How to View Facebook Stories Anonymously? 6 Ways That Work in 2025

Ever felt the urge to watch someone's Facebook Story but hesitated, not wanting them to see your name on their viewer list? Whether it's for simple privacy, professional curiosity, or just to avoid an awkward social interaction, the desire to view Facebook stories anonymously is common.

The good news is that it's possible. While Facebook doesn't offer a built-in "anonymous mode," there are several clever workarounds you can use. This guide will walk you through six different methods, from simple tricks to more advanced techniques, to help you become an anonymous Facebook story viewer.

Part 1: How to View Someone's Facebook Story Anonymously? [ 6 Ways]

Here are six methods to view Facebook Stories without leaving a trace, ranging from safe and simple to more extreme options.

Method 1: Turn on the Airplane Mode

When you turn on the airplane mode of your device, your phone will no longer be connected to the internet. So, what happens is that when the Airplane Mode is enabled, and you check a story, Facebook will fail to register your account as one of the Facebook story viewers. This is a pretty easy technique. Here's how you need to apply this method.

Step 1: Launch your iOS or Android device's Facebook account. Once you are there, log in using your credentials, and then you will see the home page and, on the top, will be the stories of different people.

Step 2: Now, turn on the airplane mode to go offline, and then open the home page again and click on any story you want to see. The story will begin to play.

Once you are done, force close the Facebook application so that it doesn't run in the background when you disable the Airplane Mode. Because if you do that, your name can get registered. So, close the app completely. Please note that when the Airplane mode is on, some stories will not load. To watch them, you need to turn on and off the airplane mode again.

Method 2: Half Swipe

As the name suggests, rather than watching the entire story, you need to stop watching it halfway through. The only apparent disadvantage of this method is you won't be able to see the whole story. The step that you will have to follow will be similar to watching a story normally. Follow these steps:

Step 1: Launch the Facebook application and click on any of the stories.

Step 2: While viewing, put the finger on the story right before the story is about to end.

Step 3: Quickly swipe right or left and make sure the story doesn't end. This way, Facebook won't register you.

Method 3: Use a Third-Party Anonymous Story Viewer

The most straightforward way to view someone's public Facebook story is by using a third-party anonymous story viewer website. These services allow you to enter the URL of a public Facebook profile and view their current stories without logging in.

Step 1: Find the URL of the public Facebook profile whose story you want to view.

Step 2: Search on Google for "anonymous Facebook story viewer" or "Facebook story viewer" to find a tool.

Step 3: Copy and paste the profile URL into the search bar on the third-party website.

Step 4: The site should display any currently active public stories for that user, which you can watch anonymously.

How it works: These websites act as a proxy, making the request to Facebook on your behalf. Since you are not logged into your account, your view is not registered.

Note: Only use reputable sites and be aware of your privacy. This method does not work for private profiles.

Method 4: Block Them

This is another method to stop appearing as one of the viewers. This method will let you view the whole story; however, since it involves blocking the user, they will be removed from your friend list completely. So, try it if only you are fine with removing that person from your friends' list. Here's how to follow this method:

Step 1: Go to your Facebook account and log in, and then click on the story that you want to see.

Step 2: Once done, block the person. If you want, you can unblock them after 24 hours.

Method 5: Deactivate your Facebook Account to View Story Anonymously

You can also deactivate your account and reactivate it after a while so that your name doesn't appear on the viewer's list. Even though this is an extreme step to take, but it keeps you anonymous. So, here's how you can do this method:

Step 1: Log in to your Facebook account and log in and then click on the story or stories that you want to see.

Step 2: Click on the three dots on the top right, then select the Settings and Privacy option, click on the Privacy Shortcuts option.

Step 3: You will see the Delete Your Account option. Please click on that. Two options will be available: deactivate your account and delete your account. You need to click on the deactivate option.

Once 24 hours is over, you can log in to reactive your account.

Method 6: Use Incognito Mode and a Secondary Device

If you want to view Facebook story anonymously without deactivating your account, using Incognito Mode along with a secondary device is a more practical and effective approach. This method ensures Facebook cannot fully link your viewing activity to your account or device. Here’s how you can apply this method:

Step 1: Open your web browser in Incognito Mode or Private Browsing and log in to your Facebook account.

Step 2: Use a secondary device (like a spare phone, tablet, or computer) to view the story you want to see.

Step 3: Once you finish viewing, clear browsing data (cache and history) to ensure no traces are left.

This method keeps you anonymous without affecting your account or social connections.

Conclusion

While Facebook is designed for open sharing, there are valid reasons for seeking privacy. For viewing friends' stories, the Airplane Mode method is your safest bet. For public profiles, a cautious approach with a third-party viewer is most effective.

Always remember to use these methods responsibly and respect others' privacy. After all, the best interactions on social media happen when you're creating compelling stories of your own that everyone wants to see.