Ever wondered who’s secretly viewing your Facebook Story but isn’t on your friends list?
You’re not alone — this is one of the most asked questions among Facebook users today.
Facebook Stories are a fun way to share your moments — but sometimes, you notice unfamiliar profile views. Who are they? Can you find out their names? And how can you stop strangers from seeing your story?
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explain how to see who views your Facebook Story who are not friends, how Facebook’s story viewer system works, and how to control your story privacy for better security.
Let’s dive in.
What Are Facebook Stories and How Do They Work?
Before we uncover who’s watching your stories, let’s quickly understand how Facebook Stories work.
Facebook Stories are short photo or video posts that:
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Last for 24 hours.
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Can be shared publicly, with friends, or custom audiences.
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Show who viewed them (with limited information).
When someone views your story:
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Their name appears under your viewer list if they are your friend.
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If they are not your friend, their identity may remain hidden.
Understanding Facebook Story Viewers
When you open your Facebook Story and swipe up, you’ll see:
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Friends list – showing who from your friend list has viewed your story.
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Other Viewers – a number showing how many non-friends saw your story.
But here’s the catch — Facebook doesn’t display names of these “other viewers.” It only shows the count.
Example:
“Viewed by 38 people – including 29 friends and 9 others.”
The “9 others” are non-friends who viewed your story publicly.
Can You See Who Views Your Facebook Story Who Are Not Friends?
Short Answer:
No — Facebook does not show the names of non-friends who view your public story.
However, you can still estimate or control who can view it by managing your story privacy settings.
Let’s explore this deeper.
Why Facebook Hides Non-Friend Viewers
Facebook prioritizes user privacy.
If it revealed the identities of every non-friend who viewed your story, it could:
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Expose users who just clicked accidentally.
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Violate privacy laws.
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Lead to unwanted interactions.
That’s why, for public stories, you’ll only see a number under “Other Viewers.”
How to See Who Views Your Facebook Story Who Are Not Friends
Even though you can’t see exact names, you can use a few smart tricks to understand how non-friend viewing works.
Step-by-Step Guide (Mobile App)
Step 1: Open the Facebook App
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Launch the Facebook app on your Android or iPhone.
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Log in if needed.
Step 2: Tap on Your Story
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Tap Your Story at the top of your News Feed.
Step 3: Swipe Up on Your Story
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When your story opens, swipe up from the bottom.
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You’ll see a list of people who viewed it.
Step 4: Look for “Other Viewers”
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If your story’s privacy is set to Public, you’ll see a section labeled “Other Viewers.”
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This number represents people not on your friends list who saw your story.
Example:
“Viewed by 54 people – including 40 friends and 14 others.”
So, those 14 others are non-friends who viewed your story.
How to Adjust Facebook Story Privacy Settings
Want to stop non-friends from viewing your story?
Here’s how to control who sees it.
Step-by-Step (Android & iPhone)
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Open the Facebook app.
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Tap on your profile picture.
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Select Create story.
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Before posting, tap on the Privacy icon (gear ⚙️ or three dots).
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Choose from:
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Public – Anyone can view (friends + non-friends).
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Friends – Only friends can view.
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Custom – Select specific people.
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Hide Story From – Block certain users.
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👉 Pro Tip:
If you want to stop strangers from seeing your stories, always choose Friends or Custom.
Who Are the “Other Viewers” on Facebook Stories?
When you see “Other Viewers,” it can include:
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People who follow you but aren’t friends.
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People who saw your story through a shared post.
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Public viewers who came across your story.
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Facebook users who viewed it accidentally.
So, if you post a story publicly, it’s visible to anyone, not just your friends.
How to Tell If a Non-Friend Has Viewed Your Story
Unfortunately, Facebook doesn’t show specific names — but there are indirect ways to guess:
1. Check Your Followers
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Go to your profile → Friends → Followers.
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You might spot unfamiliar accounts — these people can see your public stories.
2. Check Reactions or Replies
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If a non-friend reacts or replies to your story, their name will appear.
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This is one direct way to identify them.
3. Change Story Privacy to Friends Only
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Post your next story with Friends Only privacy.
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Compare viewer counts — any reduction shows how many non-friends were watching.
How to Stop Non-Friends from Viewing Your Facebook Story
If you’re concerned about strangers watching your stories, follow these steps:
Step 1: Open Story Settings
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Tap your profile picture → Settings & Privacy → Story Settings.
