How to Confirm a Follow Request on Instagram

Last Updated: September 16, 2021 Tested

If you have a private Instagram account, potential followers will have to request permission to access your photos and videos. This wikiHow teaches you how to approve a follower request on the Instagram app. Currently, you cannot approve a follower using the desktop app or a web browser.

Steps

1
Open the Instagram app on your phone. It's the app that has a purple, pink, and orange icon with an image that resembles a camera. Tap the icon to open Instagram on your iPhone, iPad, or Android phone or tablet.
2
Tap the heart-shaped icon. It's at the bottom of the Instagram app and to the right of the plus (+) icon. If your phone is using iOS 13 or later, the heart icon may be at the top left of your screen instead. There may be a pink dot below this icon that indicates there is new activity notifications.

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3
Tap Follow Requests. It's at the top of your Activity page. If you have new follow requests, there will be a blue dot with the number of requests next to it on the right.
4
Tap Confirm next to the person you would like to approve. This instantly approves the follow request.
- If you would rather deny the request, tap Delete next to the username you want to deny.
- If you'd like to follow the person back, tap the Follow button that appears.

Community Q&A

Question

How can I post on Instagram without using the app?

Community Answer

You can go to the Instagram website and post or if you're using certain other apps you can often "share" your post with Instagram.
Question

Why won't my Instagram follow requests work?

Community Answer

To approve your requests, tap the checkmark. If the issue persists, you should contact Instagram support.
Question

I got a notification that someone requested to follow me, and when I went to confirm, it wasn't there anymore. Why?

Community Answer

It means they have cancelled the request originally sent. The notifications are sent immediately so you will still get the notification, even if it was cancelled.