Does That Girl on Instagram Like You? Here's 13 Ways to Know

Learn how to tell if your crush likes you or not on Insta

Co-authored by John Keegan and Hannah Dillon

Last Updated: November 27, 2024 Fact Checked

So, a girl is giving you more attention on Instagram—liking your past posts, sliding into your DMs, and commenting flirty emojis on your posts? Sounds like this girl likes you! But how can you know for sure? Keep reading because we’ve compiled a list of signs to tell if a girl likes you on Instagram, including tips from dating coach John Keegan.

How to Know a Girl Likes You on Instagram

She likes your posts immediately.
She comments on your recent posts.
She likes a past post.
She uses flirty emojis.
She slides into your DMs.
She watches all of your stories.
She comments on your stories.

1

She likes your posts immediately.

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If she acknowledges your posts super fast, she's paying attention. As your biggest fan, she may even have notifications turned on for whenever you post a picture, post on your story, or even go live. If she’s the first person to like and comment on your post the minute it’s uploaded, she may be crushing on you.
- Keegan suggests to send her a friendly DM to let her know you’ve noticed her.^{[1]
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  John Keegan
  Dating Coach
  
  Expert Interview} Go for an obvious flirt like, “Hey! Saw you liked my post and want to get to know you better,” or a more mellow, “I see you’ve been liking my pics lately. Care to comment?.”

2

She comments on your recent posts.

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She’ll be sure to tell you exactly what she thinks about your selfie. Keegan says there’s no doubt that if she likes you she’ll be the first to write something on your most recent posts. Maybe she compliments your appearance, gives a witty joke, or lets you know how she feels with a line of emojis.^{[2]
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Expert Source

John Keegan
Dating Coach

Expert Interview} If she likes you, she may comment something like:
- “The hours at the gym are really paying off🔥”
- “Wish I was there with you!”
- “Need another friend to tag along?😏”
- Do more than like her comments on her posts by sending a thoughtful or flirty reply back! This will let her know she’s also on your radar.

3

She likes a past post.

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She may be scrolling all the way down your page if she likes you. Chances are she’s interested if you get a notification for a like on your post from years past. This is a sign she wants to learn more about you.
- Send her a message and ask her if she thought the photo was hot or tell her the story behind it.
- Scroll through her page to see what she’s all about.

4

She uses flirty emojis.

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A well-placed “😉” might mean she’s into you. Emojis can be a great way to express interest, especially on Insta! Maybe she tags you in a comment with an emoji you can’t help but blush at or hits that “🔥” on your latest story. One little emoji could mean her comment is a flirt. Here are some flirty emojis she might use if she likes you:^{[3]
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- 😉: She’s feeling flirty but wants to make sure you feel the same.
- 👀: She’s feeling bold and ready to put herself out there to say you look good.
- 😏: She’s feeling mischievous and, dare we say, a little sexy.
- 😜: She’s feeling playful and is giving you a sexy wink.

5

She slides into your DMs.

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She may get straight to it with a smooth line if she likes you. Maybe games aren’t her thing, and she wants to be upfront with you immediately. By sliding into your DMs, she’s telling you exactly what she wants—you! She’ll tell you straight off the bat that she’s into you. Here are some things she may say:
- “You look good in all your pictures. What’s your secret?”
- “IDK if you’ve noticed, but I’m definitely crushing on you😜”
- “I just want to say that I think you’re great!”
- Reader Poll: We asked 341 wikiHow readers how they slide into a guy’s DMs, and 56% of them agreed that the best method is replying to his story with an emoji or quick reaction. [Take Poll] If she does this a lot, odds are she probably likes you!

6

She watches all of your stories.

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All your content will be her favorite if she likes you. She’ll be the first one to watch your stories the minute you post them—you’ll probably be the first one to show up in her feed. But she won’t just click past them. She’ll watch every single one and hope she doesn’t miss them when they disappear in 24 hours.
- Check to see who’s seen your story after you’ve posted on it. You can do this by tapping on your profile image and clicking the “seen by” icon in the bottom left corner.
- If she’s at the top of the list, she may be waiting eagerly for you to post.

7

She comments on your stories.

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She can relate to everything you say and she’ll let you know it. If you like reposting inspirational quotes, sharing your opinions on the latest episode of your favorite show, or posting funny pics of your dog to your Instagram story, she’ll stop at nothing to comment on them. According to Keegan, this is a surefire way to know she likes you.^{[4]
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Expert Source

John Keegan
Dating Coach

Expert Interview} She won’t just let your stories roll on by—she’ll make sure to stop and tell you what she thinks, sliding right up into your DMs. She may say something like:
- “OK, but that looks delicious! Maybe you should make me some😏”
- “Your dog is adorable! How old is he?”
- “You have the best movie suggestions. Any recommendations?”
- Reply back with something just as sexy, or take her comment and turn it into a date suggestion. Don’t be afraid to be bold!

