Can people see the screenshots of Instagram stories that I take?

Want to take a screen shot of an Instagram story without being seen? This article explains how to take a screenshot discreetly.

Can people see the screenshots of Instagram stories that I take?
Emeric
Senior Content Writer @ BoostFluence
Social Media
February 13, 2025

You may want to take a screenshot of a friend's story about your birthday to save to your camera. Or take a screenshot of a recipe someone has posted so you can make it later.

Whether you're taking a screenshot (or recording a screenshot) of a story, a post or even a real one, Instagram doesn't warn the other user that you've taken a screenshot of their content.

But, when you take a screenshot of a missing photo or video sent to you via direct message, Instagram notifies the sender of the message.

Here's everything you need to know about making screen shots or screen recordings on Instagram.

Does Instagram notify the screenshot of a story?

At the moment, when you take a screenshot of an Instagram story, no notification is sent to the other user.

Although Instagram used to notify screenshots on stories back in the day, it no longer does.

It's possible that Instagram's screenshot notification policy will change again, so it's a good idea to check again.

Note, however, that a user will be able to know all the people who have seen and/or linked their Instagram story.

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Does Instagram send a notification when screen shootting a post?

As with stories, Instagram doesn't send a notification when you screenshot someone's post.

Bonus tip: you can upload the content of a post directly.

When does Instagram notify that a screenshot has been taken?

Instagram only notifies you for a screenshot taken of a photo or video sent in a private DM in vanish mode.

Instagram does not notify screenshots for stories, posts, real, permanent DMs or any other content on the app.

When someone takes a screenshot of a private disappearing photo or video you've sent, a small hatched circle appears next to it.

screenshot dm instagram

Screenshots will also be notified in the conversation summary on your main posts page, where you'll see the note "Screenshot."

notification screenshot dm instagram

What you need to know about Instagram DM screenshots.

An disappearing photo or video is one you take using the camera in the Instagram message thread.

The message "disappears" because the other user can only see it once, or twice if you allow replay. Instagram warns you if someone takes a screenshot of a disappearing DM.

Quick tip: when you send someone a photo or video from your phone's photo roll, it's not a temporary message, so you won't be warned if someone takes a screenshot.

You can also make screen shots of other content in a direct discussion - such as individual messages, conversation history and messages sent both ways - without the other person being notified.

But then how do you make an Instagram screenshot of DM without being seen?

In contrast to Snapchat, which notifies users as soon as someone has taken a screenshot of a story or message, Instagram only offers this feature for temporary messages.

This means that everything else is off the radar, and no screenshot will trigger a notification to the user who originated the content. This includes:

  • Stories
  • Posts
  • Comments and more

And this is true until Instagram changes its policy.

But temporary chats on Instagram trigger a notification to the user who posted them. This means there's no way to take a screenshot without them knowing.

But is this really the case? Is it possible to capture a temporary photo without notifying the other user? The answer is yes.

Warning though, these techniques should be used for moral reasons and not to bully or harass other Instagram users.

Here are 4 methods for taking screenshots on Instagram without notifying the other user.

Method #1: Screenshot with airplane mode

Although this method isn't very practical, it works. It breaks down into two parts.

Part 1: Taking the screenshot

  1. First, locate the content you've received on the chat, but don't open it.
  2. Cut off the cellular network and other networks by activating airplane mode.
  3. Then click on "View Photo" and you'll get the photo on screen.
  4. Take a screenshot.
mode avion iphone

Congratulations! You've completed the first step. Now let's prevent it from sending the notification.

Discover here how to take a screenshot on iPhone and Android.

Part 2: Avoiding sending the notification

On Android, users don't have to do much, other than " Force the shutdown" of the application, then turn on the Internet and that's it. Here's how to do it.

  1. Go to the'Instagram icon, long-press it and go to "App Info".
  2. Tap on "Force shutdown".
  3. The system will ask you to confirm, so select "OK" or "Yes".
  4. Disable Airplane mode and activate Wi-Fi or mobile data.
  5. Launch Instagram.
forcer arret app android

For iOS users, they will have to uninstall the app again. That's how you'll be spared the triggering of a sender notification. Here's how you can proceed.

  1. First of all, long-press the'Instagram icon.
  2. Press the tiny "x" mark on the'icon and confirm the deletion of the app from your iPhone.
  3. Deactivate airplane mode and resume internet connection.
  4. Go to the'App Store and download "Instagram".
  5. You'll need to reconnect, grant all the necessary permissions and you're done.

Once these 2 parts are done, you'll have taken a screenshot without notifying the user who sent you that photo.

Method #2: use a screen recording app

This is another solution you can use to take a screenshot of DMs and disappearing messages. The chances of this triggering a notification to the sender are slim, which means you can pretty much use this feature every time.

All you have to do is download one of the many screen recording apps for your iPhone or Android smartphone and run it. Follow the step-by-step instructions to capture the content you want.

  1. Launch screen-recording apps that and enable recording, assuming you've given it all the necessary permissions.
  2. Open Instagram on your phone and view ephemeral content.
  3. Then complete the screen recording and save the file.

You now have'a short clip containing a capture of the temporary photo or video, which you can screenshot locally.

Method #3: Instagram website

Instagram also has a web version. Well, if you didn't know, that's because the web version wasn't very powerful. However, it has been improved and offers a fully functional interface, from viewing stories to sending messages, etc.

If you want to take a screenshot for direct messages (or DMs), you can do so on the Instagram website. As it turns out, there's no screenshot notification triggered right after someone takes a screenshot of a DM, unless Instagram changes its policies.

So you can take all the screenshots you want if you go via computer. Whether on the Instagram post manager or Boostfluence.

instagram web

Should You Use Third-Party Instagram Screenshot Apps?

Some third-party apps claim to offer stealth screenshot capabilities or notify users when someone takes a screenshot of their content. While these apps can seem useful, it’s important to understand their limitations and potential risks before using them:

Instagram Policy – These tools aren’t officially supported and may violate Instagram’s terms.
Limited Effectiveness – Some don't work that well since Instagram doesn’t share screenshot data.

If you decide to use one, research it carefully.

Summary

  • Instagram screenshots only trigger notifications for temporary photos or videos in private DM feeds.
  • Notifications are not sent for screenshots in Instagram stories, posts or real.
  • Screenshot notifications have changed in the past and may change again, so be sure to check back from time to time.
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