If you keep seeing random accounts pop up in your feed, it’s time to stop auto following on Instagram. This is a common problem that has been ongoing for years. Upon searching the web, I found 7-10 year old reports of Instagram auto following random accounts.
In the next few minutes, I will share some interesting insights as well as my own experience tackling the problem!
Why is my Instagram account automatically following people?
- Third-party apps have access to your Instagram account, primarily any that claims to deliver likes and followers
- Your account details and password appeared in a data breach and threat actors have access to your profile
- A bug in Instagram is making you auto follow random accounts (it’s automatically fixed in 24-48 hours)
Table of Contents
How do I stop auto follow on Instagram?
1. Remove any third-party app access
In almost 3 out of 5 cases, third-party app/website access is the reason you are following someone on Instagram you never followed. If you have previously used any apps/websites that offer free/paid followers and likes, they likely have account access and are using your profile to auto follow others. So, you should immediately revoke third-party app access to Instagram!
To remove third-party apps from Instagram, open the app > navigate to our profile > tap on the hamburger (☰) icon > scroll down and choose App website permissions > select Apps and websites > under the Active tab, Remove any apps/websites with account access.
Once done, wait for a few hours and you will no longer find Instagram auto-following random accounts every time you log in.
2. Check Instagram’s login activity
In my experience, you should check your Instagram login history for devices you don’t remember signing in to. These are the devices that threat actors may be using to follow random Instagram accounts. And if there are any, remove them immediately!
To view and remove other devices, open your Instagram account > navigate to the profile > tap on the hamburger (☰) icon > select Accounts Centre > choose Passwords and security > tap on Where you’re logged in > select your Instagram account > select any device that you don’t remember logging in on > tap on Log out.
Similarly, review the entire Instagram login devices activity and remove any you suspect could be with malicious intent or on devices you don’t recognize. This will instantly stop auto following on Instagram!
3. Change the account password
Another reason behind the problem is that your password may have appeared in a data breach and is now being used by someone to follow Instagram accounts. To verify that, use a platform like Have I Been Pwned. Simply enter your email address linked with Instagram and it will notify you of any recent or past breaches where your account appeared.
If your account has been breached, immediately change the account password to stop future access by threat actors!
4. Enable 2-FA
While checking forums for ways to permanently stop auto following on Instagram, I found enabling 2-FA (Two Factor Authentication) to be the most effective solution. It worked for a large number of users!
To enable 2-FA on Instagram, navigate to your profile > tap the hamburger (☰) icon > select Accounts Centre > choose Password and security > tap on Two-factor authentication > pick your Instagram account > choose a security method (Authentication app or SMS/WhatsApp) > tap Next > fill out the details, if required > confirm the change.
Once done, re-login to Instagram, disconnect all other untrusted devices, and you should no longer find Instagram automatically following random accounts.
5. Verify if the random accounts are revamped versions
If nothing else works, you should verify whether what appears to be random accounts are simply profiles that have undergone significant transformation in the recent past. Say, a meme-sharing page suddenly started promoting brands, finance tips, or crypto-related information. In many cases, Instagram profiles get revamped after a change in ownership!
If none of these seem to work and you are facing the problem for the first time, wait for 24-48 hours. It’s most likely a glitch in Instagram that triggered the issue, and these random accounts will automatically unfollowed after the patch is deployed.
What should I do after disabling auto follow on Instagram?
After you have managed to stop auto follow on Instagram, the next step is to unfollow all the random profiles. Remember, it’s crucial that you initially unfollow only a few profiles, say 3-5 per day, and gradually increase the frequency over time.
This ensures that your account isn’t flagged for irregular or bot-like behavior. In case that happens, you run the risk of getting your Instagram account suspended. If user reports are to be believed, recovering your Instagram account after suspension in 2025 seems like a near-impossible task!
Why should I be concerned if Instagram is auto following random accounts?
If your account is auto-following profiles in large numbers, say 50-100 in a day, Instagram’s algorithm may impose restrictions on your account, affecting your experience. These restrictions, although temporary, can last for months, preventing you from following friends or accounts that you are interested in through no fault of your own. You may even end up losing Instagram followers.
So, if you ever see an irregular increase in the accounts that you follow on Instagram, put an end to auto-following right away!
That’s all for now. I hope the methods listed here allow you to regain full access to your account, eliminate active threats or unrecognized logins, and stop auto following on Instagram for good.
Before you leave, read our review of Instagram AI Chats/Characters and discover why the feature is getting so much attention!
For any queries or to share more ways to stop Instagram from auto-following accounts, drop a comment below.
