# Can I get story views for another Instagram account?

Instagram. Checked September 2026.

No. Instagram shows story view counts and the viewer list only to the account that posted the story. No public page has that number, so no honest API can return it. Openhandle returns the public story itself, not its views.

For a public account you get each active story with its media, timing, and links. Stories expire after 24 hours, so read them on a schedule if you need a record.

## GET /v1/instagram/profiles/@username/stories

```bash
curl "https://api.openhandle.dev/v1/instagram/profiles/@northstar_forge_test/stories" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $OPENHANDLE_API_KEY"
```

```ts
import { OpenHandle } from '@openhandle/sdk';

const openhandle = new OpenHandle({ apiKey: process.env.OPENHANDLE_API_KEY! });
const page = await openhandle.instagram.profile('northstar_forge_test').stories.list();

for (const story of page.data) console.log(story.id, story.media[0]?.url);
```

200 OK:

```json
{
  "platform": "instagram",
  "resource": "story",
  "capturedAt": "2026-09-18T10:24:51Z",
  "source": "live",
  "data": [
    {
      "id": "910400000001",
      "createdAt": "2026-09-18T08:10:00Z",
      "expiresAt": "2026-09-19T08:10:00Z",
      "media": [{ "type": "image", "url": "https://media.openhandle.dev/…" }]
    }
  ],
  "meta": { "cursors": { "next": null } }
}
```

Trimmed to the fields this question needs. There is no view count field, because Instagram publishes none. The example is a Test account, so you can run it on a free Test key.

## What the owner sees that you cannot

- **View count and viewer list.** Owner only, in the app. The Instagram API with Instagram Login can read it for accounts that authorized your app.
- **Replies and reactions.** Delivered as direct messages. Private by definition.
- **Sticker results.** Poll votes, quiz answers, and question replies stay with the owner.

## If the account is yours or your client’s

Ask the owner to authorize your app through Instagram Login on a professional account. The Instagram Graph API then returns story insights for that account with consent. That is the right tool for owned accounts. Openhandle is for public data on accounts you do not control.

## When this does not work

Empty is an answer. Private is an answer.

| Situation | Status | Code |
|---|---|---|
| No active story | 200 | `empty data` |
| The account is private | 403 | `PROFILE_PRIVATE` |
| The account is deleted, banned, or never existed | 404 | `PROFILE_NOT_FOUND` |

```json
{
  "error": {
    "code": "PROFILE_PRIVATE",
    "message": "This profile is private.",
    "requestId": "req_01j8…",
    "retryable": false
  }
}
```

An empty list bills as an answered request. Stories from private accounts are never read.

## Related

- [Public data notice](https://openhandle.dev/legal/public-data-notice): What Openhandle reads, what it never does, and how owners can block a profile.
- [Can I get data from a private Instagram account?](https://openhandle.dev/questions/can-i-get-data-from-a-private-instagram-account): The other hard no, and what to do with it.
- [Instagram API](https://openhandle.dev/apis/instagram): Every Instagram endpoint, including stories and highlights.