How to Track an Instagram Account Location?

Elsa Updated on Oct 23, 2025 Filed to: Parent Control

Tracking the location of Instagram accounts can be helpful, especially if you are a marketer who needs to do marketing research, a journalist for timely new reports, a friend trying to plan a meetup, or a parent for safety monitoring.

So, here, we'll show you methods and tools to track Instagram account locations. Let's get started!

DISCLAIMER: The methods in this article are for informational purposes or to ensure safety. Tracking someone’s Instagram location without their explicit consent not only violates laws and Instagram’s terms of service but also infringes other's privacy. So, use this guide responsibly and at your own discretion.

6 Ways to Track an Instagram Account Location

Indeed, the built-in feature is sufficient to help you track an Instagram account's real-time location and IP address. So, we'll start with built-in features and then introduce third-party Instagram location trackers to get the location information you need.

MethodsLocation AvailablityLimitations
Check Instagram MapLive LocationThis new feature is not available to all users currently (Sep 2025).
See Your Friend's Shared LocationLive LocationThe shared location can expire after one hour.
Look for Account InfoIP AddressCan't track accounts with fewer than 1K followers.
Check Location TagsStatic LocationMost users don't share location tags.
View the Bios PageStatic LocationOnly business accounts may add the location in the bios.
Use Instagram Location TrackerLive LocationThe other party need to download the companion app.

1Check Instagram Map

Instagram launched a new feature called "Instagram Map" in August 2025. Similar to Snap Map, this feature allows friends to share and view locations with each other (if they choose to share their location). In addition, the Instagram Map will also display location-based content such as stories, posts, and reels from all the people you follow.

Currently, this feature is only available to some users in the United States.

To access Instagram Map to see your friends' or kids' locations, please follow:

  1. Step 1.Make sure your Instagram app is up to date.
  2. Step 2.Go to the "Messages" section.
  3. Step 3.Tap the "Map" option at the top to see your friends' live location.
  4. Instagram Map featue

2See Your Friend's Shared Location

Apart from Instagram Map, Instagram also lets users share live location in chats. That is, as long as an Instagram account shared its location with you, you can track it in real time. However, Instagram's live location sharing only lasts for one hour.

So, if a friend shared their live location directly in chat, just open the conversation. Tap "View" under the location card, and their real-time location will display inside the chat window when it's active.

see Instagram shared location

3Look for the "Account Based in" Info

This is undoubtedly the most effective way to track an Instagram account location. However, you cannot see the exact location details, such as street info or anything else.

To increase transparency, Instagram displays the accurate country or region of the accounts based on their recent activities. And you can find this from their account info. Here's how to track someone on Instagram using this way:

  1. Step 1.Go to the Instagram account profile you need to track.
  2. Step 2.Tap the three dots in the top right corner and select "About this account."
  3. Step 3.Then, the country-level location of this account will be available under "Account based in."
  4. Instagram IP address info

According to a user shared on Reddit, for the personal account with less than 1,000 followers, Instagram won't show the "Account based in" info.

4Check the Location Tags in Posts or Stories

To track an Instagram account location for free, the easiest way is to look at their posts. As long as they geotagged their post or story, you can easily track where the location.

To do this, go to the post or story of the Instagram account you need to track. Then, look for the location label under their name if they have added the location.

Nevertheless, this location may not be the real location they were when they posted because Instagram allows users to select locations.

location label on Instagram

5Get the Location Info in Bios

Instagram business pages often add locations in their bios to attract local customers. Hence, checking their Instagram account bio to see if they have included their location is effective in tracking the location.

However, most personal account are not likely to provide their location in the Instagram bios for privacy.

Instagram bios page with location tag

6Use Instagram Location Tracker

Are you looking for a trusted Instagram location tracker like iStaunch? If so, I feel sorry to tell you that the iStaunch Instagram Location Tracker is not available nowadays. So, this time, I'd like to recommend another safer alternative to iStaunch Tracker.

That is to use AirDroid Instagram Tracker. This parental control app helps you locate your family member's Instagram account accurately.

