How to Find Out Who Unfollowed You on Instagram

Instagram doesn't tell you who unfollowed you. There's no built-in feature, and every third-party app that claims to track it in real-time is either showing you made-up data or logging into your account without your understanding. The only method that actually works uses Instagram's own data export. Getting the file takes about 30 minutes. Checking your results takes 30 seconds.

Already have your export? Upload it here.

Open Instagram Checker →

Why third-party apps don't work

Instagram shut down third-party access to follower data in 2018. Any app claiming to show who unfollowed you is working around this in one of two ways, neither of which is good:

Screen scraping: automating your account to browse Instagram and read data off the page. This violates Instagram's terms of service and can get your account restricted or banned.
Guessed or fake data: some apps just show you plausible-looking numbers with no real data source behind them. The data is fabricated.

Save yourself the risk. The export takes a little longer but gives you accurate data from Instagram directly.

Step 1: Download your Instagram data

Open Instagram and go to your profile.
Tap the menu (three lines, top right), then Settings and privacy.
Tap Your activity, then Download your information.
Select Followers and following from the information categories.
Choose JSON format. Set the date range to All time.
Tap Request a download. Instagram emails you a link when the file is ready, usually within a few minutes to a few hours.
Download the file and unzip it.

Step 2: Find the right files

Inside the unzipped folder, look for these two files:

followers_1.json - the accounts that follow you
following.json - the accounts you follow

They're usually inside a followers_and_following subfolder. Instagram changes the folder structure occasionally, so look around if you don't see them at the top level.

Step 3: Upload and check the results

Open the Instagram Follower Checker.
Upload followers_1.json and following.json using the file drop zones or paste buttons. The tool also accepts the old HTML format if you have an older export.
Results appear immediately.

Reading the results

Not Following Back: everyone you follow who doesn't follow you back. This is the main answer to "who unfollowed me," but read the note below.
New Followers: accounts that follow you but you don't follow back.
Mutual: accounts where you follow each other.

One important nuance with Not Following Back: this includes everyone who doesn't currently follow you back, whether they never followed you or followed and then unfollowed. A celebrity you've followed for two years who never followed back shows up here the same as someone who recently unfollowed you. To isolate recent unfollows specifically, you'd need to compare two exports from different dates.

If your follower count looks different

Instagram caps follower exports at around 10,000 entries for large accounts. If you have more followers than that, the export file will be incomplete. The following list doesn't have this cap, so it's always the full list. There's no workaround on the followers side. It's an Instagram limitation on the export.

Use TikTok instead?

The TikTok Checker works the same way with your TikTok data export.

Try TikTok Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I see who unfollowed me on Instagram?

Download your Instagram data (followers and following in JSON format), then upload both files to the Instagram Follower Checker. The Not Following Back section shows everyone you follow who doesn't follow you back.

How long does it take to get my Instagram data export?

Usually a few minutes, sometimes a few hours. Instagram emails you a download link when it is ready. It rarely takes more than 24 hours.

What format should I request the data in?

JSON. The HTML format (used before mid-2022) still works with the tool, but JSON is the current Instagram format and is more reliable. Both are auto-detected on upload, so you don't need to do anything special.

My follower count in the export doesn't match my profile. Why?

Instagram caps follower exports at around 10,000 entries. If you have a larger account, the export may be incomplete. The following list doesn't have this cap.

Are third-party unfollow tracker apps safe?

No. Instagram's API has not allowed third-party access to follower data since 2018. Any app claiming to track this in real-time is using screen scraping (which violates Instagram's terms and risks your account) or showing fabricated data. The export method is the only option that doesn't touch your login credentials.

Can I track who unfollowed me over time?

Not with a single export. You'd need two exports taken at different points in time and compare the follower lists between them. Save your followers_1.json file each time you download to build a comparison history.

What's the difference between Not Following Back and who actually unfollowed me?

Not Following Back shows everyone you follow who doesn't follow you back right now. That includes people who never followed you in the first place, not just people who recently unfollowed. Without two exports from different dates, you can't tell the difference between the two.

Does this work with private accounts?

Yes. The data export comes directly from Instagram, so it includes your own follower and following lists regardless of whether your account is public or private.