How to identify accounts that no longer follow you

If you want a definitive list of accounts that are no longer in your follower list, the most reliable free method is to compare two exports of your own data. Here is how, step by step.

Step 1: request your followers list from Instagram

1. In the Instagram app or on instagram.com, open Accounts Center and find Your information and permissions → Download your information. (Menu names change occasionally; search for “Download your information” in settings if you cannot find it.)
2. Choose to download only some of your information and select Followers and following.
3. Pick JSON as the format — it is easier to compare than HTML — and request the download. Instagram emails you when it is ready; this can take a while.

Inside the ZIP file you will find a followers file, usually named followers_1.json (large accounts may have several numbered files), and a following.json file listing the accounts you follow.

Step 2: wait, then export again

You need two lists from different dates. Keep the first export safe, then repeat the request later — a week or a month, depending on what you want to learn.

Step 3: compare the two lists

Each entry in the followers file contains the account's username. To compare by hand:

1. Copy the usernames from each file into two columns of a spreadsheet.
2. Use a lookup (for example COUNTIF) to flag usernames from the old column that do not appear in the new column. Those accounts are no longer following you.
3. Do the reverse to find new followers.

Or upload both files to UnfollowWatch: the import tool parses the export (ZIP, JSON or HTML), shows a preview of what changed before saving anything, and keeps a history.

Step 4: interpret the result carefully

• Usernames, not IDs. Exports list usernames. Someone who changed their username shows up as “gone” under the old name and “new” under the new one. Check before drawing conclusions.
• Deactivated and deleted accounts are missing from the newer export too, and blocked accounts disappear as well.
• Compare complete exports only. If one file looks much shorter than your follower count, it may be incomplete — do not trust the comparison.

Bonus: do you still follow them?

The following.json file shows who you follow. Cross-checking it tells you whether you still follow the accounts that left — handy if you want to tidy up. UnfollowWatch shows this automatically when the export includes it.

Make it continuous

Exports are great for occasional checks. For ongoing tracking without waiting for downloads, the Chrome companion compares lists on your own computer each time you scroll through your followers.