How to See Non-Followers on Facebook Story on Phone & Desktop — ever wondered who’s viewing your stories even if they don’t follow you? You’re not alone! Many Facebook users are curious to know who’s watching their stories beyond their friend list.
In this guide, we’ll show you how to see non-followers on your Facebook Story using both your phone and desktop. You’ll learn how Facebook’s viewer system works, what the “Other Viewers” section means, and how to adjust your privacy settings to control who sees your stories.
Keep reading to discover who’s really watching your Facebook stories — even if they don’t follow you!
What Are Facebook Stories and Who Can See Them?
Facebook Stories are short photo or video posts that disappear after 24 hours. They appear at the top of your feed and your friends’ feeds — or even to the public, depending on your privacy settings.
When you post a Story, you can choose between three visibility options:
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Public – Anyone on Facebook (including non-followers) can see your Story.
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Friends Only – Only people you’ve added as friends can view it.
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Custom – You can manually choose who can and can’t see your Story.
If you set your Story to Public, people who don’t follow you can still view it — and that’s where “non-followers” come in. Facebook tracks these views but lists them differently than your friends.
How to See Non-Followers on Facebook Story Using Phone
Most people use Facebook on their phones, so let’s start with the mobile method.
Step-by-Step (Mobile App):
1. Open the Facebook app on your phone.
2. Tap on Your Story at the top of your News Feed.
3. Once it opens, swipe up on the screen.
4. You’ll now see a list of people who have viewed your story.
5. Scroll down, and you may see a section labeled “Other Viewers.”
What Does “Other Viewers” Mean?
“Other Viewers” are people who viewed your story but aren’t on your friends list. These are the non-followers — individuals who either follow your public posts or found your story through a public setting.
Facebook doesn’t show you their names for privacy reasons, but it does count them. For example, if your story shows 100 views but only 80 names, the remaining 20 are “Other Viewers.”
Pro Tip: If you want to increase your Story reach, make sure your privacy setting is set to Public. This allows non-followers to view your content and potentially follow or engage with your page later.
How to See Non-Followers on Facebook Story Using Desktop
If you’re on a computer, here’s how to check your Story viewers on Facebook desktop:
Step-by-Step (Desktop):
1. Go to facebook.com and log in.
2. Click on Your Story in the Stories section at the top of your home feed.
3. Once your story opens, click the eye icon at the bottom left.
4. A list of viewers will appear, showing your friends who viewed your story.
5. If your story is public, you may also see a count labeled “Other Viewers.”
Again, these “Other Viewers” are people who are not on your friends list but have viewed your story because it was shared publicly.
Can You See Who the Non-Followers Are?
Unfortunately, Facebook does not reveal the exact names or profiles of non-followers who view your stories. The platform prioritizes user privacy, so all non-friend viewers are grouped under “Other Viewers.”
However, you can make some assumptions:
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If your story is public and gets many “Other Viewers,” your content is likely reaching beyond your network.
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If your content is shareable or engaging, it might have been seen by people through mutual friends or public discovery.
Tip: If you want to identify your new audience, focus on engagement metrics instead of names — such as reactions, replies, or profile visits after your story is posted.
How Facebook Decides Who Can View Your Story
Understanding Facebook’s privacy settings is key to controlling who can view your stories.
Here’s what you can choose when posting a Story:
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Public – Everyone on or off Facebook can see your story. Non-followers will be able to view it, and you’ll see “Other Viewers.”
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Friends – Only your Facebook friends can see your story. There will be no “Other Viewers” section.
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Custom / Hide Story From – You can pick specific friends or exclude certain people.
To adjust this:
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Go to Settings & Privacy → Stories → Story Privacy.
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Choose who you want to share your stories with before posting.
Why You Should Monitor Who Views Your Stories
Tracking who views your stories isn’t just about curiosity — it’s a valuable insight for personal or business growth.
Here’s why it matters:
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Understand your audience – See which type of content performs best.
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Measure reach – Find out how far your stories go beyond your friend circle.
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Increase engagement – If non-followers are viewing your stories, it means your content is appealing to new people.
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Protect your privacy – Knowing who’s viewing helps you adjust your settings if you’re not comfortable with public access.
Final Thoughts
Learning how to see non-followers on Facebook Story helps you understand your audience better — whether you’re managing a personal profile, a business page, or a public creator account.
While Facebook doesn’t show the exact names of non-followers, the “Other Viewers” count gives you a glimpse into how far your content reaches beyond your circle.
If you want to expand your reach, keep your stories public and post engaging, authentic content regularly. If privacy is your goal, simply switch your story setting to “Friends Only.”
Take control of your Facebook Story visibility today — and start understanding who’s really watching your stories!