Have you ever sent a follow request on Instagram by mistake or changed your mind afterward? Don’t worry! Instagram allows you to cancel sent follow requests easily. In this guide, we’ll cover three quick ways to cancel a sent follow request on Instagram—whether you remember the username, need to check all your pending requests, or want to automate the process.
Method 1: Cancel a Follow Request from the User’s Profile
If you remember the username of the person you sent a request to, you can cancel it directly from their profile.
Steps to Cancel a Follow Request from a User’s Profile:
- Open Instagram and tap the search icon (🔍) at the bottom.
- Type the username of the person you sent the follow request to.
- Open their profile—you’ll see a “Requested” button instead of “Follow.”
- Tap “Requested” and select “Cancel” (or it will automatically change back to “Follow”).
📌 Pro Tip: If you can’t find their profile, they may have accepted or declined your request, changed their username, or blocked you.
Method 2: View & Cancel All Sent Follow Requests (Instagram Settings)
If you’ve sent multiple follow requests and want to cancel them all, you can check your sent requests list through Instagram’s settings.
Steps to Cancel Multiple Follow Requests:
- Open Instagram and tap your profile picture at the bottom right.
- Tap the menu icon (☰) in the top right corner and go to “Your Activity.”
- Scroll down and tap “Download Your Information.”
- Under “Request a Download”, select “Following and Followers.”
- Choose “JSON” format, enter your email, and tap “Request Download.”
- Once you receive the email, open the file and find “Pending Follow Requests.”
- Copy the usernames, search for them in Instagram, and cancel each request manually.
📌 Pro Tip: This method is helpful if you want to cancel multiple requests at once. However, Instagram may take a few hours to send the data file.
Method 3: Use a Third-Party Website to See Sent Requests
If you don’t want to wait for Instagram’s data file, you can use online tools to check your sent follow requests.
Steps to Use a Third-Party Tool:
- Visit a trusted Instagram insights tool like “Follower Analyzer” or “IG Follower Export.”
- Log in with your Instagram credentials (use caution and avoid unverified apps).
- Look for the “Pending Requests” section.
- Copy the usernames and manually search & cancel requests on Instagram.
📌 Warning: Be cautious when using third-party apps—some may violate Instagram’s terms of service.
FAQs About Canceling Sent Follow Requests on Instagram
1. Can I cancel a follow request on Instagram?
Yes! You can cancel a follow request at any time by visiting the user’s profile and tapping “Requested” > Cancel” or by checking your sent requests list in Instagram settings.
2. Will the person know if I cancel my follow request?
No, Instagram does not notify users when a follow request is canceled. However, if they check their “Follow Requests” before you cancel, they may notice that your request is missing.
3. How do I see all my sent follow requests?
You can find your pending follow requests by:
- Going to Settings > Your Activity > Download Your Information.
- Requesting your data and checking the “Pending Follow Requests” file.
4. What happens if I cancel a follow request?
Once canceled:
- The “Requested” button will return to “Follow.”
- The user won’t receive a follow request notification anymore.
- You will have to send a new request if you change your mind later.
5. Can I cancel multiple follow requests at once?
Instagram does not offer a direct way to cancel multiple requests at once. However, you can:
✅ Use the “Download Your Information” method to find all pending requests.
✅ Manually search for each username and cancel the request one by one.
6. What if I can’t find the user’s profile?
If you can’t find the profile, it may be because:
❌ They accepted or declined your request.
❌ They changed their username.
❌ They blocked you.
❌ Their account was deleted or deactivated.
7. Can I cancel a follow request from Instagram Web?
No, Instagram Web does not provide an option to cancel follow requests. You’ll need to use the mobile app to remove them.
8. If I cancel a follow request, can I send another one?
Yes, you can send a new request anytime unless the person declines it multiple times or restricts you from following them.
9. Why do I still see “Requested” even after canceling?
If the “Requested” button does not change back to “Follow,” try:
🔄 Refreshing the page or closing the app.
📲 Logging out and back in.
🗑️ Clearing Instagram’s cache (for Android users).
10. Can I use an app to cancel all sent follow requests?
Some third-party tools claim to help, but be cautious! Many of these violate Instagram’s policies and could get your account restricted. It’s best to cancel requests manually.
Final Thoughts
Cancelling sent follow requests on Instagram is easy using these three methods:
✅ From the user’s profile (Best for individual requests)
✅ Through Instagram settings (Best for multiple requests)
✅ Using a third-party tool (Faster but requires caution)
Now you can clean up your Instagram requests and avoid awkward situations! 🚀
Would you like an FAQ section for this as well? 😊
