Subscription requests sent on Instagram no longer have a dedicated tab in the app. Since the successive redesigns of the interface between 2024 and 2025, the old path “Settings, Security, Access Data” no longer returns the list of pending requests. The only reliable method now goes through the Accounts Center and the export of personal data.
Instagram Data Export: the pending_follow_requests file
The complete list of pending subscription requests does not appear anywhere in the classic Instagram interface. It is stored server-side and accessible only via a downloadable file.
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To generate this export, we recommend the following path in the mobile app: Profile, hamburger menu (☰), then Accounts Center, “Your Information and Permissions,” and finally “Export Your Information.” The HTML format is the most readable in a browser, but the JSON format is better suited if you plan to automate processing.
Once the request is submitted, Instagram prepares the archive. The time frame varies depending on the account’s data volume. You will receive a push notification and an email when the file is ready.
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The relevant folder in the archive is named followers_and_following. Inside, the file “pending_follow_requests” lists each account to which you have sent an unaccepted request, along with the username and the exact date and time of the submission. This level of detail allows you to know how long a request has been unanswered, something that no screen in the app shows.
We have noticed that several online guides still refer to the “Security, Access Data” menu. This path has been deprecated: the option “Current Subscription Requests” is no longer listed there. Before following a tutorial, make sure it explicitly mentions the Accounts Center, indicating that it is up to date.
To view sent requests on Instagram without going through the export, no native feature currently allows this comprehensively.
Identifying and Canceling Pending Subscription Requests
The export file provides a timestamped history. It is a valuable management tool, but it remains static: it reflects the state of the account at the time the archive was generated.
Spotting Profiles That Never Responded
Open the HTML file in a browser and mentally sort (or use text search) for the oldest dates. A request that is several weeks old is likely ignored. Instagram does not notify the requester in case of a silent refusal, making this manual check necessary.
Cancelling a Request from the App
Cancellations are done profile by profile. Go to the relevant account: if the button says “Requested,” tap it, then confirm the cancellation. The exported list serves here as a reference to find the exact usernames.
- Open the pending_follow_requests file and note the oldest accounts.
- In Instagram, search for each username via the search bar.
- On the target profile, tap “Requested” then confirm “Unfollow” or “Cancel.”
- Repeat the process, then restart an export a few days later to check that the list has reduced.
This process remains tedious for accounts that have sent a large number of requests. Instagram does not offer bulk cancellation.
Differences Between Sent and Received Requests on Instagram
The confusion between these two flows often arises. Received requests (those sent to you by other users) are directly visible in the “Activity” or “Notifications” tab of the app, under the heart section. They appear in real-time and can be accepted or declined with a gesture.
Sent requests, on the other hand, do not benefit from any native tab in the interface. This asymmetry is not a bug: it reflects a design choice. Instagram prioritizes reception (accepting or rejecting a follower) over tracking outgoing requests.
For professional or creator accounts, this lack of visibility poses an operational problem. When prospecting for partnerships or trying to connect with private accounts in a niche, not knowing which requests are still pending forces you to multiply exports or maintain external tracking.
Limits of the Export and Alternatives to Know
The export does not update automatically. Each download is a frozen snapshot. If an account accepts your request between exports, it will disappear from the next file without specific notification.
Some third-party applications claim to display pending requests in real-time. We recommend caution: these tools typically require your Instagram credentials, which exposes the account to suspension risks for violating terms of use. Instagram detects logins via unofficial clients and may temporarily restrict the account.
- Always prioritize the official export from the Accounts Center.
- Avoid services that ask for your Instagram password.
- Plan a regular export (once a month, for example) if you manage an active prospecting account.
The JSON file, although less readable to the eye, can be imported into a spreadsheet or script to automate tracking of pending subscription requests over time. This approach is suitable for community managers managing multiple accounts.
The absence of a native dashboard for outgoing requests remains one of the blind spots of the Instagram app. As long as this feature does not evolve, exporting data from the Accounts Center and manually checking profile by profile are the only two reliable methods to keep control over your subscription activity.