How To Find Instagram Account By Phone Number

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If you need to find an Instagram account by phone number, we’ve got you covered. On this page, we list four quick and easy ways to help you find someone on Instagram that don’t involve installing an Instagram spy app.

Whether you’re concerned about catfishing, reconnecting with lost contacts, or need to check if your partner or child has a hidden account, this page will explain, step-by-step, exactly how to find it.

Social Catfish — Effective tool for identifying Instagram account information using a phone number

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Why Should You Find Someone’s Instagram by Phone Number

Finding an Instagram account by phone number can be valuable in many situations, whether you’re looking to track a cheating spouse with a hidden Instagram account or find out who is catfishing you. Here are some common reasons people use this search method:

  • For Finding People: Instagram is a hub for personal and professional connections. If you’re trying to find someone on Instagram but only have their phone number, you can use it to track down their profile. Whether you’re reconnecting with an old friend or trying to find a business contact, searching by phone number can lead you directly to their Instagram account, helping you make new connections.
  • To verify someone’s identity: While Instagram is a platform where people share personal content, it can sometimes be tricky to verify someone’s true identity. If you’ve received a message or friend request from an unknown number or you suspect you’re being catfished, searching for that phone number on Instagram can reveal whether the account is legitimate or not.
  • To reconnect with an old contact: Life often causes people to lose touch, especially when they change phone numbers. If you’ve lost contact with someone and only have their old number, searching for it on Instagram can help you reconnect. Even if they’ve moved or switched accounts, their Instagram profile may still be linked to their old phone number, making it easier to find them.
  • To spot fake profiles or scammers: Scammers are known to create fake Instagram profiles to deceive others. If you suspect someone might be using a fake number to reach you, a quick search on Instagram can confirm whether the profile is real or suspicious. This is especially helpful if you’re dealing with unsolicited DMs, spam texts or calls, or any suspicious online activity.

How to Find Someone’s Instagram by Phone Number

The most trustworthy and efficient method to find someone on Instagram by phone number is to use a third-party reverse lookup tool.

This is different from an Instagram spy app. These apps are especially designed for finding people online and they have access to a massive number of databases that the average person can’t see. If that doesn’t work, you can try using Instagram’s Discover People or Search functions or search other social networking sites like LinkedIn to see if the phone number comes up. Below, I’ll explain each method in more detail.

Method 1: Use Third-Party Search Websites or Apps

With over a billion people using Instagram monthly, you can say that the app has gotten a lot of traction over the years. However, this massive number, makes it difficult to find people on Instagram, especially when trying to do so with a phone number alone. This is where third-party tools come in.

These tools automatically connect the dots to provide information about someone. All you need to do is find the right tool and search the person’s phone number. Below, I will review three of the best third-party platforms for this purpose.

Find an Instagram Account with Social Catfish

socialcatfish-logo

Starting Price $5.73
Free Trial $5.73 for 3 days
Reverse Phone Lookup
Reverse Address Lookup
Name Search

Social Catfish is an online investigation service that helps you learn more about the people you meet online. While it specializes in helping you verify information and spot a catfish, it can also serve as an Instagram phone number lookup tool.

When I searched for a phone number on Social Catfish, I found out that you need to provide your email address before accessing the result. You can also only view the pricing plans when you perform a search. The entire process of analyzing the data can take several minutes, but at the end of the process, Social Catfish provides comprehensive information on the person you’re looking for, including images.

Social Catfish Features

  • Phone number lookup: Social Catfish lets you find someone’s Instagram with just their phone number by directly typing it on the platform.
  • Personal contact info: After I ran my phone number lookup on Social Catfish, it found information on their address and related phone numbers.
  • Social media data: As part of its analysis, Social Catfish scans chat apps and social media accounts. It even provides information on their online activity, interests, and recent pictures and videos.
  • Personal data: Social Catfish’s primary purpose is to help you verify information about the people you meet online. True to this, it provided personal information on the user I looked up, including their past relationships, jobs, and education history.
  • Reverse image lookup: One of the features that stood out to me about Social Catfish was its image lookup tool. This feature gives you information about a person by uploading their picture to the platform.
  • Email search: I was also able to search for information on a person using just their email address. This process works just like finding an Instagram account by phone number alone.

How To Use Social Catfish to Find an Instagram Account by Phone Number

How To Use Social Catfish to Find an Instagram Account by Phone Number

Here, I'll show you how to find an Instagram account by phone number. I’ll use my top choice, Social Catfish as an example:

  1. Step 1: Open the Reverse Phone Lookup Tool

    On the Social Catfish website, click the “Phone” icon to start a reverse phone lookup search.

    <strong>Step 1: Open the Reverse Phone Lookup Tool</strong>
  2. Step 2: Enter the Phone Number

    Type the phone number into the search bar and click “Search.” Be sure to enter the full number, including the area or country code.

