Best Ways to Download Instagram Photos Without Ads
Okay, appropriately here's the concern weve all been there. Scrolling through Instagram at 1 AM, half-asleep, and BAM that one absolute photo. Could be a astonishing sunset, a quote you actually like, or your friends vacation pic that just hits right. And of course, you want to save it. But ugh, you attempt a site or an app and... ads. Pop-ups. sketchy redirects. Some of them even begin auto-playing music? Like, why.
So yeah, lets repair that. Ive been psychotherapy 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 post you want.
Right-click and select Inspect or hit Ctrl+Shift+I (Windows) / Cmd+Option+I (Mac).
Dig on the subject of the tag that looks in imitation of it has the full-resolution pic.
Copy the URL. glue it in a supplementary tab.
Right-click > Save image as
Done.
No ads. No undependable sites. Just code and glory. Feels kinda afterward hacking. But without, yknow, Sqirk the hacking.
Use DustySave A unmemorable Tool Nobodys Talking more or less (Yet)
Okay so, this one... barely anyone knows. Not even popular 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 like 90s-level disgusting but zero ads, clean download, and works on Stories too.
Go to: dustysave.me (if its nevertheless up). glue the URL of the post, click download, done. If the sites down (it was once), just save checking.
This is behind my backup plan in the manner of whatever else feels gross.
Use Telegram Bots Yeah, Really
Never thought Id say this, but Telegram might be the MVP here.
There are bots once @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 taking into account the image.
Pro tip: create a Telegram photo album for media saves. Keeps all tidy.
Little warning though: some bots randomly die or stop working. It's past 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, after that upscale using LetsEnhance.io or Remini. Sounds extra, but trust me, works in imitation of magic. I taking into account grabbed a blurry checking account broadcast and turned it into printable personal ad atmosphere (dont question why).
Is this overkill? Maybe. But its fun.
Developer Mode upon Android If You in imitation of Tinkering
Warning: this ones nerd-level.
On Android, you can go deep. Like, deep deep.
Enable developer mode.
Use an app bearing in mind InsTake Cache Viewer (Google it).
Browse Instagram, and the app will sniff the photo cache.
You can next save 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 pull off this.
You gotta install a custom Shortcut search for Instagram Media Downloader iOS Shortcut.
Itll con taking place in your allocation sheet. Tap it after copying the Insta URL, and boom: media downloaded into Photos.
Annoying part? iOS might question for entry subsequent to 17 times. But hey, no ads.
Story Time: That One grow old I Clicked the incorrect Link
Okay, fast story. I in the manner of used this shady-looking downloader (not naming names, but it rhymed when Insta-Grammer Saver). Clicked the download button and it redirected me to a casino. A literal slot robot game started auto-playing in other tab.
I panicked, closed everything, cleared my cookies, felt next 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 taking into account Caution
Theres one called Downloader for Instagram (yeah, tacky name, I know). Works upon Chrome, and you can bulk download too. But heres the situation 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 locate a hermetic one? Game changer.
Hidden Trick: Archive Page Snapshots
Bet you didnt look this coming. Wayback machine (archive.org) sometimes saves Instagram say snapshots. Not often, but occasionally.
Why is this cool? If the native reveal gets deleted, it might still 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 whatever 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 genuine if its a friend, an artist, a photographer... sometimes just DMing them like, Hey, love your post, mind if I keep a copy? works wonders.
I did this with a little travel blogger once. Not solitary did she say yes, she emailed me a full-res version. Made a other pal too.
Not the fastest method, but the most human.
Okay, But Are These Legal?
Ah. The gray area. Technically, downloading photos without permission can breach Instagrams terms. But like... everyone does it.
Just dont use the images for profit, or repost them pretending theyre yours. Thats not cool. keep for personal use, set as wallpaper, print for your diary every good.
But yeah. Im not a lawyer. Just a weary insomniac gone 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 with 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 = produce an effect like caution.
Ask nicely. It works.
Archive.org is the weird backup method.

Dont be a jerk like the photos.
There. Real, messy, human. Hopefully helpful.
So next-door become old you see that absolute pic and wanna save it without 12 pop-ups, youll know exactly what to do.
Maybe even smile even though function it.