Does Instagram notify when you screenshot an Instagram Story? Learn about screenshot notifications for Stories, DMs, and posts - plus how to send disappearing messages and limit your audience to certain Instagram followers for maximum Instagram privacy.
Key Points:
Does Instagram Notify If You Screenshot A Story?
No - Instagram stopped notifying users about Story screenshots in 2018.
Currently, screenshotting an Instagram Story post will not notify the Story poster.
Does Instagram Notify If You Screenshot A Post?
No - you can take a screenshot of Instagram posts without it sending a notification to the original poster.
Does Instagram Notify If You Screenshot A DM?
Instagram will notify users about screenshots taken of direct messages if the messages are in vanish mode - this includes threads in vanish mode.
However, Instagram does not notify users about screenshots taken of regular DMs.
How To Send Disappearing Messages
Want to exchange private Instagram direct messages? You can turn on vanish mode to discourage users from screenshotting your content, including sending disappearing photo, video, and text. Here's how:
Open a DM
Swipe up to turn on Vanish Mode
That's it!
How To Set Your Audience To Close Friends Only
Instagram offers users the chance to maintain user privacy with the Close Friends feature. If you'd rather not create a private account you can create a Close Friends list and share Stories with specific users - only approved followers will be able to see this content. Here's how:
Tap the three lines on the top right corner of your Instagram profile.
Scroll down to Who Can See Your Content and tap Close Friends.
From here, select as many users as you'd like and tap Done.
The next time you post a Story, tap Close Friends on the bottom right to share with your select group!
https://ik.imagekit.io/qqtube/Screenshots/instagram%20story%20close%20friends_NFp2TzyxAq.jpg?updatedAt=1727273445047
How To Limit Your Instagram Story To Certain Followers
If you'd rather not create a Close Friends list, but want to exclude other user engagement, you can limit your Instagram Story from certain followers.
To do this, tap the plus sign to create a new Story.
While on the image selection page, tap the gear icon on the top right hand corner.
Tap Story.
Tap Hide Story From.
Select the users you wish to hide your Story and Live Videos from, then tap Done.
Frequently Asked Questions
Has Instagram ever notified users when they screenshot Stories?
Instagram hasn't always kept content sharing private - until 2018 Instagram notified users about screenshots taken on Stories. Screenshot activity on feed posts has always been anonymous, however.
Has Instagram ever notified users about direct messages screenshots?
Only for vanish mode! Taking screenshots on regular DM's won't trigger a notification.
How can you tell if someone is sharing your Instagram content?
You can see your Shares metric via Instagram Insights if you have a Business account or you're set as a content creator. Learn how to view your Instagram Insights data in our complete guide here.
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