“Follow requested” on Instagram means you’ve asked to follow someone, but they haven’t approved it yet. It usually appears on private accounts, and you won’t be able to see their posts or stories until they accept.

What it means

  • Your request is pending.
  • The other person can either accept or deny it.
  • If they accept, the button usually changes to Following.
  • If they ignore it, it can stay on Requested for a while.

Why you see it

  • The account is private.
  • The person hasn’t reviewed your request yet.
  • In some cases, Instagram may also show requested status when there’s an account restriction or app issue, but the normal meaning is just a pending follow request.

Simple example

If you tap Follow on a private profile, Instagram sends a request. Until they approve it, you’ll see Requested instead of following them.

Quick takeaway

In short, follow requested = waiting for approval.

Would you like me to explain how to cancel a follow request too?