With the ‘Following Activity’ tab gone, finding likes now requires spotting subtle clues in comments and like counts.
The average Instagram user spends about half an hour each day checking out Reels, following influencers, and liking various posts. That is plenty of time for popular products to get highlighted or for public figures to leak information about new streaming series and dating habits.
The trouble is, sometimes you cannot quite figure out what another Instagram account is liking or not liking. The social media giant removed the “Following Activity” tab years ago, so there is no direct way to click on a user account and see a tidy list of likes.
The good news is you can still see what someone likes on Instagram for free in 2026, but it will take a little work. Here are the top methods sure to deliver solid results.
What Instagram Shows (and Doesn’t Show) About Likes in 2026
By default, Instagram hides most of an account’s “likes” history. However, there is tons of data still visible about engagement, it is just under the surface a bit. You won’t be able to see a “Liked Posts” tab anywhere or a chronological list that makes life easier.
What you can see is how people engage with Instagram content, such as usernames in the like count for public posts, comments left on public accounts, story reposts, tagged creators, and patterns. These are the puzzle pieces needed to paint a picture of a target user’s account.
Plenty of people, from romantic partners looking for habits to emulate to journalists checking out the latest celebrity gossip, use these methods, so be sure to try them all until you find one perfect for your needs.
Top Methods for How to See What Someone Likes on Instagram for Free in 2026
Method 1: Manually Check Public Interactions
Manually analyzing ‘Following’ lists and Reels interactions helps piece together a user’s hidden engagement habits.
The simplest way to track what an Instagram account is liking is to check public interactions. Start with likes on public posts. You can look at the brands, pages, or creators a user engages with, open recent posts, and check the lists to see if that target account liked it.
If you follow each other, your target’s likes remain visible on any of your own posts and like counts. That can give you an idea of how often they interact with Instagram in general.
Another trick is to use the “Following” list as a clue. It’s not a direct activity feed, but it will rearrange based on interactions. If a specific brand or influencer is near the top, that indicates fresh activity. Try this:
- Tap on their Following list
- Browse accounts
- Visit those pages
- Check who liked recent posts
Method 2: Explore Their Reels Activity
Reels are another big Instagram tracker for like behaviors. You can look at the “Friends” tab in Reels and, sometimes, the algorithm highlights content the people you follow liked, commented on, or interacted with. You still have to review the likes manually and check the comment sections, but this method of tracking Instagram account likes does indicate a user’s tastes and behaviors.
Method 3: Scan Mutual Connections for Shared Engagement (Triangulation)
Triangulation is a fantastic method to see what someone likes on Instagram. You’re learning about likes by tracking Instagram followers that both of you interact with. Those accounts, influencers, celebrities, or love interests followed in common offer insight. Try this method by:
- Visiting the target’s profile
- Opening their Following list
- Noting any mutual accounts you both follow
- Browsing recent posts
- Looking for likes, comments, and follows
This method takes a bit more time, but it works well with small groups or niche communities.
Method 4: Use Instagram Stories to Gather Interest Signals
Likes are just interest signals. They are behavioral patterns. While Instagram Stories won’t show likes, they do unlock behaviors. Check out the stories other accounts enjoy, which will tell you about content that mirrors recent likes, tags of accounts they engage with, and topics they might follow.
Method 5: Use a Free Spreadsheet Method
Combine manual spreadsheets with AI tools like ChatGPT to uncover long-term behavioral patterns.
If you’re looking for deep insight into another user, run your own “homemade” Instagram activity tracker using a simple table. This is a little more complex, but it will deliver results that save you time by eliminating the need to manually make connections.
Step 1: Create a Tracking Table
Start by using Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets to create a table. You want columns for the date, account checked, posts reviewed, whether or not the target Instagram account liked them, and the type of content. It also helps to include a “notes” column if something about the interaction stands out.
Step 2: Check the Same Accounts
Every day, week, or month, update those table records with new likes, repeated engagement, what they may have stopped liking, and any time-of-day patterns and online rituals.
Step 3: Use ChatGPT to Compare Data
Now, for the time-saving part of this method to track Instagram accounts and likes. You can use an AI platform like ChatGPT to compare these two lists. Use a prompt like:
“Compare these two lists of Instagram activity and let me know what accounts or posts had new likes, repeated patterns, or other notable changes.”
The AI should generate data on new interests, declining interests, behavior shifts, and storyline insights. This is a semi-automated method for tracking Instagram account activity without paying or using advanced tools.
Method 6: Use a Public Instagram Activity Tracker Like Snoopreport
Automate the process with Snoopreport to receive weekly reports on likes and follows without manual scrolling.
The last method for how to see what someone likes on Instagram is to use Snoopreport. This is a powerful tool that automates monitoring public Instagram interactions. Instead of having to manually review everything or build a tool yourself, you get a streamlined process delivered in an easy-to-read weekly activity report.
With Snoopreport, you get:
- A list of Instagram post likes from public profiles
- Weekly or monthly reports on likes, interests, and patterns
- Follows and unfollows
- Top hashtags and categories an account engages with
- Activity timeline
Best of all, Snoopreport has a built-in AI that supports its Instagram tracker, saving you hours of scrolling and manual comparisons. All you do is sign up for a low-cost plan, enter the public Instagram username you want to follow, and select your report style. You’ll start receiving the information you want.
The Free & Fast Instagram Activity Trackers You Need
To see what someone likes on Instagram for free in 2026 requires you to manually scroll through followed accounts or make logistical leaps from Reels and Stories. If you combine tracking Instagram accounts with AI tools like ChatGPT, you can find ways to gain new insights into what a lover likes or a public celebrity enjoys.
The better option is to save time, money, and hassle by having Snoopreport handle everything for you. That way, you can see what someone is liking online and use that info to buy gifts, write news stories, or even predict where the market will go next. Sign up today and experience the simplicity of Snoopreport’s Instagram tracker.
FAQs
Can I see someone’s complete like history?
Not really. You cannot get an activity feed of every like from another account. What you can do is view public likes on public posts or use an Instagram viewer to help.
Can I see likes from a private Instagram account?
Private accounts are just that, private. You can only see what they do if you follow them and they engage with public accounts.
Will someone know I’m checking their likes?
No. That’s the beauty of using any of these methods to see what someone likes on Instagram, the target user won’t know it’s you who is doing the looking!