Step 2: Choose “Friends”
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Under Story Privacy, select Friends.
Step 3: Review Tagged Stories
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Toggle “Allow others to share your story” → Off.
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Disable “Allow others to share your public stories.”
Step 4: Manage Follower Settings
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Go to Settings → Followers and Public Content.
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Set “Who Can Follow Me” to Friends only.
This ensures only your friends can see your future stories.
How to Make Your Facebook Story Completely Private
If you want to share something only with a few people:
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Create a story as usual.
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Before posting, tap Privacy.
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Select Custom.
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Choose the friends who can view it.
You can also hide stories from:
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Exes or unwanted contacts.
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Colleagues.
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Family members.
This is useful when you want to keep certain moments truly private.
Facebook Lite Users: How to Check Story Viewers
If you’re using Facebook Lite, the process is similar but simpler.
Steps:
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Open Facebook Lite.
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Tap your Story.
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Swipe up to see viewers.
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Scroll to the bottom — if it says “Other Viewers,” those are non-friends.
Remember: you still won’t see their names — just the count.
Can You Use Third-Party Apps to See Non-Friend Viewers?
⚠️ Warning:
Avoid apps or websites that claim to reveal the names of “hidden viewers” or “profile stalkers.”
These apps are:
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Fake and unsafe.
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Designed to steal your login credentials or data.
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Not supported by Facebook’s policies.
Facebook itself confirms that no third-party service can show who viewed your profile or story if they’re not your friend.
How to Protect Your Privacy on Facebook Stories
Here are some practical privacy tips:
| Action | Effect |
|---|---|
| Change story privacy to “Friends Only” | Prevents strangers from viewing your stories |
| Review your followers | Removes unknown accounts |
| Avoid posting sensitive content publicly | Reduces unwanted exposure |
| Turn off story sharing | Stops others from resharing your story |
| Use Facebook’s privacy checkup tool | Reviews your visibility settings easily |
Why You Should Be Cautious with Public Stories
Posting stories publicly might increase visibility, but it also:
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Attracts spammers or fake accounts.
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Exposes personal details.
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Reduces control over your audience.
So, unless you’re a content creator or public figure, it’s best to stick with Friends Only.
Common Myths About Facebook Story Viewers
| Myth | Reality |
|---|---|
| You can see all non-friends who viewed your story. | ❌ False — Facebook hides their names. |
| Third-party apps can show hidden viewers. | ❌ Fake and unsafe. |
| The order of viewers means who viewed most. | ❌ Not always — it’s algorithm-based. |
| Viewing someone’s story makes you appear as a “suggested friend.” | ✅ Sometimes true — Facebook may recommend people who interact with your content. |
Pro Tips to Manage Facebook Story Visibility
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Regularly check your privacy settings.
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Avoid adding unknown followers.
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Post sensitive stories under “Custom.”
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Use the “Hide Story From” feature.
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Block or report suspicious accounts.
Conclusion
To recap — while Facebook doesn’t reveal exact names of non-friends who view your stories, you can still control your story’s visibility and keep your privacy intact.
Here’s the essence:
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“Other Viewers” = Non-friends who saw your public story.
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You cannot see their names, only the number.
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Adjust Story Privacy to “Friends” or “Custom” to prevent it.
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Avoid third-party apps that claim otherwise.
So next time you post a Facebook Story, think about who might be watching — and take a few seconds to adjust your privacy settings.
You’ll enjoy sharing moments safely, knowing exactly who’s viewing your stories.
FAQs: How to See Who Views Your Facebook Story Who Are Not Friends
1. Can I see the names of people who viewed my Facebook Story but aren’t my friends?
No. Facebook only shows the number of non-friend viewers under “Other Viewers” — not their names.
2. Why do I see “Other Viewers” on my story?
Because your story’s privacy is set to Public, allowing non-friends and followers to view it.
3. How do I stop strangers from viewing my Facebook stories?
Set your story privacy to Friends Only under Settings → Story Privacy.
4. Can third-party apps show who viewed my story secretly?
No — these apps are fake and unsafe. Facebook does not allow any service to access that information.
5. What’s the safest story privacy setting on Facebook?
Choose Friends or Custom. Avoid “Public” unless you’re a creator or public figure.
✅ Final Takeaway:
You can’t see the exact identities of non-friend viewers, but you can control who sees your Facebook Story with the right privacy settings.
Stay safe, stay private — and share your stories with confidence!