Can You Unview An Instagram Story- 9 Easy Ways

Ever been caught off guard while scrolling through Instagram, only to accidentally tap on someone’s profile avatar and end up viewing their story? 

Whether you’re just being a little curious or aimlessly tapping around, it can be embarrassing to realize you’ve watched a story you didn’t mean to. 

Trust me, I’ve been there trying to unsee what was just seen. The panic hits instantly, especially when it’s someone you’ve stalked before, knowingly or unknowingly. 

You wonder if the account owner noticed, and suddenly, your calm scrolling session becomes a spiral of second-guessing.

You don’t have to be a stalker to feel uneasy after viewing someone’s Insta stories. Maybe your thumb just slipped or you were checking on a person for completely harmless reasons. 

But when there’s an active story, one innocent tap and boom you’re on the view list. That’s when you start thinking about ways to undo the mishap. 

Can you really unview a story after it’s been seen? Is there a trick to avoid being watched? Good news: there are a few sneaky but smart ways that could help you deal with it without needing to hit the block button.

What Happens When You Accidentally View Someone’s Story

If you’re new to the platform, it might surprise you that when you accidentally view someone’s story on Instagram, your account gets added to a views list that only the poster can see. 

I’ve made this mistake before, just casually tapping around and forgetting how this system works. Even though watching someone’s IG story feels as natural as hitting the heart button on a photo, there’s a catch if you don’t want to be noticed. 

That quick peek at their content means you’ve left a trace, and that list, while it only lasts 24 hours, shows everyone who’s taken a look. Even when people add a link, ask questions, or invite you to interact, sometimes you just don’t want your name to appear. 

But once it’s there, your video or image view is logged and won’t disappear until time runs out which, trust me, can feel like forever when you’ve tapped into the wrong account.

How Does Someone Know I Accidentally Viewed Someone’s Instagram Story?

When you accidentally view someone’s Instagram story, your name is added to the views list the moment you tap on it even if it’s just for a second. The user can easily check this by clicking the small icon in the bottom right of their story. 

If they open it within the 24 hour window, they’ll see a list of people who watched that exact slide or clip. Now, not everyone checks this feature casual users often forget or don’t care. 

But if the person is one of those who religiously monitors the viewed list, or uses automated tools or even AI followers to track engagement, then yes, they’ll notice. 

Thankfully, Instagram doesn’t send a notification, so unless they’re actively watching the views, your mistake might just go unnoticed.

Is There A Way to Undo After Viewing an Instagram Story?

Once you view an Instagram story, your profile gets added to the list of Instagram users who viewed it there’s no direct option to revert or undo that action. 

From personal experience, while it may feel stressful, your best bet is to act quickly or try ways to avoid getting noticed by the user who posted the story.

9 Ways to Unsee an Instagram Story after Viewing it

I’ve shared all 9 methods that actually work and can help you stay off the viewer list when checking out any Instagram story.

Block the Account of the User Whose Story You Viewed

If you realize you’ve viewed someone’s Instagram story by mistake and want to hide it, the fastest way is to block their account. 

When you block a user, your profile will no longer be listed among the viewers of their story even if you had already seen it.

I’ve done this once when I was checking stories too quickly, and it worked instantly. Just be sure that you’re okay with the person not being able to follow or message you anymore.

• Open the profile of the user you want to block
• Tap the 3-dot button in the top-right corner
• Select Block and confirm your action
• Choose to block just their current account or all accounts they may create

After this, both of you will be unfollowed automatically, so think before taking this step. This method is a safe and quick way to stop your name from appearing on that story’s viewed list.

Disable the Internet Connection and View the Story

If you’re curious and want to view someone’s Instagram story without being seen, turning off your internet at the right time can keep you hidden from the Seen section.

• Open the profile of the user whose story you want to watch or stalk.
• Then disable the data option or WiFi from the pull-down quick access tray or turn on flight mode to go fully offline.
• Tap on their avatar or story but remember, if it’s a video clip, it may not run without an internet connection.
• This method will work only if the story is still set to remain active in their feed, so use it wisely.

NOTE: After going offline and viewing the story, DO NOT reconnect the internet or open Instagram again for 24 hours. Otherwise, your view will still be registered.

In my experience, if you’re really determined to stalk a story at any cost, this trick works but only if you remember to stay away from using Instagram actively. 

An Instagram story usually remains active in the feed for 24 hours from when it was posted, so calculate the 24-hour window smartly. At DigitBin, we’re a responsible platform and don’t encourage anyone to stalk others with bad intentions online.