    <strong>Step 2: Enter the Phone Number</strong>
  3. Step 3: Wait for Search Results

    The platform will search its extensive database for Instagram accounts linked to the provided phone number. This step may take a moment to complete.

    <strong>Step 3: Wait for Search Results</strong>
  4. Step 4: Submit Your Email

    To view the results, you’ll need to input an email address and tap “Submit Now.”

    [light_list_how_to_item title="Step 5: Unlock Detailed Results" image="358554"]

    Click “Unlock Result Now” and follow the instructions to complete the payment. Once done, you’ll gain access to Instagram accounts associated with the phone number.

Read our full Social Catfish review.

Find an Instagram Account with Spokeo

spokeo-logo

Starting Price $0.95
Free Trial $0.95 for 7 days
Reverse Phone Lookup
Reverse Address Lookup
Name Search

Spokeo is an online search engine that allows you to find extensive information about a person, such as their social media pages, addresses, and online profiles.

I found the tool easy to use and cost-effective, considering its robust feature set. While it doesn’t give you as much access as some of the best spy apps, it works very well for gathering detailed data on someone.

Spokeo Features

  • Phone number lookup: Spokeo lets you access contact information, professional data, and even relationship insights about a person by entering their phone number on the platform.
  • Personal contact info: The tool gives a breakdown of the person’s name, email address, and any additional phone numbers.
  • Social media data: Spokeo analyzes over 120 social platforms. As such, you can get extensive data about someone’s social media accounts, including Facebook and Instagram.
  • Personal data: This was the shocking part: with the phone number I provided, Spokeo helped me get information on the account’s neighbors, family members, and even dating app profile history.
  • Email search: In addition to searching by phone number, Spokeo lets you find contacts on Instagram by searching via their email address, too. This process works the same way as using a phone number, so you end up with the same data.

Read our full Spokeo review.

Method 2: Use Instagram’s Discover People

A third-party app is the best way to find someone on Instagram using their phone number, but you can also try Instagram’s in-app feature called Discover People or Suggested for You. This tool will show a list of people from your contacts who have their phone numbers linked to their accounts.

Let me demonstrate how to run an Instagram lookup using this method:

Step 1: Launch Instagram

Before launching Instagram, ensure you have the latest version downloaded on your mobile device or PC. Then, log into your account.

Instagram’s login page

 

Step 2: Go to Settings

From your timeline, go to your profile page and tap the hamburger menu at the top right of your screen. This opens the Settings and Activity menu.

Instagram’s Settings and Activity menu

 

Step 3: Set Up How Others Can Interact With You

Scroll down the menu till you reach the How Others Can Interact with You section. Then, select Follow and Invite Friends.

A Screenshot of the How Others Can Interact With You Menu on Instagram

 

Step 4: Allow Permissions

On the next page, select Follow Contacts. Then, grant Instagram permission to access your contacts.

Screenshot showing the Follow Contacts button

 

Step 5: Go to Discover People

Go back to the homepage and locate the Suggested for You or Discover People menu. Tap See All. You may have to scroll down a little to find this menu.

The Discover People menu on Instagram’s homepage

 

Step 6: Find Your Contacts

Now, you can scroll through the menu and locate the person you want. You can also directly follow their account from the Discover People menu.

Instagram’s Discover People menu

 

Although using Instagram’s Discover People feature can be convenient, it has a number of shortcomings. For example, the person’s number has to be synced with their profile for this feature to work.

Also, to find a person’s Instagram using this method, they must be in your contact list. Using one of the third-party tools I mention above bypasses these limitations.

Method 3: Use Instagram’s Search Function

Aside from the Discover People function, you can also look up a person’s Instagram page using its search feature. Sounds a bit too easy? That’s because it is. All you have to do is type the phone number straight into the search field, and you’re good to go.

However, for this method to work, again, the user must have their phone number displayed in their account. This means that if the phone number isn’t part of their username, bio, or listed somewhere in their public account, Instagram won’t be able to find them. So, it’s not the most effective way to find someone on Instagram with only a phone number.

Third-party tools come with more comprehensive analysis and can give you more information to work with, like their recent jobs, public profiles, and contact details.

Method 4: Use Other Social Media & Networking Sites

This method can be a bit tricky, especially as it involves getting information from one social media site or application and applying it to Instagram to find someone. But it can be an effective way to perform an Instagram lookup as long as you do it right. I’ll show you how:

Using LinkedIn

LinkedIn can be a good way to find someone’s Instagram by phone number because the app contains detailed information about its users. This information could include their jobs, educational history, and contact address. Here’s how to use it to find a person’s Instagram:

Step 1 — Launch LinkedIn

On your device, launch LinkedIn and log in to your account.

