Best Ways to Download Instagram Photos Without Ads
Okay, suitably here's the business 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 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. subjective redirects. Some of them even start auto-playing music? Like, why.
So yeah, lets repair that. Ive been investigation 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 declare you want.

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

Dig in relation to the tag that looks gone it has the full-resolution pic.

Copy the URL. paste it in a other tab.

Right-click > Save image as

Done.
No ads. No subjective sites. Just code and glory. Feels kinda in the manner of hacking. But without, yknow, the hacking.

Use DustySave A undistinguished Tool Nobodys Talking about (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 afterward 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 beside (it was once), just keep checking.
This is afterward my backup plot once whatever else feels gross.

Use Telegram Bots Yeah, Really
Never thought Id say this, but Telegram might be the MVP here.
There are bots similar to @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 scrap book for media saves. Keeps anything tidy.
Little reproach though: some bots randomly die or end working. It's with 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 as soon as magic. I in imitation of grabbed a blurry explanation publish and turned it into printable advertisement setting (dont question 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 following 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 nice 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 fake happening in your part sheet. Tap it after copying the Insta URL, and boom: media downloaded into Photos.
Annoying part? iOS might question for entry gone 17 times. But hey, no ads.

Story Time: That One times I Clicked the incorrect Link
Okay, fast story. I in imitation of used this shady-looking downloader (not naming names, but it rhymed taking into account 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 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 similar 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 matter dont blindly install random extensions. Some are just click-farms in disguise.
Check reviews. Check permissions. If it's asking to log on your entire browsing history, most likely skip it.
But if you locate a sealed one? Game changer.

Hidden Trick: Archive Page Snapshots
Bet you didnt see this coming. Wayback robot (archive.org) sometimes saves Instagram make known snapshots. Not often, but occasionally.
Why is this cool? If the original state gets deleted, it might yet stir there. Saved. Immortal.
No ads. No spam. Just... retro-cool internet preservation.
Try it: search the insta account view 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 real 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 in the manner of a small travel blogger once. Not unaided did she tell 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 entry 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 tired insomniac like too many bookmarked tools.

Recap (Messy, But Honest)
If you just skimmed this (no judgment), heres the not-so-clean summary:

Use examine Element if you once 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 = feat later than caution.

Ask nicely. It works.

Archive.org is the strange backup method.

Dont be a jerk subsequently the photos.

There. Real, messy, human. Hopefully helpful.
So bordering become old you look that absolute pic and wanna keep it without 12 pop-ups, youll know exactly what to do.
Maybe even smile even though enactment it.