8

She sends you flirty posts and reels.

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All subtleties are thrown out the window if she shows how she feels. She might tag you in a reel daring viewers to send it to their crush, or maybe she sends you a post about her enneagram or zodiac sign. These are not-so-subtle hints that she’s into you and hoping you make the first move.
- Flirt back with her if she sends you a spicy reel.
- Reply with a sweet message saying you think the same about her.
- Let her know what your signs are so you can know if you’re compatible.

9

She always seems to be online when you are.

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That little green dot is always on by her username when you’re online. She’s figured out your Instagram patterns, knowing exactly when you like to scroll, and she’s followed suit. If she likes you, she’ll want to be the first person to like and comment on your selfie.
- Check to see if she’s online by pretending to DM her. If there’s a green dot next to her username/profile picture, her online status is on.^{[5]
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10

She responds quickly when you message her.

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She won't leave you on read if she's eager to chat. Whether you private message her a simple “Hello” or tag her in a comment, she’ll be quick to respond, especially if she’s been waiting for you to reach out. She’s looking forward to talking with you, so message her back just as promptly to show her your interested.^{[6]
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- If she doesn’t respond right away, don’t panic. She may be busy or might even have her Instagram notifications turned off.

11

She likes posts you're tagged in.

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We won’t lie, we’ve definitely scrolled through a friend or crush’s tagged photos before to see who else they're friends with—and maybe she’s doing the same. She has an interest in you if she’s taking the time to see what you do outside of your page.

12

She writes long DMs.

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She’s taking the time to send a heartfelt message. Maybe she wants to tell you all about her day, or she has a wild story to share. Either way, a longer message means she’s taking that much longer to think about you. This can be a sign that she likes you!^{[7]
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- Instagram has a word limit of 2,200 characters, so she’s putting in even extra work if she’s having to private message you multiple messages.

13

She gives you her number.

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Moving outside of Instagram is a huge sign that she likes you. There’s no hiding the fact that she likes you if she gives you her details and asks you to call her. She’s putting all her trust in you by giving you her number, so don’t leave her hanging!^{[8]
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- Let her know if you’re not comfortable exchanging numbers. Do her a solid and delete her message with her number if you want to keep things on Instagram for now.
EXPERT TIP

Imad Jbara
Dating Coach
Imad Jbara is a Dating Coach for NYC Wingwoman LLC, a relationship coaching service based in New York City. 'NYC Wingwoman' offers matchmaking, wingwoman services, 1-on-1 Coaching, and intensive weekend bootcamps. Imad services 100+ clients, men and women, to improve their dating lives through authentic communication skills. He has a BA in Psychology from the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth.

Imad Jbara
Dating Coach

Don't be afraid to ask for her number, too. If you're confident she's into you, ask for her number. Give a good reason for why you want her number, but be flirty about it. If there's a new restaurant that you know she'd like, for example, ask for her number so you can invite her out to dinner once the spot opens up.

Expert Q&A

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Question

How can you show someone that you like them on Instagram?

John Keegan
Dating Coach
John Keegan is a Dating Coach and motivational speaker based in New York City. With over 10 years of professional experience, he runs The Awakened Lifestyle, where he uses his expertise in dating, attraction, and social dynamics to help people find love. He teaches and holds dating workshops internationally, from Los Angeles to London and from Rio de Janeiro to Prague. His work has been featured in the New York Times, Humans of New York, and Men's Health.

John Keegan

Dating Coach

Expert Answer

You can like a few of their pictures so that they notice you. Then send a message or comment on them.

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Question

What can you do to impress a girl over text?

John Keegan
Dating Coach
John Keegan is a Dating Coach and motivational speaker based in New York City. With over 10 years of professional experience, he runs The Awakened Lifestyle, where he uses his expertise in dating, attraction, and social dynamics to help people find love. He teaches and holds dating workshops internationally, from Los Angeles to London and from Rio de Janeiro to Prague. His work has been featured in the New York Times, Humans of New York, and Men's Health.

John Keegan

Dating Coach

Expert Answer

To impress a girl, be a great listener and tune with her. Say something charming to her, show that you are a good flirt, be a good leader and move the conversation to a deeper connection.

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