There are many situations when notifications from unknown users on Instagram can be frightening – fraudulent messages from suspicious people or strangers subscribing to your child’s account. It’s totally normal to want to protect yourself and figure out who’s behind the account. Learning how to find out who owns an Instagram account can give you that clarity.

Being concerned doesn’t mean you’re overly anxious – it just means you’re looking out for yourself. Sure, an anonymous account might be harmless, but there’s also a good chance it could be a scammer, a bully, or a fake profile. Knowing who’s behind the account helps keep your family safe. We’ve put together a list of tips to help you handle unknown accounts, so they won’t be an issue for you anymore!

4 Best Methods to Find Out Who Owns an Instagram Account

We’ve picked out the best methods for you below. Feel free to use any of them you like, but keep in mind that some are more reliable and less time-consuming than others.

Method 1 — Use a Reverse Username Lookup Tool (Most Accurate)

Let’s start by telling you about the most effective method. A reverse username lookup tool is the most convenient method if you only have a username. These tools scan all data on the network and compare usernames with other social media accounts and public records.

They pull all this scattered information together into one easy-to-read report. This report is where you can find someone’s real name, other social media accounts, and even email addresses they’ve used. It’s the best way to get a complete picture when you need to find the owner of an Instagram account.

How to Look Up Instagram Accounts Using Scannero

Scannero has a powerful reverse username search feature that you can use right in your web browser. There’s no app to install, which makes it quick and easy. You just enter an Instagram username, and it gets to work searching across social media platforms, forums, hobby sites, and other public databases.

The service gathers publicly available data linked to that username. It can reveal the real identity behind an anonymous account, show you their other profiles on Facebook or TikTok, and even find associated email addresses or phone numbers. This is great for spotting catfishers. According to a survey, about 53% of online daters believe they’ve been sent a fake photo.

How It Works:

1. Go to the Scannero reverse username lookup page.
2. Enter the Instagram username (without the @ symbol).
3. Click the “Search Username” button.
4. Scannero scans its databases for connections.
5. You get a report with the name, linked accounts, and more.

You can use it to verify someone from a dating app, investigate a suspicious account messaging your kids, or find the identity behind an online bully. Your searches are completely anonymous, so the person you’re investigating will never know.

Pricing:

• A trial costs just $0.89 and gives you full access.
• The monthly subscription is $49.80 for unlimited searches.

The results depend on how much public information exists for that username. If the person has a minimal online presence, you might not get much back. But for most active users, it’s a very effective way to find out who is behind an Instagram account.

Method 2 — Reverse Image Search (Google)

Sometimes the answer is hiding in the profile picture. Catfishers and scammers often use stolen photos. A reverse image search can quickly expose this. Just download the profile picture or any photos from their posts and upload them to Google Images.

The search will show you where else that photo appears online. You might find it on another person’s real social media profile, a stock photo website, or a forum. This is a simple but effective reverse Instagram account search technique that can instantly tell you if the account is fake.

Method 3 — Search the Username on Other Platforms

People are creatures of habit. Most of us use the same username, or a close variation, across all our social media accounts. You can use this to your advantage. Take the exact Instagram username and search for it on other major platforms.

• Twitter/X
• TikTok
• LinkedIn
• YouTube
• Reddit

Someone’s professional LinkedIn profile will almost always have their real name. Their Twitter feed might reveal more personal details or connections. Cross-referencing platforms helps you build a more complete identity and is a smart way to look up Instagram accounts for free.

Method 4 — Check the Email or Phone Recovery Pages

Here’s a handy little trick, but you’ve got to be cautious with it. On a lot of platforms, the “Forgot Password” page will actually give you a hint about the linked email or phone number. For example, it might show something like “en•••@gmail.com” to help the real user remember.

You can go to Instagram’s password recovery page and enter the username. The partial information it shows might be enough for you to recognize the person if you already have a suspicion. Do not attempt to actually reset their password or gain access to their account. Just use the public hint to gather clues.

How to Find Someone’s Real Name on Instagram Yourself

Yes, by analyzing the profile itself. Before you turn to external tools, spend a few minutes examining the account. You can often find a surprising amount of information just by looking closely.

Start with the bio. People often list their real name, business, or link to other social profiles. Check who they follow and who follows them; mutual connections can be a dead giveaway. Look at photos they’re tagged in. A friend might have tagged them with their real name in a caption.

Also, check the “Tagged” tab on their profile to see what photos others have tagged them in. Location tags on their posts can reveal where they live, work, or travel frequently. Story highlights are another goldmine for personal information. Finally, check the account’s age. An account created yesterday with 500 followers and no posts is almost certainly fake.

Free vs Paid Methods — What’s Better to Choose?

When you want to know how to find out who an instagram account belongs to, it’s good to think about free versus paid options.

Free methods are a great place to begin. They don’t cost anything and can sometimes give you a quick answer. Use these for fast checks on public profiles or when you have a strong hunch about someone’s identity. The main drawback is that they take a lot of time and often miss deeper connections.

Paid methods, like Scannero, are for more serious situations. They work much faster and use data sources you can’t access by yourself. This is the better route if you have safety concerns, deal with an anonymous account, or find nothing with free tools. They do cost a little, but the detailed results are usually worth it.

So what’s our advice? Try the free methods first. If you hit a wall or the matter is urgent, switch to a paid tool. The small price for a trial is often a good trade for peace of mind.

Conclusion

If you want to find the person behind an Instagram profile, you have a few options. A good first step is to analyze the profile for clues. If that doesn’t get you anywhere, you can try free methods, like searching the username on other social media platforms.

For anonymous accounts or when your safety is on the line, a dedicated tool is the best way to go. A service like Scannero can uncover who you’re dealing with. It’s best to start with the free methods, but if you need a clear answer, a professional tool is worth considering.

FAQ

Author: Nicklaus Borer

Greetings. I am a journalist and a computer engineer. I am engaged in research in the field of security, data and their publication on this blog.