Deactivate Your Instagram

If you viewed an Instagram story by mistake and want to make sure you’re not in the Seen section, one smart trick is to deactivate your Instagram account for a while. 

I’ve personally used this when I accidentally tapped on someone’s story late at night and panicked.

• First, log in to your Instagram profile using a PC browser or mobile browser, as the option isn’t available in the app.
  
• Click on your profile, go to the menu, and tap Settings.
  
• Look for the option “temporarily disable my account” and click on it.
  
• You’ll need to specify why you’re disabling, enter your password, and hit Temporarily Disable Account to confirm.
  
• Now, wait at least 48 hours before you reactivate your account this ensures the story has expired from the Seen section (stories stay active for 24 hours only).
  When the person who uploaded the story checks the list of people who viewed the story, your burner account username will appear in that.

This way, your view won’t be tracked, and your Instagram profile stays safe. Always use this method only when absolutely needed.

Create a Burner Account to View the Instagram Story

If you’ve already viewed an Instagram story and regret it, a burner account is a smart way to avoid attention next time. It’s the method I use when I want to view stories without leaving a trace.

1. Open Instagram on your phone and go to your profile.
2. Tap the Menu icon at the top right corner.
3. Select Add Account from the list.
4. Tap Create New Account to start fresh.
5. Choose a unique username and tap Next.
6. Set a strong password and tap Next again.
7. Complete setup by tapping Complete Sign-up.
8. Don’t link your phone number or email to keep it anonymous.
9. If the account you want to view is private, send a follow request.
10. If accepted, use your burner account to view the Instagram story without risk.

This trick works great unless the person you want to view has strict privacy rules. Personally, I use it to check Instagram highlights or current stories without logging in from my main account. 

It’s not just safe but also avoids the Seen section completely if used correctly.

Watch the Story in Instagram Highlights

If you want to see someone’s Instagram story without getting caught, check out their Instagram highlights. Many users save their stories in highlights for easy access later, and you can binge-watch them without triggering the view count. 

However, keep in mind that if the story is less than 24 hours old and added to highlights, the user will still be able to see who has viewed it. Also, if the account is private, you won’t be able to view any content or highlights unless you follow them first. 

So, for older stories that are part of the highlights, you can enjoy them freely, knowing your username won’t be listed as a viewer.

View the Instagram Story from a Friend’s Account

If you don’t want your Instagram account to show up as a viewer, you can use a friend’s account. Simply ask your friend to allow you to view the story of someone they follow. 

The concerned Instagram user will only see your friend’s account as the viewer, not yours. This method works as long as your friend gives you access. It’s a simple yet effective way to keep your identity hidden.

Viewed Someone’s Instagram Story by Accident?: Airplane Mode

If you’ve accidentally viewed an Instagram story, you can try to stop it from registering by quickly enabling airplane mode. This trick works by cutting off your internet connection instantly, making it less likely for your view to be recorded. 

The key is to act fast just turning off your wifi button or data use might not be enough, as your device could still send data. But with airplane mode, you disconnect your phone from everything, giving you a better chance of your view not being counted. 

Just keep in mind, once the story expires, the view is locked in, and this method won’t work anymore.

Be Careful Where You Click

When using Instagram, it’s important to mind where you click. If you’re not careful, you could accidentally view someone’s Instagram story when you didn’t intend to. 

This usually happens when you tap on a profile picture instead of their Instagram handle. To avoid this, always tap on their name to visit their profile directly, rather than risking a mistake and opening their story. 

This simple change can help prevent accidental views and save you from unwanted attention. So, the next time you’re scrolling, be mindful of where you tap to avoid viewing stories by mistake.

Prevent This With a Third Party App

If you accidentally viewed someone’s Instagram story, you can try using a third party app to prevent this from happening again. These apps often offer story viewer tools that let you watch stories secretly without leaving a trace. 

However, be cautious, as these apps may require access to your personal account information, posing a privacy risk and security concerns.

Frequently Asked Questions

Final Remarks

While you can’t remove your view from someone’s Instagram story once it’s done, there are ways to manage it. The story will disappear in a day, or you can apply the strategies mentioned above to prevent future unwanted views. If you want to avoid seeing stories from someone, muting their account is a smart move. Being mindful of your actions when watching or stalking stories can help you stay clear of undesirable situations down the road.

That’s all! You can also check out How To Deactivate A RuneScape Account- Approved In 2025 and How to Turn Off Auto Scroll On Instagram Reels?

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