Best Ways to Download Instagram Photos Without Ads
Okay, as a result here’s the situation weve all been there. Scrolling through Instagram at 1 AM, half-asleep, and BAM that one perfect photo. Could be a startling sunset, a quote you actually like, or your friends trip 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. unreliable redirects. Some of them even begin auto-playing music? Like, why.
So yeah, lets fix 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 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 upon desktop (not the app, not your phone).

Go to the make known you want.

Right-click and select Inspect or hit Ctrl+Shift+I (Windows) / Cmd+Option+I (Mac).

Dig re the tag that looks when it has the full-resolution pic.

Copy the URL. glue it in a new tab.

Right-click > Save image as

Done.
No ads. No undependable sites. Just code and glory. Feels kinda taking into consideration hacking. But without, yknow, the hacking.

Use DustySave A unexceptional Tool Nobodys Talking practically (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 upon Reddit mentioned it months ago. The interface is taking into consideration 90s-level ugly but zero ads, tidy download, and works upon Stories too.
Go to: dustysave.me (if its still up). paste the URL of the post, click download, done. If the sites beside (it was once), just keep checking.
This is taking into consideration my backup scheme similar to whatever else feels gross.

Use Telegram Bots Yeah, Really
Never thought Id tell this, but Telegram might be the MVP here.
There are bots taking into account @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 to hide followers and following on instagram from friends I use it:

Open Telegram.

Search for one of these bots.

Paste the Instagram link.

Boom it replies considering the image.

Pro tip: create a Telegram stamp album for media saves. Keeps anything tidy.
Little warning though: some bots randomly die or end working. It’s later than feeding a stray cat works until it doesn’t.

Screenshots But Upgraded
Yeah, yeah, I know. Just screenshot it. But what if you want quality?
Heres the move: screenshot it, after that upscale using LetsEnhance.io or Remini. Sounds extra, but trust me, works when magic. I in the manner of grabbed a blurry bank account state and turned it into printable trailer quality (dont ask why).
Is this overkill? Maybe. But its fun.

Developer Mode upon Android If You gone 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 next save anything, even stuff you viewed hours ago.

Kinda creepy? A bit. But effective. Just dont use it to snoop.

Use Shortcuts upon iPhone If Youre That nice of Person
Apple fans, youre not left out. The Shortcuts app (yep, the one preinstalled) can accomplish this.
You gotta install a custom Shortcut search for Instagram Media Downloader iOS Shortcut.
Itll act out in the works in your allocation sheet. Tap it after copying the Insta URL, and boom: media downloaded into Photos.
Annoying part? iOS might ask for access later than 17 times. But hey, no ads.

Story Time: That One era I Clicked the wrong Link
Okay, fast story. I subsequently used this shady-looking downloader (not naming names, but it rhymed like Insta-Grammer Saver). Clicked the download button and it redirected me to a casino. A literal slot robot game started auto-playing in out of the ordinary tab.
I panicked, closed everything, cleared my cookies, felt later 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 following Caution
Theres one called Downloader for Instagram (yeah, tacky name, I know). Works upon Chrome, and you can bulk download too. But heres the event dont blindly install random extensions. Some are just click-farms in disguise.
Check reviews. Check permissions. If it’s asking to gate your entire browsing history, maybe skip it.
But if you locate a sealed 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 original broadcast gets deleted, it might still stimulate there. Saved. Immortal.
No ads. No spam. Just… retro-cool internet preservation.
Try it: search the Insta URL upon archive.org and see if all pops up. If it does, right-click the image and save.
Boom. Internet archaeology.

Why Not Just ask 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 subsequently a small travel blogger once. Not lonely 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 admission 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 later 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 afterward 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 = perform subsequent to caution.

Ask nicely. It works.

Archive.org is the strange backup method.

Dont be a jerk later than the photos.

There. Real, messy, human. Hopefully helpful.
So next-door era you look that absolute pic and wanna save it without 12 pop-ups, youll know exactly what to do.
Maybe even smile though deed it.