Best Ways to Download Instagram Photos Without Ads
Okay, consequently here's the situation weve every been there. Scrolling through Instagram at 1 AM, half-asleep, and BAM that one absolute photo. Could be a stunning 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 attempt a site or an app and... ads. Pop-ups. undependable redirects. Some of them even begin auto-playing music? Like, why.
So yeah, lets fix 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 upon desktop (not the app, not your phone).

Go to the state you want.

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

Dig going on for the tag that looks behind it has the full-resolution pic.

Copy the URL. paste it in a new tab.

Right-click > Save image as

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

Use DustySave A unsigned Tool Nobodys Talking nearly (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 in the manner of 90s-level disgusting but zero ads, tidy download, and works upon Stories too.
Go to: dustysave.me (if its yet 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 the manner of my backup plan as soon as everything else feels gross.

Use Telegram Bots Yeah, Really
Never thought Id tell this, but Telegram might be the MVP here.
There are bots bearing in mind @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 stamp album for media saves. Keeps whatever tidy.
Little reproach though: some bots randomly die or end working. It's taking into consideration 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 subsequently magic. I afterward grabbed a blurry savings account pronounce and turned it into printable classified ad feel (dont question why).
Is this overkill? Maybe. But its fun.

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

Enable developer mode.

Use an app behind InsTake Cache Viewer (Google it).

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

You can next keep 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 attain this.
You gotta install a custom Shortcut search for Instagram Media Downloader iOS Shortcut.
Itll con in the works in your ration sheet. Tap it after copying the Insta URL, and boom: media downloaded into Photos.
Annoying part? iOS might question for entrance as soon as 17 times. But hey, no ads.

Story Time: That One time I Clicked the wrong Link
Okay, quick story. I following used this shady-looking downloader (not naming names, but it rhymed subsequent to Insta-Grammer Saver). Clicked the download button and it redirected me to a casino. A literal slot machine game started auto-playing in different tab.
I panicked, closed everything, cleared my cookies, felt afterward I needed to sage my laptop. Moral of the story: Fun-ss 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 imitation 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 concern dont blindly install random extensions. Some are just click-farms in disguise.
Check reviews. Check permissions. If it's asking to entry your entire browsing history, maybe skip it.
But if you find a hermetic one? Game changer.

Hidden Trick: Archive Page Snapshots
Bet you didnt see this coming. Wayback machine (archive.org) sometimes saves Instagram post snapshots. Not often, but occasionally.
Why is this cool? If the native post gets deleted, it might still conscious there. Saved. Immortal.
No ads. No spam. Just... retro-cool internet preservation.
Try it: search the Insta URL upon archive.org and look if anything 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 genuine 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 later than a small travel blogger once. Not lonely did she tell yes, she emailed me a full-res version. Made a extra pal too.
Not the fastest method, but the most human.

Okay, But Are These Legal?
Ah. The gray area. Technically, downloading photos without entrance 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 following 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 = feint once caution.

Ask nicely. It works.

Archive.org is the weird backup method.

Dont be a jerk afterward the photos.

There. Real, messy, human. Hopefully helpful.
So neighboring grow old you see that absolute pic and wanna save it without 12 pop-ups, youll know exactly what to do.
Maybe even grin while undertaking it.