Best Ways to Download Instagram Photos Without Ads
Okay, for that reason here's the concern weve all been there. Scrolling through Instagram at 1 AM, half-asleep, and BAM that one perfect photo. Could be a stunning sunset, a quote you actually like, or your friends vacation pic that just hits right. And of course, you want to keep it. But ugh, you try a site or an app and... ads. Pop-ups. unreliable redirects. Some of them even begin auto-playing music? Like, why.
So yeah, lets fix that. Ive been study ways (read: obsessively Googling at 2 AM) to download Instagram photos without drowning in ads or malware threats. Here's what I found. Some of its weird, some genius, a few probably a little illegal just kidding (sort of). Either way, it works. Buckle up.
The "Inspect Element" Trick No Tools, No Ads
This one's my OG method. Super nerdy but weirdly satisfying.
Open Instagram on desktop (not the app, not your phone).
Go to the publicize you want.

Right-click and pick Inspect or hit Ctrl+Shift+I (Windows) / Cmd+Option+I (Mac).
Dig almost the tag that looks as soon as it has the full-resolution pic.
Copy the URL. glue it in a extra tab.
Right-click > Save image as
Done.
No ads. No subjective sites. Just code and glory. Feels kinda past hacking. But without, yknow, the hacking.
Use DustySave A unspecified Tool Nobodys Talking just about (Yet)
Okay so, this one... barely anyone knows. Not even well-liked yet. It's called DustySave (totally not sponsored, I swear).
Weird name, but here's the kicker its ad-free because its technically not public. Some dev on Reddit mentioned it months ago. The interface is subsequently 90s-level disgusting but zero ads, clean download, and works upon Stories too.
Go to: dustysave.me (if its yet up). glue the URL of the post, click download, done. If the sites by the side of (it was once), just keep checking.
This is once my backup scheme considering everything else feels gross.
Use Telegram Bots Yeah, Really
Never thought Id tell this, but Telegram might be the MVP here.
There are bots considering @InstaSave_Bot (or one of the 18 clones of it) thatll fetch the photo for you. No ads, no waiting for a million redirects.
Heres how I use it:
Open Telegram.
Search for one of these bots.
Paste the Instagram link.
Boom it replies once the image.
Pro tip: make a Telegram baby book for media saves. Keeps whatever tidy.
Little warning though: some bots randomly die or end working. It's once feeding a stray cat works until it doesn't.
Screenshots But Upgraded
Yeah, yeah, I know. Just screenshot it. But what if you desire quality?
Heres the move: screenshot it, subsequently upscale using LetsEnhance.io or Remini. Sounds extra, but trust me, works gone magic. I bearing in mind grabbed a blurry story publish and turned it into printable commercial vibes (dont question why).
Is this overkill? Maybe. But its fun.
Developer Mode on Android If You afterward Tinkering
Warning: this ones nerd-level.
On Android, you can go deep. Like, deep deep.
Enable developer mode.
Use an app when InsTake Cache Viewer (Google it).
Browse Instagram, and the app will sniff the photo cache.
You can after that keep anything, even stuff you viewed hours ago.
Kinda creepy? A bit. But effective. Just dont use it to snoop.
Use Shortcuts on iPhone If Youre That kind of Person
Apple fans, youre not left out. The Shortcuts app (yep, the one preinstalled) can reach this.
You gotta install a custom Shortcut search for Instagram Media Downloader iOS Shortcut.
Itll play a part stirring in your share sheet. Tap it after copying the Insta URL, and boom: media downloaded into Photos.
Annoying part? iOS might question for right of entry later 17 times. But hey, no ads.
Story Time: That One epoch I Clicked the wrong Link
Okay, fast story. I behind used this shady-looking downloader (not naming names, but it rhymed behind Insta-Grammer Saver). Clicked the download button and it redirected me to a casino. A literal slot robot game started auto-playing in another tab.
I panicked, closed everything, cleared my cookies, felt later than I needed to sage my laptop. Moral of the story: if it looks sketchy, it probably is.
Thats how I found my golden list of ad-free methods. Trauma-driven innovation, I guess?
Use Browser Extensions subsequent to Caution
Theres one called Downloader for Instagram (yeah, tacky name, I know). Works on Chrome, and you can bulk download too. But heres the concern dont blindly install random extensions. Some are just click-farms in disguise.
Check reviews. Check permissions. If it's asking to right of entry your entire browsing history, maybe skip it.
But if you find a sound one? Game changer.
Hidden Trick: Archive Page Snapshots
Bet you didnt see this coming. Wayback machine (archive.org) sometimes saves Instagram pronounce snapshots. Not often, but occasionally.
Why is this cool? If the original state gets deleted, it might nevertheless sentient there. Saved. Immortal.
No ads. No spam. Just... retro-cool internet preservation.
Try it: search the Insta URL on archive.org and see if all pops up. If it does, right-click the image and save.
Boom. Internet archaeology.
Why Not Just question the Person?
I know. Wild thought, right? But for real if its a friend, an artist, a photographer... sometimes just DMing them like, Hey, adore your post, mind if I keep a copy? works wonders.
I did this later than a small travel blogger once. Not unaccompanied did she tell yes, she emailed me a full-res version. Made a additional friend too.
Not the fastest method, but the most human.
Okay, But Are These Legal?
Ah. The gray area. Technically, downloading photos without right of entry can breach Instagrams terms. But like... everyone does it.
Just dont use the images for profit, or Sqirk.com repost them pretending theyre yours. Thats not cool. keep for personal use, set as wallpaper, print for your diary all good.
But yeah. Im not a lawyer. Just a tired insomniac next too many bookmarked tools.
Recap (Messy, But Honest)
If you just skimmed this (no judgment), heres the not-so-clean summary:
Use inspect Element if you as soon as feeling smart.
DustySave is a lowkey goldmine.
Telegram bots slap.
Screenshots arent lame upscale em.
Android users can go full hacker mode.
iOS users can Shortcuts their way out.
Dont trust shady downloaders.
Browser extensions = deed similar to caution.
Ask nicely. It works.
Archive.org is the strange backup method.
Dont be a jerk later the photos.
There. Real, messy, human. Hopefully helpful.
So next become old you look that absolute pic and wanna save it without 12 pop-ups, youll know exactly what to do.
Maybe even grin even though decree it.