How to See Who Your Boyfriend Recently Followed on Instagram

Something feels off. Maybe he has been on his phone more than usual. Maybe you spotted an unfamiliar name pop up in a notification. Or maybe you just have a feeling. Whatever the reason, you want to see who your boyfriend recently followed on Instagram — and you want to do it without him finding out.

This guide walks you through exactly how to check, what you will see, and how to make sure he never knows you looked.

Why You Cannot Just Check His Following List

Your first instinct might be to open Instagram, go to his profile, and scroll through his following list. The problem is that Instagram randomizes the order. His following list is not sorted by who he most recently followed. It is arranged algorithmically, and the order is actually different depending on who is viewing it.

This means you could scroll through hundreds of accounts and have no way to tell which ones are new. Unless you memorized every single account on his list yesterday, spotting a new addition is virtually impossible manually. For a deeper explanation of this issue, see our article on Instagram following order meaning.

The Quick Way: Check in Under 30 Seconds

The fastest way to see his recent follows is through Lurk's web tool:

Open any browser — on your phone, laptop, or tablet

Go to getlurk.app/username

Type in his Instagram username

See who he recently followed, with profile photos and timestamps

That is it. The whole process takes less than 30 seconds. You do not need to download anything, create an account, or log in with your Instagram. And he will never know you checked — there are zero traces left on his account.

Tip: If you are worried about browser history, use a private or incognito window. This way there is no record on your device either.

What You Will See

When you check his recent follows through Lurk, you get:

Usernames and profile photos of newly followed accounts

When the follow was detected — so you know the approximate time

Account details of who he followed — their bio, follower count, and whether it is a personal account, brand, or influencer

This gives you concrete information rather than vague suspicions. You will know exactly who the new follows are and can make your own judgment about whether they are concerning.

Setting Up Ongoing Alerts

If a one-time check is not enough and you want to know every time he follows someone new going forward, you can set up continuous monitoring:

Download Lurk from the App Store or Google Play

Enter his username

Turn on push notifications

Receive an alert on your phone every time he follows a new account

Each notification includes the profile photo and username of the new follow, so you can see at a glance who it is without even opening the app.

Privacy consideration: The Lurk app looks neutral on your phone — it does not have a name or icon that would raise suspicion. But if you want to leave zero evidence, use the web version in a private browser tab instead. You can also view his profile anonymously without any app installed.

Will He Find Out?

No. Here is a detailed breakdown of why:

No notification is sent to him — Lurk does not interact with his Instagram account

No Story view — Your name does not appear in any of his viewer lists

No follow request — Nothing is sent to his notifications

No Instagram connection — Your Instagram account is never involved

No trace in his Insights — Even if he has a business account, nothing shows up

He would literally have to be looking over your shoulder while you use the tool. There is no digital trail for him to discover.

Beyond Follows: Watching His Stories

If you also want to see his Instagram Stories without him knowing you watched, Lurk handles this too. When you view Stories through Lurk, your name never appears in his Story viewer list because your Instagram account is not used at all.

For a dedicated guide on this, read how to watch Instagram Stories without them knowing.

A Realistic Conversation About This

We would be irresponsible not to mention the relationship side of this. Checking your boyfriend's Instagram follows is a decision that comes from somewhere — a gut feeling, a pattern you have noticed, or a specific incident.

If you discover something concerning: Consider having an honest conversation rather than continuing to monitor silently. The information is most useful as a starting point for communication, not as a weapon.

If you find nothing concerning: That is great. Consider whether the urge to check is something that might benefit from a conversation about trust and boundaries.

If you find yourself checking obsessively: This might be a sign of anxiety that goes beyond Instagram. A conversation — with your partner or even a counselor — could be more helpful than constant monitoring.

Whatever you decide, the tool gives you information. What you do with that information is up to you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this work if his account is private? No. If his Instagram is set to private, no external tool can access his following list. You would need to be an approved follower.

Can I track multiple accounts at once? Yes. If you want to monitor his account along with any specific accounts you are concerned about, you can add multiple usernames.

How far back can I see his follows? For an instant web check, Lurk shows the most recent detected follows. For ongoing monitoring, history builds from the moment you start tracking.

Get Your Answers

Stop wondering and start knowing. Check his recent Instagram follows now — it takes seconds, it is free for instant checks, and he will never find out. For the full guide on tracking a boyfriend's Instagram activity, see our detailed article on how to track your boyfriend's Instagram.