How to see who doesn't follow you back on Instagram without your password

To see who doesn't follow you back, you compare two lists: the people who follow you, and the people you follow. Instagram already gives you both lists in its official data export. You don't need to give anyone your Instagram password, and you don't need an app that logs in to your account.

This guide shows how to get the two lists, then two ways to compare them.

Why you shouldn't give an app your password

Many "unfollower tracker" apps ask you to log in with Instagram. That hands your password to a third party, and the app then reads your account automatically. Instagram treats that kind of automated access as suspicious, so it can lead to warnings, locks or bans. The export method below avoids all of that, because nothing ever logs in to your account.

Step 1: Get your followers and following lists from Instagram

1. In Instagram, go to Settings and activity → Accounts Centre → Your information and permissions → Export your information.
2. Tap Create export, choose your account, then Export to device.
3. Tap Customise information, tap Clear all, then tick only Followers and following.
4. Set Date range to All time. A shorter range can leave your followers list out.
5. Tap Start export.

Instagram asks you to confirm your password on its own page. That's Instagram checking it's you. Nobody else sees it. Instagram usually has the file ready within an hour and lets you know by email and in the app. The full export guide has every step for iPhone, Android and desktop.

Inside the download, the two lists are in connections → followers_and_following:

• followers_1 is everyone who follows you. Very large accounts get more than one file (followers_2 and so on).
• following is everyone you follow.

Step 2, option A: compare them by hand

This works for small accounts and costs nothing.

1. Open followers_1 and following (they open in any web browser if you chose the HTML format).
2. Copy the usernames from following into column A of a spreadsheet, and the usernames from followers_1 into column B.
3. In column C, next to the first username in column A, enter:

=IF(COUNTIF(B:B, A1)=0, "not following back", "")

1. Fill the formula down. Every row marked not following back is someone you follow who doesn't follow you.

Copying a few hundred usernames is manageable. Thousands get tedious, and copied lists often pick up stray spaces or dates that break the match.

Step 2, option B: let UnfollowScout compare them in your browser

UnfollowScout does the comparison for you. You upload the ZIP from Instagram, and it's read in your browser, and the file is never uploaded. You get:

• who doesn't follow you back;
• your followers, following and mutuals;
• when you upload a newer export later, who unfollowed you in between.

UnfollowScout never asks for your Instagram password, never connects to your account, and never unfollows anyone for you. You decide who to unfollow, and you do it yourself in Instagram.

Limitations of any export-based method

• It's a snapshot. The lists are correct as of the moment you requested the export. To see changes, request a fresh export later.
• You have to wait for Instagram. Usually under an hour, sometimes longer.
• No live tracking. Nothing watches your account between exports. That's the trade-off for never sharing your password.

Common questions

Can I see who doesn't follow me back without logging in to an app? Yes. The export comes from Instagram itself, and comparing it by hand or in UnfollowScout never needs your Instagram login.

Which format should I choose, HTML or JSON? Either works. HTML is easier to open by hand, and UnfollowScout reads both.

Why is my followers file missing? The export was probably made with a shorter date range. Request a new one with Followers and following ticked and Date range → All time.

Is my data safe? See Is it safe?. In short: no password, no automation, and your export is never uploaded.