How To Read Instagram Messages Without Being Seen In Three Ways

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Want to read Instagram messages without being seen? Or you have already accidentally viewed someone’s IG message and you are looking now to delete or undo your seen action? Check our post to learn how to do it!

The easiest way is to use a spy app, for example, mSpy. If you don’t know what it is, read our review in this post.

If you are not ready to use a spy app or simply do not have access to the phone of the person in interest, read about a simple trick that allows you to hide the ‘Seen’ icon of Instagram DMs or to prevent sending a read receipt.

This method works with the latest version of the Instagram app.

Three Ways To Read Instagram Messages Without Being Seen

Unsee Instagram Direct Message

Now, what if as a recipient of a message you do not want the Seen to appear when you read the message? There is no direct setting or an option to hide Instagram messages read receipts and you need to follow the below workaround.

It will take you about 5 minutes

Here’s how to unsee an Instagram DM:

  1. As soon as you receive a direct message, you will get an Instagram push notification. Do not tap on it.

  2. Open the Instagram app and tap on Instagram Direct icon at the top right corner.

  3. Instagram Direct conversations will load. Do not open the conversation for which you want to hide the read receipt.

  4. Turn Off WiFi or cellular data (disconnect from the Internet completely)

  5. Now, select and open the desired conversation to read the messages and at the same time don’t want to alert the sender with Seen receipt. You will be able to view the messages.

  6. After that, you will have to log out of your Instagram account. Don’t turn On the internet or Wi-Fi yet. You need to log out of your Instagram account without an internet connection.

  7. To log out, come back to the news feed(Home) screen and tap on the profile icon at the bottom right of the screen.

  8. Under your profile, tap on the cog icon(3 dots on Android) at the top right corner and select Log Out.

  9. Now, switch on the Wi-Fi on your smartphone and log in to your account on the Instagram app.

The sender won’t get Seen even though you read the message.

You can continue to use Instagram Direct with other users and still the user won’t get notified that you have viewed their messages. But do not open the conversation for which you wish to hide your Seen action. If you do that then the sender of the messages will get the seen receipt.

In case they send more messages then follow the same steps above to read their message without letting them know.

Here’s a video where I am explaining the same hack:

YouTube player

Using Eyezy

Homepage of eyeZy

When you want to read Instagram messages without being seen, a spy app can be a great solution. Spy apps can allow you to view all the activity on your phone without actually using your phone, which means that you can view your Instagram messages without being seen. 

Eyezy is one of these spy apps. It’s a premium spy app that comes with a host of features to view practically everything on your phone and it’s available for both Android and iOS devices. 

You can use Eyezy to view your Instagram messages and message requests thanks to its Social Spotlight feature. This feature allows you to view all of the contents of the social media apps and accounts on a target device. 

This includes the Instagram app, Snapchat, WhatsApp, Telegram, and more. You’ll be able to view the messages sent and received since Eyezy has been installed on the target device.

In addition to this, Eyezy also allows you to view emails and text messages on the device. If you feel that the Instagram viewer is limited, Eyezy’s Keylogger feature has a keystroke recorder, as well as a screen recorder. This means you can see everything that’s typed on the device, as well as screenshots of the device’s screen. 

This can especially come in handy if you’ve lost access to your device, had chats deleted, or wiped your phone. There will be a record of what was said on your Eyezy dashboard ready for you. 

If you want to know more about Eyezy and its features then read our Eyezy review to learn about it. 

Eyezy currently doesn’t have a free trial available. However, you can view a demo on the website to see if you’d like it. 

There are currently 3 subscription plans available for Eyezy: 1 month, 3 months, and a year. It costs $68.56 for 1 month, $39.98 per month for 3 months, and $14.27 per month for a year. 

Here’s how to use Eyezy to view your Instagram DMs without being seen. I wrote this tutorial with the assumption that you’ve already purchased and set up your Eyezy account

  1. Log onto your Eyezy dashboard with your phone already linked. Scroll and click Instagram Direct to view the Instagram messages available on your device. 
Select instagram direct from the left bar
  1. In the Instagram Direct section, you’ll be able to see the message threads that have loaded into Eyezy from your phone. Click the message thread that you want to open to read it. 
Click on your any message to open it
  1. There, you will be able to read the message and reply on your phone, if you wish. I chose to reply and that’s why my reply is currently visible. 
Inside an instagram message on eyeZy

As you can see, Eyezy is a great spy app to use to read Instagram messages without being seen. 

