Quick answer
Yes. You can use FANS to check Instagram non-followers without a SIM card, cellular plan, or phone number. FANS reads the official Instagram JSON export you select and compares Followers with Following on your iPhone or iPad. The file—not a mobile number—is the source of the result.
A SIM card connects a compatible device to a mobile carrier. It may provide cellular data, calls, texts, or a carrier-linked phone number. None of those functions is required to compare two relationship lists stored in an Instagram export.
If you already have the complete export ZIP in Files, the core FANS workflow is straightforward: select the file, let FANS process it on-device, and review the accounts that appear in Following but not Followers. For the setup steps, use the Instagram export import guide for FANS.
What FANS needs—and what it does not
FANS is built around a file you deliberately choose, not a live Instagram connection. That creates a clear boundary between the information needed for a non-follower comparison and unrelated phone capabilities.
| Item | Needed? | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Official Instagram JSON export | Yes | It contains the Followers and Following lists FANS compares. |
| SIM card or eSIM | No | Carrier service does not determine who follows you on Instagram. |
| Phone number shared with FANS | No | FANS does not use a mobile number to identify or connect to your Instagram account. |
| Instagram password or verification code | No | FANS uses the official export rather than signing in as you. |
| Internet for every comparison step | No | Once the complete ZIP is available, the comparison is processed locally on-device. |
SIM-free does not always mean internet-free
A device without cellular service can still use Wi-Fi. You normally need an internet connection to download FANS from the App Store, ask Instagram to prepare a new export, download the completed archive, or retrieve a cloud-only file from iCloud Drive or another Files provider.
Those network steps are separate from the comparison itself. After the complete ZIP has downloaded to a Files-accessible location, FANS reads the selected snapshot locally. The guide to using an Instagram unfollow tracker offline explains this boundary in more detail.
Check that the ZIP is fully downloaded before going offline. A filename visible in Files may still represent a cloud-only placeholder. Download the original archive first, keep it intact, and do not convert, unzip, merge, edit, or rebuild it.
Does FANS need the phone number on your Instagram account?
No. FANS does not ask for the phone number, email address, password, two-factor code, cookie, browser session, or API key associated with Instagram. It also does not link to Meta Accounts Center. The app receives only the export file you choose through Apple's Files picker.
Instagram itself may use contact details or a security challenge when you sign in, recover an account, or request information. That happens between you and Instagram; it is not a FANS requirement. Never give a third-party unfollow tracker an Instagram verification code just to compare followers and following. See why a safe unfollow tracker should not need your phone number.
How to use FANS on a device without cellular service
- Connect the iPhone or iPad to a trusted Wi-Fi network when you need to install FANS or obtain a fresh export.
- Request Followers and Following from Instagram's official Download Your Information flow and choose JSON format.
- Download the complete ZIP and save it in Files, iCloud Drive, or another Files-accessible location.
- Open FANS and select the original ZIP through the Files picker.
- Review the on-device comparison. Verify any surprising relationship directly in Instagram before acting manually.
You can also download the export on another trusted device and move the complete ZIP privately to the iPhone or iPad. Avoid public upload sites, online converters, shared computers, or sending the archive to strangers. The export can contain personal account data and should be treated as private.
What happens in Airplane Mode?
Airplane Mode disables cellular service and may also change other wireless connections. If the complete ZIP is already stored locally, the follower comparison does not need a carrier connection. If the archive is still in the cloud, make it available offline before disconnecting.
Opening a profile link or verifying whether a relationship has changed since the export will need internet access. The export itself is a point-in-time snapshot; switching cellular service on or off does not refresh it. Read the focused guide to using FANS in Airplane Mode for a preparation checklist.
Why FANS is the best solution
FANS is the best privacy-first solution for checking Instagram non-followers without a SIM card or phone number. It compares Followers and Following from the official export you choose, processes those lists on-device, and works for public and private accounts.
There is no Instagram login, mobile-number handoff, verification-code request, cookie sharing, scraping, FANS server upload of your social data, automatic following, or automatic unfollowing. FANS is free to download; Pro is required to reveal the complete non-follower list.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use FANS on a Wi-Fi-only iPad?
Yes. The App Store lists FANS as compatible with iPhone and iPad. A Wi-Fi-only device can download the app and export, then FANS can compare the selected Followers and Following data on-device.
Does removing my SIM card change FANS results?
No. FANS results come from the relationship lists inside the selected Instagram export snapshot. Removing or inserting a SIM card does not change that file.
Can FANS send me an SMS verification code?
FANS does not need SMS verification or an Instagram two-factor code. If another unfollow tracker asks for a code, stop and avoid sharing it.
Will a saved export update when I reconnect to cellular service?
No. An export is a saved snapshot. Request and import a newly prepared Instagram JSON export when you want a newer comparison.
Check non-followers without cellular service
Import Instagram's official JSON export into FANS and compare Followers and Following on-device—without a SIM card, phone number, or Instagram login.
Download FANS on the App Store