How to Find Likes on Instagram Posts (Quick Guide)

Are you a captivating Instagrammer seeking to know how to find likes on Instagram? Read this tutorial to know how to see likes along with their significance on an engagement-based platform:

It is almost hard to explain the appeal of “Likes” on social media. I remember someone aptly describing it as a currency for online validation. Getting a “Like” on a post validates your entire existence online. When someone hits the like button on whatever you’ve posted, it means that they resonate with it. It is a way for you to connect with people.

It is also a valuable metric to measure engagement in one’s profile. The number of likes one gets per reel or post can skyrocket people to the height of popularity on Instagram. You can flaunt these likes to get brand deals and become a massive influencer on the platform.

Check Likes on Instagram – Know How

So it came as a shock to me when Instagram suddenly announced that they were going to provide users with the option to hide their “likes”.

This article is going to revolve around the “like” button and what the recent update to it means. I’ll specifically be focusing on how to find likes on Instagram, how you can hide the like count, and what could be a good reason to do so on a platform that thrives on engagement.

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Why Hide Likes on Instagram

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I was surprised to hear that Instagram wanted to offer its users the opportunity to hide the “likes” their posts generate. I couldn’t understand who would want to do this until I dug a little deeper. When the head of Instagram, Adam Mosseri, came out to introduce the prospect of hiding “likes” publicly, he said they were doing so to de-pressurize Instagram.

They wanted Instagram to be a more welcoming place where people only focused on creating great content rather than chasing “likes”. By now, I think social media can affect one’s mental health. Many experts have estimated that the prolonged use of platforms like Instagram is responsible for the spike in social anxiety among the young in our society.

As I mentioned before, “likes” can be considered a currency of validation. People seek widespread validation as likes, comments, or shares when they post something online. Some people attach their self-worth to the number of “likes” their content generates.

We’ve seen countless reports of worsening social anxiety among users of Instagram who have a desirable engagement on their posts, reels, or stories. Most of these people end up suffering from self-esteem issues, with some even withdrawing from society altogether.

When you consider this information, you can understand why Instagram would roll out such a feature.

The intention behind hiding “likes” is quite clear and noble. Instagram would like to cultivate a culture on its platform that is more uplifting than competitive and toxic.

Instagram and its Handling of the “Like” Button over the Years

This isn’t the first time Instagram has meddled with the like button. As far as I can recall, Instagram first tried to completely do away with “likes” back in 2019. The people behind Instagram removed the “like” button entirely on the app for select users in Australia, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, Ireland, the USA, and Brazil.

This, however, only lasted a year before the “like” button made its comeback. In 2021, they made another notable change concerning this feature. The platform changed the way engagement was depicted by showing it as “liked by username and others” instead of showing the exact number of likes.

You could no longer see the number of likes on other people’s posts unless you clicked on that section and counted the number of likes yourself.

Eventually, in 2022, Instagram granted its users the privilege to either show the number of “likes” on their posts or hide it. Simply put, you now have the power to keep this “like meter” private or expose it to the public.

How to Find Likes on Instagram

Likes can be found underneath each post. All you have to do is browse through your feed and navigate through all the posts on it. You’ll see “liked by username and 9 others” if the like count is not hidden or “liked by username and others” if the like count is hidden right underneath the post.

How to Hide Likes on Instagram

Hiding likes on Instagram is very simple. Follow the below step-by-step guide:

#1) When the Post is already Published.

4. The like count beneath your post will now be depicted as “liked by username and others”.

#2) When the Post has now been published yet

3. In the setting menu, tap on “like and share counts”.

4. Switch the toggle on. You’ve now successfully hidden the likes and share count on your posts.

How to See Likes on Instagram

If you can’t find likes on Instagram, it is probably because your like counts have been hidden. To see them again, I suggest doing any of the following:

#1) Directly from the Published Post

If likes are not visible on a specific post, follow these steps:

4. You’ll now see the number of people who’ve liked your post.

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#2) From the Settings

If you can’t see the likes on all your published posts, then do the following:

1. Open your Instagram profile.
2. Navigate to the three lines present on the top right corner of your screen.
3. In the setting menu, tap on “like and share counts”.
4. Switch the toggle off. You’ll now see the likes and share count on your posts.

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How to Find Likes on IG of Others – Top Apps

This is where things get a little complicated. As you’ve already learned by now, there are many ways by which you can check out the likes on your Instagram posts. However, what about the hidden likes of other people’s posts?

Check out how much engagement your competitors are generating on Instagram. It will be impossible to do so if their like and share count is hidden. The best way to uncover their hidden “likes” is to use third-party apps.

Now many third-party apps out there claim to help you unearth hidden “likes” on other people’s Instagram. From my experience, however, I can think of two apps that do this job flawlessly.

These apps are as follows:

#1) Preview

Preview is an app that lends you a portal into the Instagram analytics of other people. The app can be used on phones and computers to unearth hidden “likes” on other profiles. Launch the app and enter the username of the Instagram analytics you wish to assess.

You’ll get a complete overview of this account, including the average number of likes these accounts got in the past 7 days.

Website: https://thepreviewapp.com/

#2) NapoleonCat

NapoleonCat is another app that will make you privy to the analytics of other people’s Instagram. You’ll get complete statistics for each published post from the past 90 days. You’ll get a detailed analysis of the engagement your posts have generated, including insight on “likes”. You will receive comprehensive reports that present all of this data to you.

Website: https://napoleoncat.com/instagram/

Alternatives to “Likes” When Measuring Engagement on Instagram

While “likes” is a useful tool to measure engagement, it isn’t the only tool that Instagram offers you to measure engagement.

Here are a few other ways by which you can successfully assess the engagement your Instagram is experiencing:

#1) Followers List

If you’ve seen a consistent rise in the number of followers on the platform, take it as a sign that you are doing something right. Gaining followers regularly means that people are resonating with your content and would like to see more of it on their feeds.

#2) Shares

Shares are yet another good indicator of high engagement on your Instagram. More shares mean your content is of top-notch quality. The type of content generating the most “shares” on your Instagram could be a sign of what kind of content you need to stick with if you wish to grow on the platform.

#3) Comments

Comments are perhaps the most accurate sign of high engagement on Instagram. While anyone can tap the “like” or “share” icon, having somebody go through the effort of actually typing and leaving a comment on your posts shows just how impactful your content is.

#4) Stories

Posting Stories has become the new norm on Instagram. People don’t post on their feeds as frequently as they do their stories recently. Depending on the number of replies, impressions, and shares your Story gets, you can get an idea of just how engaging your content has been.

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Frequently Asked Questions

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Conclusion

Although Instagram allows you to hide “likes”, it hasn’t erased the feature altogether. If you are still wondering “how to see likes on Instagram”, rest assured that you can do so very easily. Whether to keep these likes hidden is something I’ll leave up to you. If you wish to earn more brand promotions, I suggest keeping your “like count” visible.

On the other hand, if you wish to hide the low engagement on your platform or wish to divert your focus to the content alone, you’d be better off hiding the “like count”.

The “likes” your post generates can have both positive and negative implications for your profile. At the end of the day, you should use Instagram for fun and to connect with people regardless of whether it generates any form of engagement in the form of likes, shares, or comments.