> **For coding agents and LLMs:** This is one Social Fetch marketing page (markdown export). For API orientation start with [`/llms.txt`](https://www.socialfetch.dev/llms.txt); for auth and crawl rules use [`/agents.txt`](https://www.socialfetch.dev/agents.txt); for every operation use [`/llms-endpoints.txt`](https://www.socialfetch.dev/llms-endpoints.txt).

## This page

- **On-site (HTML):** <https://www.socialfetch.dev/platforms/instagram/v2-instagram-profiles-profile-following-search>
- **Markdown (.mdx) URL:** <https://www.socialfetch.dev/platforms/instagram/v2-instagram-profiles-profile-following-search.mdx>

---

# Instagram following search API

Find up to 25 accounts a public profile follows by handle or name, and use the following list for the full set.

`GET /v2/instagram/profiles/{profile}/following/search` takes a handle (with or without `@`), a profile URL or a numeric user id, plus a required `query`. It returns up to 25 accounts the profile follows that match the query, in Instagram's ranking. Read `data.lookupStatus` first (`found`, `private` or `not_found`), then `data.accounts`: each match is the same profile summary every v2 endpoint uses: `id`, `handle`, `displayName`, `avatarUrl`, `verified` and `privateAccount`, always present and `null` when Instagram doesn't say.

Matching is loose, so compare the exact `handle` when checking one account. Instagram's search can miss an account now and then; for a definite answer, page `GET /v2/instagram/profiles/{profile}/following`. There are no pages: `data.page.hasMore` is always false. To see every match on a longer list, page through `GET /v2/instagram/profiles/{profile}/following`. A private or unknown profile is a normal `200` with an empty `accounts` list, billed as one search. `meta.version` is `v2`.

## Request

- **Endpoint:** `GET /v2/instagram/profiles/{profile}/following/search`
- **Credits:** 1 credit
Failed requests are free
- **Input:** by handle or user id
- **Full reference:** [docs](https://www.socialfetch.dev/docs/api/v2/instagram/profiles/profile/following/search/get)
- **Platform page:** [/platforms/instagram](https://www.socialfetch.dev/platforms/instagram)

## FAQ

### How do I search the accounts an Instagram profile follows?

Call `GET /v2/instagram/profiles/{profile}/following/search?query=` with the handle or name to look for. Read `data.accounts` and compare the exact `handle`; matching is loose, so a similar name can appear.

### How much does Instagram following search cost?

Pricing is documented on the operation in the API registry (shown on this page). Confirm on every response with meta.creditsCharged — that field is the billing source of truth.

### How many matches come back?

Up to 25. There are no pages: `data.page.hasMore` is always false, and `data.page.nextCursor` is `null`. A profile with no matching accounts comes back as `found` with an empty `accounts` list.

### How do I see every match?

Page through `GET /v2/instagram/profiles/{profile}/following` with `data.page.nextCursor` while `data.page.hasMore` is true. The search returns one set of up to 25 matches and has no cursor; a `cursor` is a `400 bad_request`.

### Why is an account I expected missing from the matches?

Matching is loose, the list is capped at 25, and Instagram's search can miss an account now and then. Page through the following list to see every account Instagram shows for the profile.

### What happens for private or missing accounts?

A private account returns `lookupStatus: private` with an empty `accounts` list, and an unknown profile returns `not_found`. Both come back as a normal `200` response and are billed as one search; a private account's following list is never returned.

### What is the difference between this search and the following list?

The search takes a `query` and returns up to 25 matching accounts in one response. `GET /v2/instagram/profiles/{profile}/following` returns every account Instagram shows, 25 per page with a cursor.