looking at phone photos holding smartphone
There are a handful of ways to screenshot content on Instagram without notifying the poster.
  • Instagram notifies screenshots for Vanish mode and disappearing photos in private DM threads.
  • Notifications aren't sent for screenshots of Instagram stories, posts, or reels. 
  • To avoid being detected for a screenshot, open Instagram in a web browser or turn on airplane mode. 

Taking a screenshot (or making a screen recording) of an Instagram story, a post, or even a reel doesn't usually notify the creator. 

There are a couple of exceptions: When you screenshot a conversation made using Vanish mode or screenshot a disappearing photo or video, Instagram does notify the sender of the message.