Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know about exports, Snapshots, unfollowers, and staying safe while checking your Instagram analytics.

Last updated: November 2025

What is Don’t Follow Back?

Don’t Follow Back is a safe, export-based Instagram analytics tool that lets you see:

• Who doesn’t follow you back
• Who unfollowed you
• Deactivated accounts
• Fans
• Favorites
• Close Friends
• Blocked / restricted
• Pending requests
• Reactivated accounts
• Bots / compromised accounts
• Watchlist
• And more

It uses Instagram’s official data export, not your password — meaning zero account risk.

Why is this safer than login-based “unfollower apps”?

Most follower apps ask for your Instagram password, breaking Instagram’s Terms and triggering:

• Temporary action blocks
• Suspicious login flags
• Forced logouts
• Shadowbans
• Full account deactivation

They scrape Instagram’s API behind your back.

DFB does none of this.

• No password
• No login
• No scraping
• No stored data
• No background tracking

You upload your official Instagram export, we parse it in-memory, and we delete it immediately.

This is the only method Instagram actually allows.

Which Instagram files do I need?

Just upload the ZIP file Instagram emails you.

Inside, we automatically find:

Required:

• following.json
• followers_*.json

Optional (adds extra features):

• close_friends.json
• profiles_you've_favorited.json
• blocked_profiles.json
• restricted_profiles.json
• recently_unfollowed_profiles.json
• pending_follow_requests.json
• hide_story_from_profiles.json

No need to unzip anything — DFB handles it.

How do I get my Instagram data export?

Open Instagram →
Settings & privacy →
Accounts Center →
Your information and permissions →
Export your information →
Create export

On the "Confirm your export" screen:

Select only:

Connections → Followers and Following

Make sure everything else is unchecked.

Instagram will email your ZIP.

Is this really safe?

Yes. DFB processes your export:

• In-memory only
• Without saving the file
• Without storing any account data
• Without contacting Instagram
• Without logging or tracking

We never ask for, receive, or handle your Instagram password.

Why don’t my counts match Instagram?

A few common reasons:

• Large exports often include multiple followers_*.json files
• The export may be a few hours or days old
• Instagram’s in-app counts update slowly
• Username changes and deactivations shift totals
• Following + followers numbers are often rounded in the app

Upload the latest export for the most accurate result.

Does this show who unfollowed me?

Yes — as long as you have a Snapshot.

DFB can detect:

• Unfollowers Since Snapshot — people who followed you then but don’t follow you now
• Deactivated accounts
• Reactivated accounts
• Username changes (best-effort match)

If Instagram includes recently_unfollowed_profiles.json, we show the accounts you unfollowed too.

What is a Snapshot and why does it matter?

A Snapshot is your personal baseline — a saved copy of your followers from today.

Use it to:

• See unfollowers the next time you upload
• Track changes over time
• Organize your list
• Ignore dead profiles
• Maintain a Watchlist
• Avoid accounting noise

Snapshots live on your device, not ours.

What extra groups can DFB surface?

If your export includes the files, DFB highlights:

• Close Friends
• Favorites
• Fans
• Blocked
• Restricted
• Pending follow requests
• Hide-story-from
• Bots / compromised patterns
• Reactivated accounts

And of course, Doesn’t Follow Back — the most requested view.

How often should I refresh?

Most creators check:

• Weekly (content creators / public accounts)
• Monthly (personal accounts)

Every new export updates your results instantly.

Pricing

• Free: Preview up to 50 profiles, limited filters
• Paid ($3 one-time): Full list, names, CSV, advanced filters, unfollower compare, shareable image

No subscription. No upsells.

Will this take action on my Instagram?

No. DFB performs zero actions.

• No following
• No unfollowing
• No messaging
• No liking or scraping

We only analyze your export.

What export formats do you support?

• JSON (preferred)
• ZIP containing JSON files

From exports created on both iPhone and Android.

I uploaded my files but got an error

Try this checklist:

• Ensure you uploaded all followers_*.json files
• Avoid renaming or opening JSON files in Notes/Preview
• Export "Followers and Following" only
• Download a fresh export if your previous one is old
• Check file size — Instagram sometimes sends a partial export

If issues remain, contact us.

Privacy

• No passwords
• No tracking
• No stored data
• No databases holding your export
• Everything is deleted after parsing

Your privacy is the entire product philosophy.