Download Eyezy today!

Using mSpy

Homepage of mSpy

If you’re looking for a great alternative to Eyezy then the renowned spy app, mSpy, might be the one for you. mSpy is a preferred spy app because of its features, as well as how long it has been on the market. 

mSpy is great for viewing Instagram direct messages and message requests because it grants you access to all the apps on your phone, including social media like Instagram, Snapchat, WhatsApp, and more. In addition to allowing you to view your social media messages, you can use it to view your text messages and emails. 

Similar to Eyezy, mSpy also allows you to track your keystrokes and even take screenshots of your screen. This can, of course, come in useful when messages are accidentally deleted or you wipe your phone. 

In terms of compatibility, mSpy works with both Android and iPhones. However, the feature access for iPhone depends on if your phone is jailbroken or not. You can read our full mSpy review to find out more about mSpy’s features, as well as the differences between the devices. 

To get access to mSpy’s social media tracking, you’d need to purchase the Premium Subscription.  Prices start at $48.99 for 1 month and $27.99 per month for the 3-month plan. The most affordable option is $11.66 per month for the annual plan. 

Unfortunately, mSpy doesn’t currently offer a free trial

Here’s how to use mSpy to read your Instagram messages without being seen. I wrote this review with the assumption that you have already subscribed, downloaded, and linked your phone to your mSpy account.

  1. Log onto your mSpy then scroll and click Instagram Direct to view your Instagram direct messages. 
Select instagram from the left bar
  1. In the Instagram Direct section, you’ll see the message threads that have loaded into mSpy. Click the desired message thread to open it. 
Select any message thread by clicking on it
  1. There, you’ll see the most recent message that someone has sent you at the top. Now you’ve read your recent Instagram messages without opening them on your phone.  
An instagram message opened on the mSpy screen

As you may have noticed, mSpy is somewhat similar in design to Eyezy. Both apps are great and I suggest you choose the one that works best for you.  
Get mSpy today to view all of your Instagram messages without being seen!

How To Know If Your Instagram Direct Message Is Read?

You can easily know if someone has read your direct message on Instagram. If “Seen” appears below the message you sent then that means the recipient has read it, otherwise not.

Hide Instagram Direct Message Seen

Also, if there are multiple users in the conversation then an eye symbol will appear with the Instagram username who has viewed your message.

Instagram Direct Message Read Receipts

FAQs

Can you unsee a message on Instagram?

You can unsee a message on Instagram with a simple trick. In your IG app, go to Instagram Direct to load all the dialogues to the memory. Turn off the internet, read the message, mark it unread. Close the IG app and turn on the Internet. The message will appear as unseen and unread.

Can I read someone's Instagram messages?

You can read someone’s Instagram messages. One way to do so is with a spy app like mSpy or Eyezy. However, to install them on someone’s phone, you’ll need physical access to the device. Most times, they’re used by parents to keep an eye on their children’s online activity.

Can Instagram direct messages be traced?

Instagram direct messages cannot be traced. This is because people will get the IP address of Instagram’s servers rather than your device if they try to trace your message. However, if you click the wrong link in your DMs, someone could use it to track your IP address.

Is Instagram messaging private?

Instagram messaging is private. This is because no one besides the people within the messages can view the message. Instagram messages are end-to-end encrypted, so they are protected from the moment they leave your device until they reach the recipient’s device. Not even Facebook can view the messages you share.

Final Words

Now you know how to read Instagram direct messages without being seen or at least how to “unsee” it after. If you would like to do the same with IG stories, read our post about how to unsee Instagram story.

If you want to spy on other Instagram data, you should use an Instagram spy app. Check our list to see the requirements and how to work with these apps.

Did you like our article? Let us know what you think in the comments!

About The Author

  • Rahul Sharma

    Computer science student and technology enthusiast. I love plants also, so much that I talk to them. Currently figuring out how to make an iguana as a pet without getting arrested. Follow me on Facebook and Twitter.

Photo of author

Rahul Sharma

Computer science student and technology enthusiast. I love plants also, so much that I talk to them. Currently figuring out how to make an iguana as a pet without getting arrested. Follow me on Facebook and Twitter.

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