Stories are a great feature on Instagram. The platform intrigues users by showing Stories that attract them. Imagine viewing a story you want to view later and quickly taking a screenshot, only for Instagram to immediately notify the author of your action.
This could make someone feel like you’ve invaded their privacy.
Fortunately, this no longer happens because Instagram removed the feature. That being said, you never know when this might change. And if you’re already willing to keep your activities private, this article will show you some methods to stay truly anonymous.
Why take an anonymous screenshot?
There are many reasons why people take a screenshot of a person’s Story.
And contrary to what most people think, some have legitimate purposes. For example:
- You might admire the clothes the user is wearing and want to take a photo on your next shopping trip.
- You can use it as wallpaper.
- You like the photo and want to add it to your gallery.
- You want to share it in a group chat and discuss it with your friends.
Many users will frown at a notification telling them that someone just took a screenshot of their Story. Of course, it doesn’t matter if the reason for taking the screenshot is completely innocent.
Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to make sure they can’t find out.
The different ways to take screenshots without them knowing
There are many ways to remain anonymous while taking screenshots on Instagram, regardless of the company’s future policies.
The good news is that they are not limited to just phone users.
Use the Instagram website
In addition to the mobile app, Instagram has a fully functional website that allows users to access the platform from a desktop computer.
The best part is that their website is not restricted to use only on a PC. You can also use it on your smartphone, even if the app is installed.
The website has similar functionality to the app and you can view Instagram Stories with it.
This is the easiest and safest way to screenshot an Instagram story without alerting users and will also work for screenshotting direct messages. Here’s how to do it:
- Go to the instagram website in your browser and log in.
- Navigate to “Instagram Stories” in the right corner.
- Open a story you want to capture.
- Take a screenshot using your favorite screenshot medium.
The best way to take a screenshot is to use your operating system’s built-in screenshot keyboard shortcut.
If you are a Windows user, you can press “Ctrl + Shift + Print Screen” to take a screenshot of a story. This will save the image to your clipboard and you can paste it into Paint, Photoshop, and other image editing applications to modify and save it.
If you are a Mac user, you can press “Shift + Command + 3” to take a screenshot of your screen. Additionally, you can click on the thumbnail that will appear on your screen and proceed to edit the screenshot.
Use airplane mode
This is an old method that is still useful for mobile users. It will be helpful to take screenshots of Stories without people knowing. Follow these steps to do it.
- Go to the Instagram Story you want to capture (you can wait a few seconds for it to load).
- Activate Airplane mode on your phone. Lift the control center from the bottom and select the Airplane Mode icon on an iPhone. On Android you will find it in Settings or in the notifications tray.
- Go back to the Story you want to capture.
- Press and hold the Home and Side buttons simultaneously if you are using an iPhone. Or press the Volume Down and Power buttons simultaneously using an Android phone.
- You’ll find a preview at the bottom or top of the screen (depending on your device).
- Select preview to edit the screenshot.
- Tap “Save” to send the photo to your gallery when you’re done.
- Turn off airplane mode.
However, keep in mind that people will still know that you viewed their story.
Use a screen recorder
This is one of the easiest methods to take a screenshot of Stories on Instagram. There are several free screen recorders that you can download and use without any permission from Instagram.
Here are the steps:
- Launch the screen recorder and start recording.
- Open the Story you want to capture and save a copy.
Loom It is ideal for recording the screen without problems on a desktop. You can record the entire screen or a current tab. The best part is that you can record a selfie and even include a voice memo.
There are many screen recorders available for iOS and Android devices. you could download AZ Screen Recorder for Android and Record it for iPhone. Both apps can be downloaded for free on PlayStore and App Store.
Use the story saver
Story Saver helps you download a story directly to your phone gallery. It is available on iOS (Instant Story Saver) and Android (Story Saver for Android).
Story Saver for iOS
- Go to the “Stories” section of the app.
- Find a story you want to download.
- Click on the three dots in the lower right corner of the screen.
- Choose “Save,” “Save to Camera Roll,” or “Save to Downloads.”
If you choose the latter, go to the bottom of the app to access all your downloaded Instagram Stories.
Story Saver for Android
You must log in to your Instagram account to use this app on your phone. Once you log in, you will find all the Stories on your Instagram account.
- Tap a thumbnail to view a story.
- Select the three vertical dots and then click “save” to save the image or video.
If you download this app on your phone, it will automatically show all your collections saved in a folder in your gallery.
A method of last resort
If you’re wary of using third-party software, afraid of getting caught, or don’t care much about image quality, there’s another option.
You can always use another device to take a photo of your screen. While it won’t technically be a screenshot and the quality will clearly suffer, it’s an easy way to save something you want to see again in your gallery, without anyone finding out.
Avoid notifying Instagram yourself
Although these methods help you take screenshots without an Instagram user knowing, you should never use screenshots for illegitimate purposes. Doing so can activate Instagram bots and they can start tracking your activities without you knowing.
Additional FAQs
Does Instagram ever notify users when someone takes a screenshot?
Although the social sharing platform doesn’t notify users when someone takes a quick snapshot of their Stories, they do alert you to this type of activity when it happens in the DM. If you take a screenshot of a video or image that disappears in the DM, it will alert the user by displaying a small shaded circle icon.
Take a screenshot on Instagram anonymously
These methods could help if you want to remain anonymous while taking a screenshot on Instagram. Although you can take several screenshots in a few seconds, it is best to do so responsibly. What’s even better is that these methods will help you save screenshots of your direct messages, which at the moment is an action that activates Instagram notifications.
Have you tried taking a screenshot of a story in the past? Did you experience any challenges? Which of these methods will you try in the future? Tell us in the comments section below.
