If you’ve ever wondered “does Instagram notify you when you screenshot a story?” — you’re not alone. It’s a common question among users who want to know if someone will get an alert when they capture a story. In this article we’ll walk through what happens, what doesn’t, and how you can take control of your privacy on Instagram.
What Happens When You Screenshot an Instagram Story?
The short answer: No, Instagram does not notify someone if you screenshot their Story (whether it’s a regular story or a Close Friends story).
Here are a few important details:
- If you view someone’s Story – photo or video – and take a screenshot, the story poster will not get a notification.
- This applies even if the Story is set to “Close Friends” or has restricted viewership. The policy is the same.
- Instagram experimented with notifying users in early 2018 (showing an icon next to the viewer list) but that feature was subsequently removed.
- That said – there are exceptions on Instagram where screenshot notifications do happen (but not with Stories). We’ll get to those later.
So if you’re thinking of capturing someone’s Story for inspiration, memory, or just because you liked it — you’re safe in the sense that Instagram won’t inform the person. But that doesn’t mean you should disregard etiquette or the subject’s privacy.
Why Doesn’t Instagram Notify For Story Screenshots?
There are a few reasons Instagram has chosen this path:
- The platform wants to keep user engagement smooth and simple; adding screenshot notifications for Stories would add friction and possibly deter normal usage.
- Stories are designed to be ephemeral (they disappear after 24 hours) so screenshot-alerts may not align with the intended “momentary” sharing model.
- The user backlash to the early 2018 test indicated that many users didn’t want alerts for Stories.
What Doesn’t Change: Posts, Reels, Profiles & More
Here’s a quick breakdown of how Instagram handles screenshots of other content:
This comparison helps clarify: when it comes to Stories, yes you can screenshot without notification—but you’ll want to be more careful when dealing with disappearing or vanishing content.
Best Practices: Protecting Your Stories and Privacy
Although your followers won’t receive notifications when you screenshot their Stories, you may still want to safeguard your own content. Here are some expert-recommended steps:
- Switch your account to Private – this ensures only approved followers can view your Stories.
- Use the “Hide Story From” feature – you can exclude specific users from seeing your Stories.
- Use the “Close Friends” list – share more sensitive or personal Stories only with a trusted subset.
- Be mindful about content – assume anything you post can be screenshot or saved; design appropriately (watermarks, limited text, etc.).
- Avoid relying on third-party apps that promise screenshot alerts: Instagram does not permit true detection of screenshots from external apps, and some of these may compromise your account.
Also Read: restrict someone on instagram
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. If I screenshot a Story from someone’s “Close Friends” list, will they know?
No. Instagram treats Close Friends Stories the same as standard Stories for screenshot notifications — no alert is sent.
Q2. Can I find out who screenshot my Story?
As of now, no. Instagram does not provide a feature for Story owners to see who took a screenshot.
Q3. If someone screenshots my disappearing photo in a DM, what happens?
If the image was sent using View Once or vanishing mode, Instagram will send a notification to the sender that a screenshot was taken (or block the screenshot).
Q4. Will Instagram ever add screenshot notifications for Stories again?
Instagram has not officially committed to doing so. Given the previous rollback and current policy, it remains uncertain.
Q5. Are there any apps that can tell me when someone screenshots my Story?
No reliable ones. Instagram’s terms and architecture currently prevent external apps from accessing screenshot events. Using such apps may pose security risks.
In Summary: What You Need to Know Right Now
- Does Instagram notify you when you screenshot a Story? → No, for standard or Close Friends Stories.
- Did Instagram ever test notifications for Story screenshots? → Yes, briefly in 2018.
- Are there scenarios where a screenshot will notify someone? → Yes — disappearing photos or videos in DMs (View Once or Vanish Mode) will alert the sender.
- Does this mean content is fully private? → Not necessarily. Screenshots can still be taken; you just won’t get a notification. It’s wise to act as if anything posted can be saved.
- Curious about third-party monitoring apps? → Be cautious: they’re unreliable and may put your account at risk.
