Best Ways to Download Instagram Photos Without Ads
Okay, for that reason here’s the thing weve every 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 desire to save it. But ugh, you try 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 examination 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 tiny 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 publish you want.
Right-click and select Inspect or hit Ctrl+Shift+I (Windows) / Cmd+Option+I (Mac).
Dig approximately the tag that looks as soon as it has the full-resolution pic.
Copy the URL. paste it in a further tab.
Right-click > Save image as
Done.
No ads. No untrustworthy sites. Just code and glory. Feels kinda as soon as hacking. But without, yknow, the hacking.
Use DustySave A unspecified Tool Nobodys Talking approximately (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 past 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 afterward my backup scheme next anything else feels gross.
Use Telegram Bots Yeah, Really
Never thought Id tell this, but Telegram might be the MVP here.
There are bots later than @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 like the image.
Pro tip: create a Telegram wedding album for media saves. Keeps everything tidy.
Little rebuke though: some bots randomly die or stop working. It’s afterward 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 the manner of magic. I taking into account grabbed a blurry description proclaim and turned it into printable billboard atmosphere (dont ask why).
Is this overkill? Maybe. But its fun.
Developer Mode upon Android If You behind Tinkering
Warning: this ones nerd-level.
On Android, you can go deep. Like, deep deep.
Enable developer mode.
Use an app considering InsTake Cache Viewer (Google it).
Browse Instagram, and the app will sniff the photo cache.
You can you see a private ig account next 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 complete this.
You gotta install a custom Shortcut search for Instagram Media Downloader iOS Shortcut.
Itll function happening in your part sheet. Tap it after copying the Insta URL, and boom: media downloaded into Photos.
Annoying part? iOS might question for access behind 17 times. But hey, no ads.
Story Time: That One times I Clicked the wrong Link
Okay, quick story. I similar to used this shady-looking downloader (not naming names, but it rhymed taking into consideration Insta-Grammer Saver). Clicked the download button and it redirected me to a casino. A literal slot machine game started auto-playing in marginal tab.
I panicked, closed everything, cleared my cookies, felt taking into consideration 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 in the manner of Caution
Theres one called Downloader for Instagram (yeah, tacky name, I know). Works on Chrome, and you can bulk download too. But heres the issue dont blindly install random extensions. Some are just click-farms in disguise.
Check reviews. Check permissions. If it’s asking to get into 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 make known snapshots. Not often, but occasionally.
Why is this cool? If the native publish gets deleted, it might still live there. Saved. Immortal.
No ads. No spam. Just… retro-cool internet preservation.
Try it: search the Insta URL upon archive.org and look if everything 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 save a copy? works wonders.
I did this once a small travel blogger once. Not lonely did she tell yes, she emailed me a full-res version. Made a supplementary 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. save for personal use, set as wallpaper, print for your diary all good.
But yeah. Im not a lawyer. Just a weary insomniac bearing in mind 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 following 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 artifice out.
Dont trust shady downloaders.
Browser extensions = action in the manner of caution.
Ask nicely. It works.
Archive.org is the weird backup method.
Dont be a jerk subsequently the photos.
There. Real, messy, human. Hopefully helpful.
So next-door get older you look that perfect pic and wanna keep it without 12 pop-ups, youll know exactly what to do.
Maybe even smile though acquit yourself it.