With it, you can see where they are in real-time, who they're interacting with on Instagram, what kind of content they're interested in, and more.

The only challenge of using this tool is it requires installing the companion app on the target Instagram account's phone; otherwise, it cannot work. So, if you're ready, follow the steps to find Instagram account location:

  1. Step 1.Download AirDroid Instagram Location Tracker on your phone or visit its web version directly.
  2. Step 2.Follow the on-screen instructions to connect the target Instagram account's phone.
  3. Step 3.Tap the "Location" icon and you can view the account's location.
  4. AirDroid Instagram Location Tracker

  5. Step 4.Or go to "Screen Mirroring" to track what the account is doing on their phone.

FAQs and Tips about Tracking Instagram Account

How to track Instagram account owner?

To find out who owns an Instagram account:

  • Go to their profile to check their follows, followers, posts, and comments, which might give you a hint.
  • You can also cross-check their username on other social media platforms to find out the account owner. It would be helpful if they could apply the same username across social media.
  • And the most straightforward way is to follow them and ask them who they are.

How to find who is behind a fake Instagram account?

Fake accounts are everywhere. They are often created to impersonate someone else by stealing their identity or profile, making it hard to identify the real person behind it. 

Even so, you can take steps to spot them and avoid being a victim of the scams. Here are a few tips:

  • If the account follows a large number of accounts but has very few followers, it's likely that the account is fake.
  • A fake Instagram account will post repetitive content, and send promotional messages with spam links.
  • Perform a deep account search. If there is another authentic Instagram account with the same profile, username, and bios, then this is definitely fake.

Finally, the best counterattack for a fake Instagram account is to report it to Instagram support. They will take action to block the offending account after reviewing.

Can I find the location by Instagram ID?

No. It is impossible to track someone's location by a social media ID. If it were possible, then others even strangers could also track your location in this way, which would be terribly creepy and would have no privacy at all.

If there is any location tracker by Instagram ID, I suggest you don't waste your time and money on this type of tool.

Take Care of Your Instagram Location Privacy

Now, you know that it is possible to track an Instagram account location with different ways or tools. So is it possible that someone can also track your location through these methods? Of course yes! This is why you have to take measures to protect your privacy in case malicious people may stalk you. Here are some tips you can use:

Turn off Location on Instagram After Use

Whether you choose Instagram Map or Instagram location sharing in chats to share your real-time location, turning it off after use can enhance your privacy.

To turn off location on Instagram Map:

  1. Step 1.Go to your DM page on the Instagram app.
  2. Step 2.Tap on the "Map" section.
  3. Step 3.Click the "Settings" button to control who can see your real-time location.
  4. Step 4.Select "No one."
  5. turn off location on Instagram Map

To stop location sharing on Instagram chats:

  1. Step 1.Access the conversation that you choose to share your location with.
  2. Step 2.Tap on the location card in the chat window.
  3. Step 3.Select "Stop sharing location."
  4. stop Instagram location sharing

Avoid Geotagging Your IG Posts/Stories

Whether you are an active user on Instagram or other social media accounts, it is best to avoid adding or sharing your exact location on posts or stories.

If you really need to tag a location, especially when you are traveling, consider marking the broader administrative area instead. And remember not to show precise street or house details.

You can also disable location services for Instagram in the settings app, so it won't fetch your location data when you post content.

Be Cautious with Unknown Links

Some online Instagram location tracker can track an Instagram account's IP address via a link. So, always verify the source of the URL before clicking it even if it comes from trusted people.

Use a VPN

A reliable VPN service masks and hides your IP address, making it harder to infer your real location whether someone dives into your account info or uses third-party Instagram IP finders.

Final Remarks

All in all, you can find an Instagram account's location only if the user has chosen to share it publicly.

Whether you choose built-in features for viewing users' real-time location, IP addresses or publicly shared location data, or opt for third-party Instagram trackers, always remember to respect boundaries, follow the law, and use these methods responsibly.

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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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