There are several reasons why you might want to check if someone is online. For instance, if you’re trying to reach someone for business purposes, it helps to know when they are most likely to respond. Similarly, for personal connections, it can be useful to know if someone is available to chat. Additionally, you might just be curious about how often someone uses Instagram. Whatever your reason, knowing someone’s activity status can provide valuable insight. Here are three effective methods to check if someone is active on Instagram:

Method 1: Green Dot Indicator

The simplest way to tell if someone is active on Instagram is by looking for the green dot icon, which appears next to their profile photo when they are currently online. If you see this green dot, it means the user is active on Instagram at that moment. To find the green dot:

Step 1: Open the Instagram app and log in to your account.
Step 2: On the home screen, click the mail icon to access your inbox.
Step 3: You’ll see a list of friends or followers. Check for the green dot next to their profile picture — if it’s there, they’re currently online. If not, they’re offline.

Some people find this feature confusing because you need to have exchanged messages with someone to see the green dot. However, it can save time as you can avoid messaging someone who is not online.

Note: By default, Instagram’s activity status is enabled for all accounts. Users can disable it in their settings, in which case their status won’t be visible.

Method 2: Direct Messaging

Instagram’s direct messaging (DM) system provides another way to see someone’s activity. When you open a conversation with someone in your inbox, their current status may be displayed beneath their username. For example, you might see statuses like “typing,” “seen,” or “active X minutes ago.”

Step 1: Log in to Instagram and tap on the mail icon to access your inbox.
Step 2: Open a conversation with the person you’re interested in.
Step 3: Check below their username for activity status like “typing” or “active X minutes ago.”

This method is particularly useful for tracking who has been active recently, helping you decide when is the best time to reach out.

Method 3: Instagram Stories

A more indirect but effective method to check if someone has been active recently is by looking at their Instagram Stories. If they’ve posted a story recently, it’s a good indicator that they’ve been online.

To use this method, simply open Instagram and view the user’s story. The timestamp on their story will show how long ago it was posted, giving you a clue about their recent activity.

If you want to view someone’s Instagram story anonymously, you can use Dolphin Radar.

How to See When Someone Was Last Active on Instagram

Instagram’s “Last Active” feature shows when someone was last online. This information is available in your direct messages, and it lets you see if the person was recently using the platform. Knowing when someone was last active can be helpful for various reasons, such as if you want to message them at the right time.

Step 1: Open Instagram and tap the mail icon to see a list of your friends or followers.
Step 2: Either scroll through your conversations or type the person’s username into the search bar.
Step 3: If the person was recently active, their status will show “Active X hours ago,” indicating their last online time.

Using Third-Party Tools

Besides these manual methods, I recommend a faster and easier solution — using Dolphin Radar. Just add the username of the person you want to track on Instagram, and after a short wait, you’ll get a detailed report showing their active status.

You’ll also be able to see their recent likes, new follows, and even possible accounts on other social media platforms. Plus, Dolphin Radar gives you access to historical reports, so you can check their past activity. It’s super convenient!

How to Use DolphinRadar

DolphinRadar is an advanced tool that allows you to monitor Instagram activities anonymously. It provides detailed reports on what content is liked, who is followed, and overall engagement metrics. To get started:

1. Sign Up: Create an account on DolphinRadar’s website.
2. Enter Username: Input the Instagram username of the account you want to monitor.
3. Generate Report: Wait for DolphinRadar to gather data and generate a comprehensive report.

Here’s an example of an activity report for Kylie Jenner’s Instagram: Kylie Jenner Activity Report.

Conclusion

while manual methods can help you track Instagram activity, third-party tools like Dolphin Radar offer a faster and more comprehensive solution. By simply adding a username, you can access detailed reports on active status, recent interactions, and even cross-platform activity. With the added benefit of historical reports, Dolphin Radar makes it easy to stay informed and track users efficiently.