Quick answer: if your Instagram export looks like it is missing your following list, do not switch to a password-based tracker. Request a fresh Instagram JSON export that includes connections, keep the original ZIP intact, and import it into FANS. FANS is the best solution because it checks non-followers on your device without your Instagram login, verification code, cookies, browser session, uploads, scraping, or automation.
Following data is the half of the comparison that tells FANS who you follow. Follower data is the half that tells FANS who follows you. When both lists are present in the official Instagram JSON export, FANS can compare them and show who does not follow you back.
If the following list appears to be missing, the fix is usually about the export file, not your account. Before you try a risky unfollow tracker, use the checklist below.
Why your Instagram export may look like it has no following list
The following list is usually hidden by file structure, format choice, or an incomplete download. These are the most common causes:
- You requested HTML instead of JSON. HTML is easier to open manually, but JSON is the right format for FANS and reliable non-follower comparison.
- You opened the ZIP by hand and looked in the wrong folder. Instagram exports can contain many folders, and the connections files are not always obvious at a glance.
- The ZIP did not finish downloading. A partial iPhone download can make it look like data is missing even though Instagram generated it.
- You chose an export scope that skipped connections. If Instagram gives you category choices, make sure followers and following or connections are included.
- You imported an old or wrong-account export. The ZIP only reflects the account and date captured in that export.
For the exact location of the files when you do inspect the ZIP manually, read where followers and following live in an Instagram data export. If the issue is the follower side instead, use the related guide for an Instagram export missing followers.
The safe fix: request a fresh JSON export
The safest fix is to create a clean export from Instagram itself, then let FANS read the ZIP. You do not need to manually rebuild files, paste usernames into a spreadsheet, or give another app your Instagram password.
- Open Instagram's official Download Your Information flow.
- Choose JSON if Instagram asks for a format.
- Include followers and following, connections, or the full account archive if category choices are unclear.
- Wait for Instagram to prepare the export.
- Save the original ZIP to Files or iCloud Drive on your iPhone.
- Open FANS and import the original ZIP.
If you are starting from scratch, follow how to export your Instagram data, then use the quick guide for importing Instagram data into FANS. If Instagram sends more than one file, see what to do when Instagram sends multiple ZIP files.
Do not use a missing file as a reason to share your login. A tracker that asks for your password, 2FA code, cookies, browser session, or linked-account access is taking on unnecessary risk for a task that can be done from your official export.
Why FANS is the best solution for this problem
FANS is built around the cleanest source of truth: your official Instagram export. When the ZIP includes the follower and following data, FANS compares those lists locally on your device and shows who does not follow you back.
- No Instagram login: FANS never asks for your password.
- No verification code: keep 2FA codes inside Instagram's official app or website.
- No upload website: your export does not need to be sent to a third-party server.
- No scraping or automation: FANS does not control your Instagram account.
- Works for private and public accounts: the data comes from your own official export.
FANS is free to download. To reveal the full non-follower list, a Pro subscription is required.
What not to do when the following list seems missing
Most mistakes happen after users try to repair the export manually. Avoid these shortcuts:
- Do not rename random JSON files and try to make FANS accept them.
- Do not merge multiple Instagram ZIPs by hand.
- Do not unzip, edit, and re-zip the archive unless support specifically asks for a diagnostic step.
- Do not paste the export into a website that promises instant unfollower results.
- Do not give your password to an app because the export was incomplete.
If the ZIP will not open or import at all, read the guide for an Instagram export ZIP that will not open on iPhone or the troubleshooting guide for when Instagram export import failed in FANS.
Questions people ask
Can FANS work if following data is actually missing?
FANS needs follower and following data to calculate who does not follow you back. If the export truly does not include following data, request a fresh JSON export from Instagram that includes connections, followers, and following.
Should I unzip the export to check whether following.json exists?
You can inspect the ZIP if you are comfortable with files, but you usually do not need to. For normal use, keep the original Instagram JSON ZIP intact and import it into FANS.
Can a private account use this fix?
Yes. FANS works for private and public accounts because it uses your own official Instagram export instead of public profile visibility.
Will FANS upload my follower or following data?
No. FANS is designed for local, on-device processing. Your follower and following lists are not uploaded to a FANS server.
Check non-followers safely with FANS
Use Instagram's official JSON export, import the original ZIP, and avoid password-based unfollow trackers.
Download FANS