How to See How Many Follow Requests You Have Sent on Instagram

Instagram used to have a simple menu that listed every follow request you’d sent. That menu is gone. The list still exists, though — it’s just tucked inside the copy of your data that Instagram lets you download.

Step 1: Request your data

1. Open your profile and tap the menu (three lines).
2. Go to Accounts Center → Your information and permissions → Download your information.
3. Choose Some of your information and select Followers and following.
4. Pick Download to device, set the format to HTML, and submit the request.

Instagram usually prepares the file within minutes to a few hours, and sends a notification when it’s ready.

Step 2: Download and unzip the file

Open the notification, download the file (you’ll need to enter your password) and unzip it on your phone or computer.

Step 3: Find your pending requests

Open the connections → followers_and_following folder and open the file for pending follow requests in your browser. Every name in that list is a request you sent that hasn’t been accepted. Count the names, and you have your number.

How to cancel old follow requests

There’s no “cancel all” button, so you do it one by one:

1. Copy a username from the file.
2. Search for it on Instagram and open the profile.
3. Tap Requested, then confirm.

Go at a steady pace. Cancelling hundreds of requests in a few minutes looks like bot behavior and can earn you a temporary action block.

Skip the “see sent requests” apps

Any app that claims to show your sent requests instantly needs your Instagram password to do it. That breaks Instagram’s terms, can get your account locked, and isn’t necessary — the official data download above gives you the same list for free.