Does Instagram Notify When You Screen Record? What to Know

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Understand where and when you can screen record on IG

Co-authored by Rain Kengly Reviewed by Candace Gasper

Last Updated: August 27, 2025 Fact Checked

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• Does Instagram Notify?
|
• Screen Recording on iOS
|
• Screen Recording on Android
|
• Screen Recording Alternatives

|Show more |Show less

Do you want to screen record someone's Instagram Story? As long as you're not recording anything in Vanish Mode (disappearing messages), you're free to do so without notifying anyone. This applies to any regular photo posts, public Stories, highlights, and more. Read on to learn about what you can screen record safely on Instagram.

Will Instagram Notify If I Screen Record?

Instagram will not notify other users if you screen record their public Stories. You'll only notify others if you screenshot or screen record content posted within Vanish Mode (disappearing messages).

Steps

Section 1 of 4:

Does Instagram Notify for Screen Recording?

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1. 
   No, Instagram won't notify users if you're screen recording public Stories. You can screenshot or screen record regular photo posts, public Stories, and Story highlights without worry. However, if you screenshot or screen record anything sent in Vanish Mode (now rebranded as "disappearing messages") or posts set as "View once", Instagram will notify the other user. Disappearing messages work similarly to Snapchat; if this mode is active while you're exchanging messages in a DM, any screenshots or recordings will notify the other user.

   • As long as you're screen recording a public Story, you won't notify the user.
   • You can screenshot or screen record the following content without notifying the user:
     • Profile photo posts
     • Story posts (public only)
     • Profile pictures
     • Reels
     • Comments
     • Live streams
     • Direct Messages without a time limit (outside of Vanish Mode)
     • Shared posts in Direct Messages (outside of Vanish Mode)
   • On the other hand, you also may not know if someone screenshots your Story.
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Section 2 of 4:

How to Screen Record on iPhone or iPad

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1. 
   1
   Add Screen Recording to your Command Center. This may already be in your Command Center by default, or you may have added it yourself. However, if it isn't, you can easily add it. Do the following:

   • Swipe down on the top-right corner to open the Command Center.
   • Long-press on an empty area.
   • Tap Add a Control at the bottom.
   • Tap the Screen Recording icon.
     • If you don't see it, tap the search bar at the top and type "screen recording" to find it.
   • Tap the screen to save it.
   • If you're running an older version of iOS, open Settings > Control Center. Tap the plus sign and select Screen Recording.
2. 
   2
   Navigate to the content you want to record. Remember, you cannot screenshot or screen record content sent in Vanishing Mode.
3. 
   3
   Open the Command Center and tap the Screen Record icon. It will give you a three-second countdown before it starts recording. You'll know it's recording when you see the red record icon in the top-left corner.

   • Be sure to swap back to the content before the countdown ends.
4. 
   4
   End the recording. Tap the red button in the top-left corner, and then tap Stop to end the recording. You can find your saved screen recording in the Photos app.
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Section 3 of 4:

How to Screen Record on Android

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1. 
   1
   Swipe down from the top of your screen. This opens the menu.
2. 
   2
   Tap Screen record. You may need to swipe towards the right to find the icon.

   • If you don't see it, you'll need to add it to your Quick Settings.
   • Tap Edit and drag Screen record into the Quick Settings menu.
3. 
   3
   Navigate to the content you want to record. Remember, you cannot screenshot or screen record content sent in Vanishing Mode.
4. 
   4
   Open the Quick Settings menu and tap Screen record. It will give you a countdown. Be sure to switch back to the content before the countdown ends.
5. 
   5
   End the recording. Swipe down from the top of the screen and tap Screen record notification.

   • You can find the saved screen recordings in the Photos app or gallery.
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Section 4 of 4:

Screen Recording Alternatives

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1. 
   1
   Log out of your account and/or use a different device. This is the safest way to screenshot or screen record content without it being traced back to you. Just be sure you're logged out of your account or using a separate device.
2. 
   2
   Use the Instagram website. While you can't screenshot content sent in Vanish Mode on any platform, it may be easier for you to screen record using your computer or mobile browser.
3. 
   3
   Use Airplane Mode. In the past, Airplane Mode was used to bypass Snapchat's notifications since it doesn't register your attempt to read a message. This may work similarly on Instagram. If you want to be extra sure your activity is hidden, you can try turning on Airplane Mode right before you click a post or Story to prevent your view from being logged.
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