How to See Most Active Times on Instagram

Time is of the essence. ⌛️

Have you ever posted on Instagram and after 30 minutes, literally no one has liked your post? Been there, done that, and never want to experience it again! 

Lucky for us, Instagram knows exactly what we need. Finding how to see most active times on Instagram is the best way to make sure you’re posting when your audience is actually online!

Knowing how to see most active times on Instagram can show you your followers' peak engagement times. This will completely transform your Instagram strategy, helping you post when eyes are actually on screens.

Why Timing Matters on Instagram

Before we go over how to see most active times on Instagram, let’s talk about why timing even matters on Instagram. 

Posting when your audience is most active:

1. Increases organic reach

2. Boosts engagement rates

3. Improves your chances of landing on the Explore page

4. Helps your content beat the algorithm

You work hard on the content that you post, so make sure your audience will actually see it!

via GIPHY

How to See Most Active Times on Instagram: Step-by-Step

Step #1: Switch Your Personal Account to a Professional Account

This is the most important step! You cannot skip it, okay? Okay!

Before anything, make sure that your Instagram account is classified as a professional account. These can be business or creator accounts. Only business and creator accounts can look at their insights. 

If your account is not set as a professional account, that is okay! We are here to help. 

How To Switch Your Account From “Personal” To “Professional”:

1. Open up your Instagram app and click on your profile picture in the bottom right corner.

2. Click the edit profile button located under your Instagram bio.

3. Scroll down a bit until you see the “Switch to professional account” button.

4. Hit next, then click which category best describes your business. Once you find it hit the “Switch to professional account” button at the bottom. 

5. Now it is time to classify yourself as a creator or a business. Then hit next.

6. Click next one more time. 

7. Complete these 7 steps.

8. Woohoo! Now you got yourself a professional Instagram account.

Now for the not-so-hard stuff. 

Step #2: Go To Your Instagram Profile

Once you are sure your account is set to the right settings, it is time for how to see most active times on Instagram. 

First, open your Instagram Profile and tap on your profile picture in the bottom right corner.

Step 3#: Go To Settings, Then “Insights”

Now it’s time to access your insights. 

Tap the hamburger menu (three lines) in the top right corner. I know it doesn’t actually look like a hamburger.

Scroll down to the “For professionals” section and select “Insights”. 

Step #4: Navigate Your Audience Tab

Now tap on "Total followers" or “New followers”  and scroll down to the bottom where it says “Most active times”.

Step #5: Review The Data

We’re basically done now! All you need to do now is analyze the data.

Instagram shows your followers’ most active hours for each day. Take note of peak activity patterns throughout the week, so you know when is the best time to post. 

Tips for Using This Data Effectively

Now that you know when your audience is active it’s time to put the data to the test. Here are some tips on how to effectively use your audience’s most active times on Instagram: 

• Export or screenshot the data to save it to your content calendar

• Plan ahead: Schedule posts to go live during peak activity hours

• Test different times: Experiment within your high-activity windows

• Track results: Monitor which specific times generate the most engagement

• Adjust seasonally: This data can change at any time, so make sure to check it regularly 

Try out these post ideas and watch your engagement grow!

via GIPHY

TLDR;

Here is the quick step-by-step on how to see most active times on Instagram:

1. Make sure that you’re a professional account, not a personal account

2. Go to your personal professional

3. Go To Settings, then click on “Insights”

4. Now tap on "total followers" or “new followers”  and scroll down to the bottom where it says “most active times”.

Now, keep scrolling to find an image-based tutorial. 👇

Header: Ready to Take Your Instagram Strategy to the Next Level?

Understanding how to see most active time on Instagram is just one piece of the Instagram success puzzle. Creating compelling content, engaging authentically, and building a cohesive brand presence all require time, creativity, and strategic thinking.

If you're ready to elevate your Instagram presence but are feeling overwhelmed by the constant platform changes and strategy development, we've got your back!

At Scott Social we live and breathe social media strategy. Our team of experts can help make sure your valuable audience data doesn’t go to waste. Partner with Scott Social and transform those insights into real business growth.

Ready to connect? Chat with us today!

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WRITTEN BY:

Micah Collins
Intern