How to See Ads You’ve Viewed on Facebook and Instagram

Ever seen an ad for the perfect shoes or some random gadget on Facebook or Instagram, only to lose it a few scrolls later? Same here. Whether it was a sponsored post you tapped on or just something that popped up and stuck with you for a second, trying to find it again can be a total pain.

Luckily, Meta does give us a few ways to retrace our steps. There are some limits, sure, but you can usually track down ads you’ve interacted with using a few tools. I’ll walk you through how to find recently viewed ads on Facebook and Instagram, dig through the Meta Ad Library, and save ads for later so you never lose track again.

What Are “Recently Viewed Ads”?

“Recently Viewed Ads” basically covers any sponsored post you’ve engaged with—stuff you’ve clicked, liked, shared, commented on, or saved. This works on both Facebook and Instagram.

If you just scrolled past it without doing anything, that ad doesn’t make the cut. Meta only keeps a record of ads you interacted with, not every single one you saw.

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How to Find Recently Viewed Ads on Facebook

While Facebook mobile has a dedicated “Recently Viewed Ads” tab, the web version requires you to take a few extra steps.

On Facebook App:

1. Open the Facebook app.
2. Tap the Menu icon (☰) in the bottom-right corner.
3. Go to Settings & Privacy, then tap Recent ad activity.
4. Tap Ad Activity to see a full list of ads you’ve recently interacted with.
   

If you’ve saved any ads, tap the Saved tab to revisit them.

On the Facebook Website:

1. Head to facebook.com and log in.
2. Click your profile picture in the top-right, then choose Settings & Privacy.
   
3. Select Settings.
   
4. Click Meta Accounts Center.
   
5. On the left menu, click Ad Preferences.
   
6. Click See All next to Ad Activity.
   
7. Here, you’ll find ads you recently interacted with across all your Meta accounts.
8. To view your recent ad activity specific to your Facebook account, click on All Accounts.
9. Select your Facebook profile, and you’ll find a complete list of ads you recently interacted with on Facebook.
   

How to Find Recently Viewed Ads on Instagram

Instagram‘s a bit more roundabout. There’s no dedicated “Recent Ad Activity” section like there is on Facebook, but you can still check recent ad interactions if you know where to look.

On the Instagram App:

1. Open the Instagram app and head to your profile.
2. Tap the Menu (☰) in the top-right.
3. Go to Accounts Center, then tap Ad Preferences.
   
4. Under Ad Activity, tap See all to look through the ads you’ve interacted with.
5. Tap All Accounts, then select your Instagram profile to filter for Instagram-specific activity.
   

Tip: You can even download Instagram Reel audio if a sponsored Reel includes music or a sound you like.

How to View Advertisers You’ve Recently Seen Ads From

Even if Meta doesn’t track every single ad you scroll by, it does keep tabs on advertisers whose stuff appeared in your feed. That list is actually pretty easy to find.

1. Open the Meta Accounts Center from either the Facebook or Instagram app or on the web.
2. Tap Ad Preferences under Account Settings.
   
3. Select See all next to Advertisers you saw ads from.
4. From there, you can:
   • Tap on any brand to jump to their Page.
   • Block future ads from a brand by selecting Hide All Ads from that advertiser.
     

Use Meta Ad Library to Look Up Ads by Brand

If you can’t remember the ad itself but the brand name rings a bell, the Meta Ad Library might save the day. It’s searchable and shows every active ad currently running on Facebook, Instagram, and Messenger.

Here’s what to do:

1. Go to the Meta Ad Library.
2. Pick your country and choose the ad category.
3. Type in the brand name or a keyword.
4. Browse all the ads they’ve got running right now.
   

Can You Recover Ads You Just Scrolled Past?

Short answer—nope. If you didn’t click, like, comment, or save it, there’s no trail. Meta doesn’t log ads you ignore.

If you at least remember the brand, your best bet is to search their name or use the Ad Library to find whatever they’re currently pushing.

How to Save Ads for Later (Pro Tip)

If you spot something you want to remember, don’t wait. Save it the second you see it.

On Instagram:

1. Tap the Bookmark icon in the bottom-right corner of the ad.
2. Save it to a collection like “Wishlist” or “Gift Ideas” so you can find it later.
   

On Facebook:

1. Tap the three-dot menu (•••) on the ad.
2. Choose Save post, video, or link.
3. Toss it into a collection to keep your saved ads organized.
   

Troubleshooting: Why Can’t I See My Ad History?

Issue	Possible Reason	Suggested Fix
Ad not showing in Recent Activity	You just scrolled past it without interacting	Try searching the brand name or check the Meta Ad Library
Ad disappeared after viewing	The advertiser paused or removed the ad	Look for the brand’s Page or check the Ad Library for current campaigns
Empty Ad Activity or Advertisers list	You cleared your app or browser cache	Wait for new ad interactions to show up again
Logged into wrong account	You’re on a different Facebook or Instagram profile	Switch back to the correct account
Ad not saved	You didn’t interact or bookmark it	Start saving ads you want to find later

Never Lose an Ad Again…

Okay, you won’t be able to recover every ad that catches your eye mid-scroll. But with tools like Recent Ad Activity, Advertisers You Saw Ads From, and the Meta Ad Library, you’ve got a solid shot at finding ads you’ve actually interacted with.

Got your own trick for digging up old ads? Drop it in the comments. I’m always looking for better ways to track this stuff down.

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