How to See Who Shared Your Instagram Post – A Beginner’s Guide

You just posted a great photo or Reel. You check your insights, and you see that little shares icon ticking up 5, 10, maybe even 20 shares!

Naturally, you want to know: “Who are these people?”

Are they your friends hyping you up? Is it a brand noticing your work? Or did you just go viral in a group chat you don’t know about?

Can you really see who shared your post on Instagram? (Read This First)

Here is the honest truth: Instagram does not allow you to see a complete list of everyone who shared your post.

To protect user privacy, Instagram hides the identity of anyone who:

• Sent your post in a Direct Message (DM) to a friend.
• Shared your post to a Private Story (Close Friends).
• Has a Private Account themselves.

However, there is good news. You can see exactly who shared your post if they shared it to a Public Story within the last 24 hours.

Below, we will walk you through the only working method to find these people and why you should avoid “spy apps” that claim to do more.

Also read: Instagram Subscriptions: Features, Benefits  And Requirements

How to See Public Story Reshares

Best for: Seeing which public accounts reposted your content.

If someone with a Public profile shares your post to their Instagram Story, you can see their username. This is the “official” way to track shares, but it comes with a time limit: Story shares disappear after 24 hours.

If you want to catch them, you have to look while the story is still active.

Step-by-Step Guide:

1. Open the Post: Go to your Instagram profile and tap on the specific photo or Reel you want to check.
2. Find the Three Dots: Look for the three small dots (…) in the top right corner of the post (or bottom right for Reels). Tap them.
3. Look for “View Story Reshares”:
   • If you see this option: Tap it! You will see a grid of all the current public stories that feature your post. You can click on them to see exactly who shared it and what they said.
   • If you DON’T see this option: This means nobody with a public account has currently shared your post to their story.

How to Check Instagram Share Counts Using Insights

Best for: Knowing if your post is going viral in DMs.

If the “View Story Reshares” button is missing, it doesn’t mean nobody shared your post. It just means they did it privately.

Most sharing on Instagram happens in DMs (Direct Messages) or private group chats. While Instagram will never show you the names of people who did this (that would be a huge privacy breach!), they will tell you exactly how many times it happened.

To see this number, you need to look at your Insights.

Also read: Instagram Carousels Vs Reels: What Works Best

Prerequisite: You Need a Professional Account

You cannot see share counts on a personal account. You must switch to a Business or Creator account.

• Is it free? Yes.
• Does it hide my posts? No.
• How to switch: Go to Settings > Account type and tools > Switch to professional account.

Step-by-Step: How to View Share Counts

Once you have a Professional account, follow these steps:

For Regular Photo Posts:

1. Go to your profile and tap on the post.
2. Tap the small text button that says “View Insights” (located directly under the image, above the caption).
3. Look for the Paper Airplane icon.
4. The number next to this icon is the total number of times your post was shared to Stories or sent in DMs.

For Reels (Slightly Different):

1. Open the Reel you want to check.
2. Tap the three dots (…) in the bottom right corner.
3. Tap “Insights” from the menu that pops up.
4. Scroll down to the “Interactions” section and look for the Shares count (sometimes listed next to a curved arrow or paper airplane).

Trick: How to Find Out Who Shared Your Instagram Post (The Honey Pot)

Best for: Identifying specific people who are watching you closely.

Since Instagram won’t give you a list of names for shares, you have to get creative.

We call this the “Honey Pot” Strategy.

The logic is simple: You can’t see who shared your post, but you CAN see exactly who interacts with a Story Sticker. So, we use a Story to “trap” your silent viewers and make them reveal themselves.

How It Works

When you post a poll or a question on your Story, Instagram shows you the exact username of every single person who votes or answers. These people are your “Super Fans”—the ones most likely to share your content.

Step-by-Step: Setting the Trap

1. Share Your Post to Your Story:
   • Go to your post.
   • Tap the Paper Airplane icon.
   • Select “Add to story”.
2. Add an Interactive Sticker:
   • Tap the Sticker icon (smiley face) at the top.
   • Choose a Poll, Slider, or Question sticker.
   • Example: Add a Poll that asks, “Did you find this post helpful?” (Yes / No).
3. Wait for 12-24 Hours. Let your followers see it.
4. Check the Results:
   • Open your Story.
   • Swipe Up on the screen.
   • Look at the list of “Viewers.”
   • Next to each name, you will see if they voted.

Why This is Better Than Tracking Shares: If someone votes “Yes” on your poll, they have publicly raised their hand to say, “I like this!” You now have a specific list of names you can reply to or thank personally.

Pro Tip: Don’t just look at who voted look at the Emoji Slider. If someone slides the emoji all the way to the end (the “100” mark), that is a massive signal that they loved your content. These are the people who are probably sharing your posts in their DMs!

Do Apps to See Who Shared Your Instagram Post Work? (Scam Alert)

Best for: Keeping your account safe from hackers.

If you search the App Store for “Who Viewed My Profile” or “Instagram Stalker,” you will see dozens of apps claiming to show you exactly who is looking at your page.

DO NOT download these apps.

Here is why they are dangerous:

1. They Are Lying: Instagram’s official system (API) does not share private data like “profile views” or “DM shares” with anyone not even developers. These apps are literally making up random lists of your followers to trick you.
2. They Steal Your Password: To “unlock” the list, these apps require you to log in with your Instagram username and password. Once you do that, you have given your login credentials directly to a scammer.
3. You Can Get Banned: Instagram’s security system is very smart. If it detects a suspicious third-party app logging into your account, it may flag your profile, shadowban you, or disable your account permanently.

The Rule: If a feature isn’t inside the official Instagram app, it probably doesn’t exist. Don’t risk losing your account just to see a fake list of names.

The Bottom Line: Focus on “Saves,” Not “Shares”

So, can you see who shared your Instagram post?

• Public Story Reshares: Yes (if you catch them in 24 hours).
• Private DMs: No (but you can see the total count).

While it is frustrating not to know exactly who is sharing your content, remember that privacy is a good thing. Just like you wouldn’t want Instagram to broadcast your private DMs to the world, your followers appreciate the same protection.

Your Next Step: Instead of worrying about who shared your post, focus on Saves (the bookmark icon). When someone Saves your post, it means they loved it so much they want to come back to it. That is the ultimate compliment and the best sign that your account is growing!

FAQs: Checking Instagram Post Shares & Privacy

Q: Can people see if I send their post to a friend in a DM?

A: No. If you send someone’s post to a friend via Direct Message, the original poster will only see the “share count” go up by one. They will never see your username or know that it was you who sent it.

Q: Does Instagram notify users if I screenshot their post?

A: No. You can screenshot posts, profiles, and even Stories without the other person knowing. The only time Instagram sends a notification for screenshots is if you screenshot a disappearing photo or video sent in a private DM.

Q: Why can’t I see the “View Story Reshares” option on my post?

A: This usually means one of two things:

1. Nobody has shared your post to a Public story yet.
2. Your account is Private. (Remember: If your account is private, nobody can share your posts to their story at all!)

Q: If I switch to a Professional Account now, can I see who shared my old posts?

A: No. Instagram Insights only start tracking data after you make the switch. You will not be able to see share counts for any posts you made while your account was still Personal.

Q: Can I see exactly who viewed my Instagram profile?

A: No. While Professional accounts can see how many people visited their profile (e.g., “150 Profile Visits this week”), Instagram does not provide a list of the specific usernames.