How to View and Manage Your Sent Follow Requests on Instagram

Instagram is one of the world’s leading social media platforms, boasting millions of active users every day. Beyond sharing photos, stories, and reels, Instagram allows users to connect by sending follow requests to other accounts, especially private profiles. However, many users wonder how they can view sent follow requests on Instagram, as the platform doesn’t provide a direct way to see who you’ve requested to follow.

Why Would You Want to See Your Sent Follow Requests on Instagram?

When you send a follow request to a private Instagram account, it remains pending until the person accepts or declines it. Over time, you might forget who you sent requests to or want to retract requests sent to accounts you no longer wish to follow. In such cases, Instagram follow requests viewing becomes important.

Unfortunately, Instagram does not offer a simple interface within the app to see all your sent follow requests at once. This creates a challenge for users who want to keep track of their outgoing requests and maintain control over their follow list.

How to Find Your Sent Follow Requests on Instagram?

Although Instagram doesn’t show sent follow requests directly in the app, there is a workaround using Instagram’s data download feature. Here’s how to do it:

Using the Instagram Mobile App:

1. Open the Instagram app on your phone.
2. Go to your profile by tapping your avatar.
3. Tap the three horizontal lines in the top-right corner to open the menu.
4. Select “Your Activity” or “Activity” (depending on your app version).
5. Scroll down and tap “Download Your Information.”
6. Tap “Request Download” or “Download Data.”
7. Select whether you want to download all data or specific data (choosing all data ensures you don’t miss anything).
8. Choose the format and download method — typically, you’ll get a ZIP file sent to your email or device.

Once the ZIP file is downloaded, extract it using a file extractor app if necessary (such as WinRAR or similar). Inside the extracted folder, open the folder named followers_and_following and look for a file named recent_follow_requests.html. Opening this file in any web browser will display all the follow requests you’ve sent.

A Simpler Way: Use a Computer

Downloading and viewing Instagram data is often easier on a desktop or laptop computer. After downloading the data archive, you can open the index.html file included in the archive. This file acts like a dashboard, letting you browse all your Instagram data including sent follow requests, followers, likes, comments, and more — similar to browsing Instagram’s own interface.

This method is highly recommended if the mobile method feels complicated.

How to Cancel a Sent Follow Request on Instagram

Once you’ve identified which accounts you have sent follow requests to, you might want to cancel some of them. Here’s how to revoke a follow request:

1. Open Instagram and log in.
2. Search for or navigate to the profile of the user you sent a follow request to.
3. On their profile, you will see a button labeled “Requested.”
4. Tap this button, and Instagram will give you the option to cancel the request.
5. Confirm the cancellation.

Remember, you need to cancel follow requests one by one, as Instagram does not support bulk cancellation.

How to Turn Off Follow Request Notifications on Instagram

If you find the notifications for incoming follow requests distracting or excessive, Instagram allows you to mute these alerts. To turn off follow request notifications:

1. Open the Instagram app.
2. Go to your profile and tap the three horizontal lines at the top right.
3. Tap “Settings” and then “Notifications.”
4. Choose “Followers and Following.”
5. Find “Follow Requests” and switch the notification setting to “Off” or “Mute.”

This prevents Instagram from sending notifications when someone sends you a follow request, helping you maintain peace of mind without missing out on other important notifications.

Can You Delete All Sent Follow Requests at Once?

Currently, Instagram does not offer any built-in feature to remove or cancel all your pending follow requests in bulk. Each request must be canceled individually by visiting the user’s profile and tapping “Requested.”

While there are some third-party apps claiming to automate this process, most of these apps are unreliable and potentially dangerous. They may compromise your Instagram account or steal your personal data. Therefore, it’s highly advisable not to use third-party apps for managing follow requests unless you are absolutely certain of their legitimacy and safety.

Additional Tips About Instagram Follow Requests

• Sent follow requests remain pending until the recipient accepts or declines them.
• If a follow request is ignored or declined, it usually remains pending indefinitely unless you manually cancel it.
• Regularly reviewing your sent follow requests can help you manage your Instagram connections better and avoid unnecessary follow request clutter.
• Private accounts require sending a follow request, while public accounts can be followed immediately without approval.

Why Managing Follow Requests Is Important

Monitoring and managing your sent follow requests is part of maintaining a clean, organized, and secure Instagram profile. Here are some reasons why it matters:

• You avoid spamming users by sending repeated or unnecessary follow requests.
• You reduce confusion about who you are connected with or waiting to connect with.
• You enhance your privacy by controlling outgoing connections.
• You protect your account from potential security risks by avoiding suspicious third-party tools.

Knowing how to view sent follow requests on Instagram can give you better control over your social media experience. While Instagram doesn’t directly show these requests in the app, the data download feature offers a reliable method to access this information.

Although cancelling follow requests must be done manually one-by-one, this process helps keep your following list accurate and up-to-date. Always be cautious about third-party tools promising shortcuts, and prioritize the security of your Instagram account.

By following the steps outlined above, you can confidently manage your Instagram follow requests viewing, notifications, and cancellations — leading to a more organized and enjoyable Instagram journey.