How to See Who Unfollowed You on Instagram — the Safe Way

Instagram doesn't show you a list of who unfollowed you, and it doesn't show who ignores your follow requests. But Instagram does let you download your own account data — and inside that file are your complete followers and following lists. Compare the two lists and the answer falls out. This guide shows you exactly how, without giving your password to any app.

Why not just use an "unfollower app" that asks for my login? Because those apps break Instagram's rules and are the number-one way accounts get stolen or banned. The method below uses your own data, on your own device — nothing about your account is shared with anyone.

Step 1 — Request your data from Instagram

1. Open Instagram and go to your profile → the ☰ menu → Settings and privacy.
2. Tap Accounts Centre → Your information and permissions → Download your information.
3. Tap Download or transfer information and choose your Instagram account.
4. Choose Some of your information (this is much faster than everything).
5. Scroll to Connections and tick Followers and following.
6. Choose Download to device, set the date range to All time, and — this part matters — set the format to JSON.
7. Tap Create file and confirm. Instagram starts preparing your file.

On a computer, the same path starts at instagram.com → Settings → Accounts Centre → Your information and permissions → Download your information.

Step 2 — Wait for the email and download the ZIP

Instagram emails you when your file is ready — sometimes in a few minutes, sometimes after several hours. Open the email (or return to the same Download your information screen), download the ZIP file, and don't extract it. The download link usually stays valid for a few days.

Step 3 — Upload the ZIP to UnfollowCheck

1. Go to the UnfollowCheck home page.
2. Drop the ZIP into the box (or tap to choose it). The file is read in your browser — it is never uploaded to a server.
3. In seconds you'll see four numbers: your followers, who you follow, how many don't follow you back, and your pending requests.

Step 4 — Read your results

• Not following back — accounts you follow that don't follow you. Tap any username to open their profile and decide whether to unfollow.
• Pending requests — follow requests you sent that were never accepted. Instagram keeps no tidy list of these; your data file does.
• Following / Followers — your full lists, searchable. You can copy any list or download it as a text file.

Tips and troubleshooting

• "Lists not found" error? The request probably didn't include the Followers and following information, or the file was extracted/renamed. Request it again with that option ticked and upload the original ZIP.
• Want changes over time? Request a fresh export next month and compare — anyone who disappears from your followers list since the last check has unfollowed you.
• Big accounts: the export can be split into several follower files (followers_1, followers_2…). UnfollowCheck reads them all automatically.
• HTML exports are also supported, but JSON is recommended — it includes dates, which the tool shows next to each username.

The bottom line

Your data file + a private, in-browser comparison = the true list of who doesn't follow you back, and whose requests are still pending. No password, no login, no risk to your account. Try it now →