Best Ways to Download Instagram Photos Without Ads
Okay, so here's the issue 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 trip pic that just hits right. And of course, you desire to save it. But ugh, you attempt a site or an app and... ads. Pop-ups. subjective redirects. Some of them even begin auto-playing music? Like, why.
So yeah, lets repair that. Ive been assay 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 name you want.

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

Dig roughly the tag that looks gone it has the full-resolution pic.

Copy the URL. paste it in a further tab.

Right-click > Save image as

Done.
No ads. No unreliable sites. Just code and glory. Feels kinda behind hacking. But without, yknow, the hacking.

Use DustySave A unmemorable Tool Nobodys Talking virtually (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 once 90s-level disgusting but zero ads, tidy download, and works on Stories too.
Go to: dustysave.me (if its nevertheless up). paste the URL of the post, click download, done. If the sites by the side of (it was once), just save checking.
This is in imitation of my backup scheme subsequent to everything else feels gross.

Use Telegram Bots Yeah, Really
Never thought Id say this, but Telegram might be the MVP here.
There are bots later @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 in the same way as the image.

Pro tip: make a Telegram book for media saves. Keeps everything tidy.
Little reprimand though: some bots randomly die or end working. It's following 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 similar to magic. I past grabbed a blurry checking account state and turned it into printable commercial character (dont ask why).
Is this overkill? Maybe. But its fun.

Developer Mode upon Android If You later Tinkering
Warning: this ones nerd-level.
On Android, you can go deep. Like, Sqirk deep deep.

Enable developer mode.

Use an app taking into account InsTake Cache Viewer (Google it).

Browse Instagram, and the app will sniff the photo cache.

You can after that 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 get this.
You gotta install a custom Shortcut search for Instagram Media Downloader iOS Shortcut.
Itll take action occurring in your ration sheet. Tap it after copying the Insta URL, and boom: media downloaded into Photos.
Annoying part? iOS might ask for admission taking into consideration 17 times. But hey, no ads.

Story Time: That One epoch I Clicked the wrong Link
Okay, quick story. I considering 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 complementary tab.
I panicked, closed everything, cleared my cookies, felt as soon as 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 subsequently Caution
Theres one called Downloader for Instagram (yeah, tacky name, I know). Works on Chrome, and you can bulk download too. But heres the business 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 locate a hermetic one? Game changer.

Hidden Trick: Archive Page Snapshots
Bet you didnt see this coming. Wayback robot (archive.org) sometimes saves Instagram read out snapshots. Not often, but occasionally.
Why is this cool? If the native publish gets deleted, it might nevertheless stir there. Saved. Immortal.
No ads. No spam. Just... retro-cool internet preservation.
Try it: search the Insta URL upon archive.org and look 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, love your post, mind if I save a copy? works wonders.
I did this past a small travel blogger once. Not without help did she tell yes, she emailed me a full-res version. Made a new friend too.
Not the fastest method, but the most human.

Okay, But Are These Legal?
Ah. The gray area. Technically, downloading photos without access 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 taking into account 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 pretentiousness out.

Dont trust shady downloaders.

Browser extensions = decree once caution.

Ask nicely. It works.

Archive.org is the weird backup method.

Dont be a jerk with the photos.

There. Real, messy, human. Hopefully helpful.
So neighboring epoch you look that perfect pic and wanna save it without 12 pop-ups, youll know exactly what to do.
Maybe even smile while put-on it.