Where to find your like counts on Instagram
Instagram shows you like counts in two places: on your own posts in your profile, and on other people's posts when you're browsing. On your own posts, the like count appears directly below the image or video — tap it to see who liked it. On other people's posts, the count sits below the image in the same spot, and you can tap it to see the list of accounts that liked it.
If you don't see any numbers at all, Instagram may have hidden like counts on your account. This is a setting Instagram rolled out to some users, and you can turn it back on. Go to Settings, tap Account, then Hide Like and View Counts, and toggle it off. After you do this, like counts will reappear on posts in your feed and on your own profile.
Key Takeaways
- Like counts appear below every post on Instagram, and you can tap the number to see which accounts liked it.
- If you see no numbers, Instagram has hidden counts on your account — turn this off in Settings > Account > Hide Like and View Counts.
- Your own posts show likes in your profile; you can also check your Insights tab to see which of your posts got the most engagement.
- Instagram hides like counts from other users on some accounts, so you may see "liked by [name] and others" instead of a number.
- You cannot see likes on a private account unless you follow that person or they have approved your follow request.
Checking likes on your own posts through your profile
Open your profile by tapping your profile picture in the bottom right corner. Scroll through your posts and look below each image — you'll see the like count displayed as a number. Tap that number to open a list of everyone who liked the post, in order from most recent.
If you want to see which of your posts performed best, go to your Insights tab. Tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) at the top right, then tap Insights. Scroll down to Posts and you'll see each post ranked by how many people interacted with it — likes, comments, and saves all count toward this ranking. This view is faster than checking each post individually if you have a lot of content.
Viewing likes on posts from accounts you follow
When you're scrolling your feed, every post shows a like count below the image. Tap the number to see the list of accounts that liked it. The list shows the most recent likers first, then older ones below. You can scroll through this list to see who engaged with the post.
If the account that posted is public, you can see the full like count and the complete list of likers. If the account is private and you don't follow them, you won't be able to see their posts at all — they only appear to people the account owner has approved. If you follow a private account, you see their posts and can tap the like count just like a public post.
Understanding when Instagram hides like counts
Instagram sometimes hides the exact number of likes on posts from other users' accounts. When this happens, you'll see text that says "Liked by [account name] and others" instead of a number. This is Instagram's choice, not the post owner's — the account owner cannot control whether their like counts are hidden from viewers.
The hidden count feature rolls out to different regions and accounts at different times. If you see hidden counts on most posts but not all, it means Instagram is testing the feature on your account. You cannot turn this off for other people's posts, only for your own. If you want to see the actual number of likes on someone else's post and it's hidden, there's no way to do that through Instagram itself.
Finding your most-liked posts over time
Go to your profile and tap the menu icon (three lines) at the top right. Select Insights, then tap Posts. This shows you every post you've made, ranked by total interactions. The posts at the top got the most engagement overall — this includes likes, comments, saves, and shares combined.
If you want to see only likes and not other interactions, you'll need to check each post individually by tapping the like count on the post itself. Instagram's Insights tool doesn't break down engagement by type — it shows total interactions only. For a more detailed breakdown, you can take a screenshot of each post's like count and keep a personal record, though this is time-consuming if you post frequently.
Searching for posts by specific accounts or hashtags
To find posts from a specific account, tap the search icon (magnifying glass) at the bottom of your screen and type the account name. When you find the account, tap it to go to their profile, then scroll through their posts and check the like counts. You can also search by hashtag — type a hashtag like #photography and Instagram will show you all public posts tagged with it, ranked by popularity. Posts with more likes appear higher in the results.
If you want to find posts you've already liked, tap your profile picture, then tap the menu icon and select Saved. This shows posts you've bookmarked, but not a list of everything you've liked. Instagram does not have a built-in way to view your complete like history, so if you need to find a post you liked weeks ago, searching by account name or hashtag is your best option.
What to do if like counts aren't showing up
If you see no numbers below any posts, Instagram has turned on the hide-like-counts setting for your account. This is a privacy feature Instagram offers, and it's on by default for some users. To turn it off, go to your profile, tap the menu icon, select Settings, then tap Account. Look for Hide Like and View Counts and toggle it off. The change takes effect when ready, and you'll start seeing numbers again.
If you've turned off the setting and still don't see numbers, try closing and reopening the Instagram app. Sometimes the display doesn't update right away. If the problem continues, make sure you're using the latest version of Instagram — go to your phone's app store and check for updates. If you're still having trouble after updating, the issue may be on Instagram's end, and you can report it through the app by going to Settings > Help > Report a Problem.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I see who liked a post if the account is private?
Only if you follow the account and they've approved your request. Private accounts don't show their posts to people who don't follow them, so you won't see the post or its like count at all unless you're approved. Once you follow them, you can tap the like count just like any other post.
Why does one post show "Liked by [name] and others" instead of a number?
Instagram is hiding the exact like count on that post. This is Instagram's decision, not the post owner's. The feature rolls out to different accounts at different times. You cannot see the actual number through Instagram, but the post owner can see it in their own Insights.
Can I see all the posts I've ever liked?
Instagram doesn't show a complete history of posts you've liked. You can see posts you've saved (bookmarked) by going to your profile and tapping Saved, but that's different from likes. To find a post you liked, search by the account name or hashtag instead.
What if I accidentally hide like counts on my own posts?
Go to Settings > Account > Hide Like and View Counts and toggle it off. Your like counts will reappear when ready on all your posts. Only you can see this setting — it doesn't affect whether other people can see your like counts.
Do likes show differently on Instagram Stories?
Stories don't display like counts at all. Instead, you see a list of people who viewed your story. Tap the eye icon at the bottom of your story to see who watched it. Only you can see this list — viewers cannot see who else watched your story.