LinkedIn search page

Step 2: Use the Search Bar

Some people on LinkedIn list their phone numbers on their LinkedIn account. So, when you search for them, there’s a chance their professional account will pop up.

Step 3: Scan Their Feed

Once you find the account you’re looking for, go through the feed to check for posts from their Instagram account. Some people also add social media links to their profile so you can access their Instagram account from there.

If you don’t find any Instagram links on their LinkedIn Profile, you can simply record their name from LinkedIn. Then, go to Instagram and type the name into the search bar to locate the account you’re searching for.

Using Facebook

When you think about social media platforms, Facebook is definitely among the first to come to mind. But beyond building an online presence, Facebook can help you find someone on Instagram. Here’s how.

Step 1: Launch Facebook

Log in to your Facebook account on your phone or computer.

Facebook homepage

Step 2: Search for the Phone Number

Type in the phone number you want to look up in the search bar and click on the account when you find it.

Step 3: Check Their Profile

If their Facebook account is linked to their Instagram, there will be a clickable link on the profile that will lead you to their Instagram account. You can also check for posts they shared from Instagram to Facebook or mentions of their Instagram account in their statuses and captions.

Step 4: Check for Mutual Friends

If this doesn’t work and you have mutual friends, they might also follow each other on Instagram or tag each other in their posts. So, go to Instagram, search for your mutual friends, and scan their followers for the person you’re looking for. If you need a more in-depth look at someone’s Facebook account, a Facebook spy app will show you everything they’re doing on their account and more.

Using Twitter (X)

Using Twitter to find someone’s Instagram by phone number is just as easy as using any other social media platform. Here’s how to use it:

Step 1 — Launch Twitter (X)

On your device, launch X and log in to your account.

Twitter login page

Step 2: Find their Twitter Profile

Type the phone number into the Twitter search bar and locate the person you’re looking for.

Step 3: Check Their Bio

Twitter users often add a clickable link to their Instagram account on their bio, but if it isn’t there, you can check their feed for any Instagram posts from their account.

Using other social media platforms to perform an Instagram lookup definitely has its perks, but you should note its limitations, too. For starters, people don’t often include their phone numbers in their profiles unless they’re a business account.

Plus, some accounts may be private and inaccessible without the owner’s permission. So, I recommend using the third-party tools in method one because they do all the analysis for you in no time and give you more information. If you need to dive into someone’s Twitter to get more info about what they’re doing on the app, a Twitter viewer app will show you everything.

Is Using Third-Party Apps Reliable for Finding Someone On Instagram By Phone Number?

Third-party apps are only reliable if you choose the right one. For the tool to be right, the provider must be trustworthy and reviewed by a reliable source. Some providers, especially those claiming to be 100% free, could be scams, contain mobile malware, or be privacy non-compliant and steal your personal information.

So, if you’re looking for a third-party Instagram lookup tool, the software I’ve mentioned in this guide is a great place to start. My recommendations offer affordable free trials, some for less than $1 even, and I’ve reviewed and found them to be highly reliable for Instagram lookups.

Is It Better To Search Instagram By Phone Number?

While there are much more convenient ways to search for someone’s Instagram, if you only have a phone number to go by, there’s no issue with looking them up. Except, of course,  if they don’t want to be found.

Searching for someone’s Instagram using a phone number is a great way to find out more about unknown callers, old friends, or colleagues. It can help you reconnect with people or learn more about a new person you met online. In the line of safety, it can serve as a parental control app to help protect you and your children from spam calls, predators, or fraud.

However, when searching for someone’s Instagram by phone number, it’s always important to consider internet privacy. Also, before doing it, ensure that the search comes from genuine curiosity and transparency.

Conclusion: How to Find an Instagram Account by Phone Number

There are multiple ways to find someone on Instagram with a Phone number, including by using a third-party app, Discover People, Instagram’s search function, or social media apps.

However, based on my experience with all four methods, using a third-party app is the quickest, most thorough, and most reliable method the best choice for performing an Instagram lookup. Among the third-party tools I reviewed, Social Catfish stands out to me most because of how fast and easy it is to use and how flexible and accessible the pricing is. It’s an advanced reverse lookup tool that gives you several search options, including by image, email, username, and of course phone number.

FAQs

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How to find people on Instagram from Contacts?

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Joshua Adegoke
Tech Writer
Joshua Adegoke
Tech Writer

Joshua Adegoke is a technical writer who began his writing career at CareerKarma before joining other reputable organizations like PrivacySavvy and MakeUseOf. With over two years of experience in crafting tech-centric articles and user guides, his expertise cuts across various niches, including Tech, SaaS, edTech, career navigation, and security. Joshua uses his extensive experience and ability to demystify tech to inform, provide support, and improve the tech competency of his readers. Joshua started writing for Techopedia in February 2024 and since then has since created a large number of articles on topics such as cybersecurity and business software.