# How to Find Instagram Ads in the Meta Ad Library

To find ads running on Instagram, open the Meta Ad Library at facebook.com/ads/library, choose a country and All ads, search a brand or keyword, and filter the platform to Instagram.

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**16 October 2026** Published

**3 min** Read

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**To find ads running on Instagram, open the Meta Ad Library at [facebook.com/ads/library](https://www.facebook.com/ads/library), choose a country and All ads, search a brand or keyword, and filter the platform to Instagram.** It shows active ads from every advertiser, free and without logging in. Ads about social issues, elections or politics stay searchable for 7 years, and ads shown in the EU and UK for a year, with extra details such as reach. Every official option is compared in the [Instagram API guide](/blog/instagram-api/instagram-api-guide/).

The Ad Library is the official, public way to see what a brand is advertising, including ads you were never shown. This guide covers searching it, what it shows, and the API. Organic posts are a different source, covered in [how to track competitors on Instagram](/blog/instagram-scraping/track-competitors/). Organic posts are a different matter, covered in [Instagram Graph API limits](/blog/instagram-api/graph-api-limits/) and [Instagram API vs Instagram scraper](/blog/instagram-api/api-vs-scraper/).

## How Do You Search the Meta Ad Library for Instagram Ads?

**You search by country, ad category and advertiser or keyword.** Listed below are the 5 steps.

1.  **Open** facebook.com/ads/library in a browser.
2.  **Choose** a country, or all countries.
3.  **Choose** **All ads**, or **Issues, elections or politics**.
4.  **Search** an advertiser’s name or a keyword.
5.  **Filter** the platform to Instagram, and the status to active or all.

On a brand’s Facebook Page, the Page transparency section also links straight to its ads.

## What Does the Ad Library Show?

**Every active ad shows its creative, start date and the platforms it runs on; regulated categories show more.** The table sums up what’s available and for how long.

| Ad type | What you see | Kept for |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Any active ad | Creative, text, start date, platforms, advertiser | While active |
| Social issue, election and political ads | Plus spend, reach and audience details | 7 years |
| Ads shown in the EU and UK | Plus reach and targeting details | 1 year after the last impression |

## How Do You Find an Instagram Ad You Saw?

**Note the advertiser’s name on the ad, then search it in the Ad Library and filter to Instagram.** You can also find past ads you clicked or interacted with in your Instagram activity and ad settings, where your app shows them.

## Is There an API for the Meta Ad Library?

**Yes, Meta’s Ad Library API allows programmatic searches, but it covers political and social issue ads, and ads delivered in the EU and UK, rather than all commercial ads worldwide.** Access needs a Meta developer account and identity confirmation. It’s separate from the Instagram Platform API covered in [Instagram API in 2026](/blog/instagram-api/instagram-api-guide/).

| Point | Ad Library website | Ad Library API |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Access | Anyone, no login | Developer account and identity confirmation |
| Commercial ads outside the EU and UK | Yes, while active | No |
| Political and issue ads | Yes | Yes |
| EU and UK ads | Yes | Yes |

## How Do Brands Use the Ad Library?

**Brands use it for competitor research: which offers, creatives and formats rivals are running, and for how long.** Ads that have run for a long time are often the ones that perform, because advertisers stop ads that don’t. Pair it with organic data, such as competitors’ posts and engagement, for the full picture.

## Questions people ask

### Is the Meta Ad Library free?

Yes, anyone can search it without an account.

### Does the Ad Library show ad spend?

Only for social issue, election and political ads.

### Can you see old Instagram ads?

Commercial ads appear while active; political ads are kept for 7 years, and EU and UK ads for a year.

### Does the Ad Library show ad performance?

It doesn't show clicks or sales; reach appears for EU and UK ads and regulated categories.

## More on the Instagram API

-   [Instagram API in 2026: Graph API and Alternatives What Instagram's official API can and can't do after the Basic Display shutdown, its login types and limits, and scraper alternatives.](/blog/instagram-api/instagram-api-guide/)
-   [Instagram Graph API Limits: Hashtags and Discovery Instagram Graph API Hashtag Search limits, rate limits for Business Discovery, login requirements, and options when you hit them.](/blog/instagram-api/graph-api-limits/)
-   [Instagram API vs Instagram Scraper: Which to Use Compare Instagram's official API with a scraper on access, data, hashtag limits, cost and risk, with a decision table for 7 jobs.](/blog/instagram-api/api-vs-scraper/)
-   [Best Instagram Scrapers in 2026, Compared Compare Instagram scrapers and APIs by pricing model, cost per 100,000 posts, coverage and limits, and pick the right one.](/blog/instagram-api/best-instagram-scrapers/)

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