How to Find Someone on Instagram: 8 Proven Methods (2025 Guide)

Instagram, regarded as one of the most significant social networks on the globe, provides multiple opportunities to communicate. In case you want to search for a friend, a celebrity, or a business, there are many effective ways to find someone’s profile. Each of these steps will be explained in detail in this guide.

How to Find Someone on Instagram

It is easy to come across someone’s Instagram account when using the right techniques. Below are some efficient techniques to assist you in the process of finding a certain person on Instagram.

find someone on instagram

How to Find Someone on Instagram by Phone Number  

It is convenient to try to lookup an Instagram account by phone number if you have his contact list. To find the friends connected with your phone number on Instagram, there is a feature that enables you to link your contacts’ numbers. This method is very efficient in finding a friend, a family member, or a colleague within a short period. 

👉Here’s how:

  • Open the Instagram application on your mobile device.
Instagram application
  • In the lower part of the screen, there is a profile icon – tap on it with your finger. 
  • Press on the three horizontal lines at the top right of the page and go to Settings.
Press on the three horizontal lines
  • Choose either Discover People or Follow and then, extend the invite to other friends.
  • Click on Connect Contacts and let Instagram use the phone contact.
Connect Contacts
  • Instagram can allow accounts connected with the numbers in your contact list to be shown to you.

How to Find Someone by Email on Instagram  

It can be very efficient to search for a person on Instagram by email if you only know their address and want to find them on this social network. It is as simple as that because emails are usually associated with Instagram accounts. 

👉Here’s how:

  • Launch the Instagram application and then sign in to your account.
  • Navigate to your profile page. Tap the profile icon on the lower right.
instagram profile page
  • Go to the upper right side of the Profile and click on the triple bar icon.
  • Select Discover People. The latter shall remain on the menu as the following option.
allow instagram to access your contacts
  • Enable the Connect Contacts option to sync your email contacts.
  • Instagram will show profiles linked to the email addresses in your contacts list.

 How to Find Someone on Instagram by Picture

Finding someone on Instagram by picture is a creative approach, especially if you have a photo of the person but not their username. This method involves manually searching through accounts by location or hashtags and scanning profile pictures. 

Although time-consuming, you might be amazed at how effective this technique can be for spotting familiar faces.

👉Here’s how:

  • Launch the app or website and enter your credentials.
  • Tap the Magnifying Glass Icon and search for relevant hashtags or locations related to the person.
instagram Magnifying Glass Icon
  • Look at profile pictures and posts to find the person you’re searching for.
  • Click on profiles that look promising and review their photos to confirm if it’s the right person.

How to Find Someone on Instagram by Name or Username

Searching by username is the simplest method to find someone on Instagram, as each user has a unique identifier.

👉Here’s how:

  • Open Instagram: Launch the app.
instagram profile page
  • Search: Tap the magnifying glass icon.
search a person on instagram
  • Enter the Name or Username: Type the exact username in the search bar. The profile should appear if the username is correct.

How to Find Someone on Instagram by Places 

Searching by location on Instagram is a fantastic way to find people who frequently visit specific places. Whether you’re looking for someone you met at a recent event or trying to reconnect with someone from your hometown, this method allows you to explore posts tagged with specific locations to identify the person you’re seeking.

👉Here’s how:

  • Launch the Instagram mobile application.
  • Press the icon with the magnifying glass.
Press the icon with the magnifying glass on instagram
  • Select the option ‘Places’.
search places on instagram
  • Enter the name of the location. Look through postings labeled with that address to locate the individual.

How to Find Someone on Instagram by Hashtags

Another simple way to discover a post or account connected with a specific hashtag is to use the ‘Tags’ feature. It is also available under the search bar and operates similarly. 

However, keep in mind that any keyword you are looking for should be preceded by a # sign. A hashtag’s appearance is consistent across all media platforms, including Instagram. 

👉Here’s how:

  • Put in the account information for Instagram.
  • In your browser or Instagram app, tap the search bar.
search a destination on instagram
  • Choose the Tags menu item located beneath the bar.
  • Use the # symbol to enter the hashtag.

How to Find Someone on Instagram by Following or Follower List

You can also search for some by searching them in someone’s followers or following a list that is mutual to you both. 

👉Here’s how:

  • Open Instagram: Launch the app.
instagram icon
  • Go to Profile: Navigate to the profile of someone you know. 
instagram profile details
  • Followers/Following: Tap on their Followers or Following list and browse through the names to find the person.

