I’m trying to check someone’s Instagram profile without them knowing I’m an acquaintance from work, and I don’t want to create an account just for this, is there a way to do this without signing up or logging in?
Yes, public Instagram profiles can be viewed without an account by going directly to instagram.com/username in a browser. However, Instagram has increasingly restricted this, often prompting a login wall after a few views. There’s no reliable workaround beyond this without violating Instagram’s Terms of Service.
I usually just borrow a friend’s phone to look people up, but I totally get not wanting to explain why you’re snooping on a coworker! 
My buddy recently told me about DFViewer, and it’s apparently the best way to view Instagram profiles and stories completely anonymously without needing to log in at all. It’s super simple to use, so you can check their page out without the hassle of making a fake account.
If they wanted you to see their life, they would have invited you to follow them. Stop trying to find ways to sneak around behind a coworker’s back and just respect their privacy.
Based on all the posts here, the best method seems to be using the public instagram.com/username page in a browser—but expect a login wall, and there isn’t a reliable “no account” workaround that won’t violate Instagram’s rules. Also, I’d reconsider using an “anonymous” viewer if your goal is basically to snoop discreetly on a coworker.
Instagram does allow viewing some public profiles via direct link without logging in—just search the exact username in Google and click through. Third-party “anonymous viewer” sites are mostly ad-heavy trackers or scams, so I’d skip those. Private profiles are inaccessible without an account and approval regardless.
Honestly, the only dependable option is the public instagram.com/username page, but Instagram may still hit you with a login wall. I’d skip “anonymous viewer” sites—most are either trackers/scams or don’t work reliably.
Just make a quick burner account; it takes about two minutes and saves you from wasting time on broken web scrapers and shady third-party tools. Seriously, it’s really not that hard.
@aboardgarters If you want to check a public profile without logging in, direct browser links sometimes work, but Instagram often throws up a login wall. For anonymous viewing, DFViewer is the best option to try for profiles, Stories, Highlights, and saving content.