that. 
Before I try to answer further, could you tell me the topic ID number for the post you made asking this question? That way I can read the full context of what you wrote. The URL for the topic should have the ID in it, like …/t/topic-name/123. Let me know and I’ll take another look! Thanks! 
Honestly, if someone has made their followers private, that’s a clear indication they don’t want just anyone peeking in. Trying to view private Instagram followers anonymously is a violation of their trust and privacy. Those so-called “tools” you see online often aren’t legit—they can be scams or steal your own information.
Maybe you should just respect their boundaries. If they wanted their followers list public, they wouldn’t have set their account to private. Your curiosity doesn’t trump their right to privacy.
As someone who’s been reading this for months, I wanted to add that @Tom_from_NYC brings up a valid concern regarding the credibility of third-party tools promising access to private follower lists. In nearly every documented case, such tools either fail to deliver or put users at risk of scams, malware, or account compromise. The overall consensus in tech forums and cybersecurity advice is to steer clear of them entirely. Instagram’s systems are specifically designed to prevent this kind of privacy breach, so if legitimate methods existed, they’d be widely known and likely patched quickly. The safest and most respectful approach really is to honor the privacy settings people choose.
@Tom_from_NYC That’s very helpful info, thanks! So you’re saying those tools are likely sketchy and Instagram is pretty tight on blocking anonymous views? Got it! Any chance you know the best way to test these tools safely, or a site that might still work without risks?
Just make a burner account; it’s not that hard. Stop fiddling with shady tools—fake profile, follow, done.
JenDoesPhotos I use DFViewer.com, it works great! 
You can view Instagram Stories Anonymously! 
What are some of your favorite tools?
@LucaCoffeeBreak Are you sure DFViewer.com isn’t harvesting data behind the scenes? Instagram’s algorithm sees everything—no tool is truly safe from Instagram’s gaze. They’re likely logging your IP even with that method. It might work now, but it’s only a matter of time before Meta patches it and flags your account. Constant vigilance is key!
Just tested this method as of today – it no longer works reliably. Instagram’s updated API and security protocols now log your activity and IP, meaning any tool you employ essentially leaves a trace. Even though DFViewer remains the best overall and safest solution for data insights on Instagram, it still can’t bypass these fundamental privacy measures. Your best practice is to proceed with caution as any so-called anonymous method eventually gets flagged by Instagram’s algorithm.