Does Instagram Send Notifications When You Screenshot a Story?

Instagram is one of the biggest social media platforms designed for sharing images and videos.

However, since you cannot save or download photos like Facebook due to privacy regulations and how the app is intended, most people use their screenshot function to keep a particular picture on their phone.

Many people would like to know if Instagram sends notifications to people when you screenshot their stories. Unlike Facebook that sends notifications for everything, Instagram is a bit different. By the way, if you would like to figure out how to turn of Facebook notifications in Chrome, you should definitely read the linked article.

The function “Story” was released with the start of the app, and it quickly became popular since people can share images that only last for 24 hours after they are permanently deleted. Since this option became so popular, they’ve decided to include it in other apps like Facebook, which did not catch on just as well as Instagram.

Nowadays, there are over 500 million Instagram stories shared every day. This means that there is plenty of content that you would probably like to save or share via direct message to other users.

Instagram has changed a lot of features since its initial release, and the notification for making a screenshot of someone’s story has been added and removed multiple times.

That is why people simply don’t know whether or not the person receives a notification about the screenshot. 

The only way to find out is to research online or find a friend that will post a story and make a screenshot to see if they will receive a notification.

But, we are here to clear that question once and for all. If you are interested in some other interesting reads on Instagram and the neat tricks around it, make sure you give check to my posts about untagging yourself on Instagram photos as well as editing Instagram comments.

Do People Receive Notifications Of My Instagram Story Screenshots?

We’ve all been in that situation when you want to take a screenshot, but you are too afraid if that person is notified about your action. People are worried that the screenshot notification will act as a backfire and possibly causing further complications.

However, apart from all the confusion, there is no such thing as Instagram notifications for making a screenshot of someone’s story. 

The confusion began back in 2016 when Instagram started sending notifications when someone makes a screenshot of a conversation that happened in direct messages. Later on, in 2018, they started testing the notification option for making a screenshot of someone’s story, but they’ve never put it into regular use.

Additionally, Instagram does not send notifications if you:

  • Screenshot a post or story;
  • Screen-record videos;
  • Share take a screenshot and make a post out of it;

However, people will be notified if you make a screenshot of a direct message in a private conversation.

How to Keep Your Story Safe From Screenshots

In order to maintain your privacy and to avoid someone making a screenshot of a photo that was supposed to last only for 24 hours, there are few things you can do, such as:

Switch your profile to private mode

This way, people can still take screenshots from your story, but you will be able to manage your followers and do not approve someone you don’t trust. I have written a great guide on how to view private Instagram profiles, if you are interested in that kinda thing.

Share Instagram Stories only to Close Friends

The Close Friends story sharing option has been around for a long time, and it lets you create a group of Close Friends and share stories only with those people.

How to Share Someone’s Story on Instagram

If you like to share an image that was posted from someone else on your story or other social media channels without making a screenshot, there are few options you can go for.

First Option

This option only works for public Instagram accounts. So, if you like to share a story from a general account, you can follow these steps:

  • Open the story you would like to share;
  • Tap on the three dots icon in the bottom right corner;
  • You will see a dropdown menu of couple options, choose “Copy Link.
  • After you’ve copied the link successfully you can even share the story on other social media platforms;

Second Option

When it comes to the second option, you can use the airplane icon on the bottom of every story. By tapping on the icon, you will see a different screen that pops up with all your friends. You can choose which friends you like to share that particular story. The story will be shared via direct message.

Probably the easiest way to share a story is when the person @mentions you in it. That way, you can easily hit the “Add to Your Story” button and you will share the same picture on your story.

How to Screenshot a Story if Instagram Introduces Notifications in the Future

We don’t know what to expect in the future for Instagram. As we mentioned, they started testing this feature back in 2018, so maybe one day, it will be introduced to Instagram. 

Does this mean that there is absolutely no way to make a screenshot without notification?

Fortunately, there will always be a way to make a screenshot of someone’s story even if they put notifications. 

You should follow these steps:

  1. Open the Instagram story you want to make a screenshot of;
  2. Turn off your internet connection;
  3. Go back to the Instagram story and make a screenshot;
  4. Force close the Instagram app before turning your Internet connection back on;

Another way is to use Instagram on your desktop browser and simply click the print screen and paste the photo in Paint.

The last method would be using recording apps that will continuously take footage of what you see on your phone or desktop. That way, you can pause the video on the story and make a photo out of it.

All of these are possible scenarios if Instagram decides to include the notify feature in the future and if you are desperate for a screenshot without the person noticing. The methods mentioned above are just expectations and possible ways of bypassing the notifications on Instagram. If this feature is released, maybe they will find a way to restrict all of them.

Final Words

So, now you know that people wouldn’t be notified if you make a screenshot of their story. Since Instagram doesn’t have a clear explanation on this subject, your only chance is to research about the notification system.

Now you can sit back and enjoy making screenshots and sharing them with your friends.