How to Find Someone on Instagram via Reposts 

It is very convenient to find a person on Instagram using reposts of common acquaintances. Sometimes, the content is reposted from friends’ accounts, making finding the original sender simpler. This one is the method of searching for someone you know without knowing their username.  

👉Here’s how:

  • Open Instagram.
  • See the reposts made by friends in common and reposts made by the most popular people.
instagram repost
  • The usernames can guide you to the profile of the particular person.

Here’s a summary table of the methods mentioned above to help you choose the best approach:

MethodBest ForStepsInfo Needed
Search by Phone NumberFinding friends/contacts saved in your phone.5Their phone number in your contacts.
Search by EmailLocating someone when you know their email address.6Their email address.
Search by PictureIdentifying someone using their photo (no username).4A photo of the person.
Search by UsernameQuick lookup if you know their exact username.3Their exact Instagram username.
Search by NameBasic search when username is unknown.3Their first/last name.
Search by LocationFinding people tagged at specific places/events.4A location name (e.g., café, city).
Search by HashtagsDiscovering accounts using niche/relevant hashtags.4Relevant hashtags (e.g., #travel).
Search via Followers/FollowingFinding mutual connections through shared contacts.3Access to a mutual friend’s profile.
Search via RepostsTracking original posters through shared content.2Common acquaintances’ reposts.
Sync Phone ContactsAutomatically finding contacts linked to Instagram.5Permission to sync contacts.
Sync Facebook FriendsConnecting with Facebook friends on Instagram.4Linked Facebook account.
Search via Other Social MediaFinding Instagram links on platforms like TikTok/X.2Their profile on another platform.
Use Search EnginesFinding profiles via Google/Bing (if indexed).1Their name/username/phone number.

Alternative Ways to Find An Instagram Account

If you have not been able to find an Instagram account, there are other procedures you can take as well. Such processes can include working with the search engine or familiarizing oneself with the functions of the Instagram application. 

Find An Instagram Account by Syncing Facebook Friends

Facebook and Instagram are connected in terms of ownership despite people not being fully aware of this fact. Thus, synchronization with the Facebook friends list will be possible and the option to add them to the Instagram profile will be slightly easier. 

  • Open the Instagram app and then click on the triple bar.
  • Go to Find Connect to Facebook and press Connect.
sync facebook friends
  • Open the Facebook website and log into your account.
  • Subsequently, friends from the Facebook network will be shown in the corresponding section on Instagram.

Find An Instagram Account by Using Other Social Media Platforms

It is highly possible that there is a link to the person’s Instagram account on other social sites. If you know how to get to their pages, then it’s good news. If not, then you can search for a person on Twitter(X) or any other social network, such as Facebook, TikTok, etc.  

Once you get to their social media page, try to find a link to their Instagram account. Search reposts on Instagram. Sometimes, you may be fortunate to come across a repost that contains a link to the original post. Then all that is required is to follow it.

Find An Instagram Account by Search Engine 

Find An Instagram Account by Search Engine 

Another useful tool is a search engine, which is not linked to Instagram in any way. Type a person’s first and last name, username, or phone number in Google, Bing, or any search engine of your choice. Their Instagram page may pop up, or their website, which includes personal profile detail,s may include their Instagram profile. 

Alternatively, if you fail to find what you are searching for from one search engine, try using another one.

FAQ

How to search someone on Instagram without knowing their username?

You can search for someone by their full name, phone number, or email in the Instagram search bar. Additionally, check the following lists of mutual friends or explore related hashtags and location tags to increase your chances of finding the person. 

How to find someone on Instagram who blocked you?

Use another account or ask a mutual friend to search for the profile. Alternatively, look for the person’s handle on other social media platforms. If you can find their profile elsewhere, you might be able to access their Instagram indirectly.

How to find someone’s location on Instagram?

Check their posts for location tags or stories with geotags. For a more precise method, use an online phone number tracker like MLocator. MLocator works by tracking the phone number associated with the Instagram account, providing accurate location details. It’s the best choice due to its reliability and user-friendly interface. 

How to find someone’s IP address on Instagram?

Finding someone’s IP address on Instagram is not typically possible due to privacy policies. However, some advanced techniques, such as using tracking links or third-party tools, might reveal IP addresses, though these methods often raise ethical and legal concerns. Always respect privacy and legal boundaries.

Wrap Up 

Some of the methods we provided make it much easier to find someone than others. However, there are times when you do not have the necessary information to conduct a quick and easy search for someone. In some cases, you will need to use more unorthodox procedures and search methods. 

Whether it’s a long-lost relative, a buddy you’ve lost touch with, or someone else, finding them can be difficult. However, you now have various approaches and techniques to locate and reconnect with them. 

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