How Instagram Users Bypass Screenshot Notifications

Several days ago, Instagram confirmed testing screenshot notifications of its stories. It’s not the first social media platform to do this (Shoutout to Snapchat users). Not everyone is very happy about this. Screenshot notifications might protect the privacy of whoever put the story up, but on the flipside, it takes privacy away from those sharing the stories. Here are some of the ways ‘Grammers have been breaking rules before they’ve even been put up.

Turning on Airplane Mode, Story sharing apps and more

As pointed out on Twitter, screenshots taken in airplane mode do not trigger the notification system. For those who never activate this feature, airplane mode suspends radio frequency reception and transmission. This means no texts or calls, and definitely no internet connection. It also means the app can’t send a notification out. Simply navigate to the story you want, and turn on airplane mode prior to taking your screenshot.

Story Sharing Apps

Those on the iPhone might be familiar with the Story Reposter. Applications like these do not technically count as screenshots, and so do not trigger the notification system. Granted, you may have to read through features yourself, just in case the app automatically tags people you would rather avoid.

Screenshot via Browsers

This is probably the simplest solution. Desktop internet browsers access Instagram without the app itself. Therefore, desktop screenshots do not trigger notifications. This also works with mobile browsers. There is a disadvantage, of course. Browsing Instagram without the app feels clunky, but for the purpose of stealthily getting screenshots, this serves its purpose better than other methods on this list.

Screenshots with Other Cameras

Scattered around this world are people who use their phones to take pictures of their computer screens because they can’t be bothered to download snipping tools. Instagram users can adapt this method in order to bypass the notification system. Simply use a second device’s camera to take a picture of the story you want to share, and poof.