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How to Find Contacts on Instagram? 4 Proven Ways

Elsa Updated on May 29, 2025 Filed to: Parent Control

Instagram is a fantastic social platform for connecting with others, but finding those you know isn't always easy even if you have their phone number. Therefore, if you're finding friends' or acquaintances' IG accounts, this guide will show you four tested methods to find contacts on Instagram—from synchronizing the contacts to third-party solutions.

  • Part 1: How to Find Your Contacts on Instagram
  • Part 2: Why Can't I Find Contacts on Instagram
  • Part 3: Check Suggested Accounts from Your Child's Instagram
  • FAQs about Adding Contacts on Instagram

How to Find Your Contacts on Instagram

Here's a quick breakdown of the different ways to find your contacts on Instagram:

MethodsProsCons
Discover synced contactsEasy to use; automatically suggests friendsYou can't tell which is which; privacy concerns
Invite your contactsHigh accuracyVery low success rate
Use an Instagram finderCan find all social accounts of the contactNot free; accuracy varies; privacy risks
Ask mutual friendsSimple; high accuracyDepends on the willingness of mutual friends

Option 1. Discover Contacts Suggested by Instagram

This method requires you to sync your phone contacts with Instagram to discover which of your friends are already on the platform. However, please note that Instagram won't tell you which account is which contact. So, if you're comfortable with this way, follow the steps below to see your contacts on Instagram:

  1. Step 1.Sync Your Contacts with Instagram
  2. 1) Launch the Instagram app and go to "Settings" from your profile page.
  3. 2) Then, select "Accounts Center."
  4. 3) Scroll down to "Your information and permissions" and tap on "Upload contacts."
  5. 4) Turn on "Connect contacts" to let Instagram access and sync your phone's contacts list.
  6. connect contacts on instagram
    Once you allow Instagram to access your contacts, your account will also be recommended to users who have your contact information.
  1. Step 2.View Contact Recommendations
  2. 1) Go back to your profile page.
  3. 2) Under "Discover People," tap on "See all" and you can see and follow a list of suggested accounts, including those from synced contacts.
  4. discover Instagram people

    If you cannot find the "Discover People" section, please tap on Instagram discover button.

Option 2. Invite Your Contacts to Follow You

To find people from your contacts on Instagram accurately, you can send them an invitation to follow you. Once they follow you, you can follow back and start chatting.

Keep in mind that doing this does not guarantee that your contacts will follow you, and it will expose your Instagram account to a certain extent.

  1. Step 1.On Instagram, open "Settings and privacy."
  2. Step 2.Scroll down and select "Follow and invite friends."
  3. Step 3.Tap on your preferred option to send an invite. You can choose from Contacts, WhatsApp, Snapchat, or Copy invite link.
  4. Step 4.Follow the prompts to share the invite. Once sent, your contacts can use the link to follow your profile directly.
  5. invite Instagram friends

Option 3. Try a Third-party Instagram Finder

If syncing the contacts or sending invites fails, you can try employing a third-party social media finders, such as NumLookUp.

It allows you to search for social media profiles just using a phone number, including those of Instagram. Though full details cost a small fee, it can lead you to identify whether someone has an Instagram account.

  1. Step 1.Open your browser and go to NumLookUp's social media search page.
  2. Step 2.Enter the contact's phone number, then click the "Search" button.
  3. Step 3.Once the scan is complete, click on "See Premium Report" and pay to view any linked social media profiles.
  4. NumLookup Social Media Finder

Option 4. Ask Mutual Friends

If other ways fail to help you find a person on Instagram, turning to mutual friends is a quick and easy way to go. As long as you and the contact you are trying to find have friends in common, those friends may already follow them or have them on Instagram.

You can send a direct message to those friends or simply inquire in person if they could pass along the username or send you a link to the person's profile.

Why Can't I Find Contacts on Instagram

Sometimes, even after syncing your phonebooks and trying all available methods, you might still be unable to find certain contacts on Instagram. Here are some common reasons:

1You Search the Phone Number Directly

Direct search by phone number is not available on Instagram. Entering a number into the search bar won't retrieve results and accounts if the person has not published his number or used it in his/her username.

2They Use Instagram with Email Instead of Number

Some of them register on Instagram through their email address rather than their phone number. In that case, syncing the contacts on your phone won't help you find them, as there is no number to match Instagram's list of synced numbers.

3They Blocked Your Instagram Account

If someone has blocked you on Instagram, you won't be able to find their accounts in the suggestions and access their profiles — even if they're on your contact list.

4Their Account Was Deactivated or Deleted

If the individual has deactivated or deleted their Instagram account temporarily or permanently, they won't appear in any search results or friend suggestions. The only way to locate them is if they reactivate or create a new profile.

Check Suggested Accounts from Your Child's Instagram

Though Instagram's suggested algorithm enhances user experience, some recommended accounts may pose many risks for minors, such as privacy leaks, or even falling into cyberbullying or fraud traps.

If you're concerned about who your child is connecting with on Instagram, checking out who they're recommended to follow can give you valuable insights.

To do so, you can use AirDroid Instagram Monitor that can display notifications from your child's Instagram, allowing you to view who Instagram suggest for them and any of their Instagram incoming messages.

check Instagram message with AirDroid Parental Control

FAQs about Adding Contacts on Instagram

Can I find someone's Instagram without their phone number?
Yes, you can search for someone by their Instagram username, send them a follow invite, or ask a mutual friend.
If I sync contacts on Instagram, will they know?
No, Instagram does not notify your contacts when you sync your phone contacts. However, it will suggest your profile to them in return if you connect Instagram with your contacts.
How to unsync contacts on Instagram?

Go to your Instagram "Settings" and then "Accounts Center." Select "Your Information and Permissions," tap "Upload Contacts," and toggle off "Connect Contacts" to stop syncing.
Alternatively, you can disable the contact's access to Instagram in your phone settings.

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Elsa
Elsa
Elsa has worked on a number of iOS & Android solutions, she can always find her way around almost any application. She is an accomplished, skilled and versatile writer with more than 7 years of technical article writing experience.
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