Best Ways to Download Instagram Photos Without Ads
Okay, consequently 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 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 attempt a site or an app and... ads. Pop-ups. untrustworthy redirects. Some of them even begin auto-playing music? Like, why.
So yeah, lets fix that. Ive been psychiatry 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 on desktop (not the app, not your phone).

Go to the broadcast you want.

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

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

Copy the URL. glue it in a further tab.

Right-click > Save image as

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

Use DustySave A shadowy 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 upon Reddit mentioned it months ago. The interface is behind 90s-level disgusting but zero ads, tidy download, and works on Stories too.
Go to: dustysave.me (if its still up). paste the URL of the post, click download, done. If the sites next to (it was once), just save checking.
This is in the manner of my backup scheme with all else feels gross.

Use Telegram Bots Yeah, Really
Never thought Id tell this, but Telegram might be the MVP here.
There are bots once @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 can i see instagram private account I use it:

Open Telegram.

Search for one of these bots.

Paste the Instagram link.

Boom it replies similar to the image.

Pro tip: create a Telegram book for media saves. Keeps whatever tidy.
Little scolding though: some bots randomly die or stop working. It's in the manner of 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, subsequently upscale using LetsEnhance.io or Remini. Sounds extra, but trust me, works with magic. I gone grabbed a blurry tally state and turned it into printable poster tone (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, deep deep.

Enable developer mode.

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

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

You can after that 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 get this.
You gotta install a custom Shortcut search for Instagram Media Downloader iOS Shortcut.
Itll pretend happening in your ration sheet. Tap it after copying the Insta URL, and boom: media downloaded into Photos.
Annoying part? iOS might question for right of entry later 17 times. But hey, no ads.

Story Time: That One time I Clicked the incorrect Link
Okay, fast story. I later used this shady-looking downloader (not naming names, but it rhymed as soon as Insta-Grammer Saver). Clicked the download button and it redirected me to a casino. A literal slot machine game started auto-playing in option 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 past Caution
Theres one called Downloader for Instagram (yeah, tacky name, I know). Works upon Chrome, and you can bulk download too. But heres the thing 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 unassailable one? Game changer.

Hidden Trick: Archive Page Snapshots
Bet you didnt see this coming. Wayback machine (archive.org) sometimes saves Instagram name snapshots. Not often, but occasionally.
Why is this cool? If the indigenous proclaim gets deleted, it might nevertheless stimulate there. Saved. Immortal.
No ads. No spam. Just... retro-cool internet preservation.
Try it: search the Insta URL on archive.org and look if anything 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 keep a copy? works wonders.
I did this later a small travel blogger once. Not isolated did she say 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. keep for personal use, set as wallpaper, print for your diary every good.
But yeah. Im not a lawyer. Just a weary insomniac considering 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 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 exaggeration out.

Dont trust shady downloaders.

Browser extensions = comport yourself considering caution.

Ask nicely. It works.

Archive.org is the strange backup method.

Dont be a jerk similar to the photos.

There. Real, messy, human. Hopefully helpful.
So next-door times you look that absolute pic and wanna keep it without 12 pop-ups, youll know exactly what to do.
Maybe even smile even if do its stuff it.