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Best Ways to Download Instagram Photos Without Ads
Okay, fittingly here's the matter 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 vacation pic that just hits right. And of course, you desire to keep it. But ugh, you try a site or an app and... ads. Pop-ups. subjective 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 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 publicize you want.

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

Dig re the tag that looks past 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 later hacking. But without, yknow, the hacking.

Use DustySave A run of the mill Tool Nobodys Talking approximately (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 bearing in mind 90s-level disgusting but zero ads, tidy download, and works on Stories too.
Go to: dustysave.me (if its still up). glue the URL of the post, click download, done. If the sites next to (it was once), just keep checking.
This is in the manner of my backup plan in the same way 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 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 I use it:

Open Telegram.

Search for one of these bots.

Paste the Instagram link.

Boom it replies in imitation of the image.

Pro tip: make a Telegram collection for media saves. Keeps whatever tidy.
Little scolding though: some bots randomly die or end working. It's subsequently 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 in the same way as magic. I gone grabbed a blurry tab say and turned it into printable want ad tone (dont ask why).
Is this overkill? Maybe. But its fun.

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

Enable developer mode.

Use an app in the same way as InsTake Cache private viewer instagram (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 on iPhone If Youre That kind 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 discharge duty up in your portion sheet. Tap it after copying the Insta URL, and boom: media downloaded into Photos.
Annoying part? iOS might ask for right of entry in imitation of 17 times. But hey, no ads.

Story Time: That One era I Clicked the wrong Link
Okay, fast story. I in the same way as used this shady-looking downloader (not naming names, but it rhymed in the manner of Insta-Grammer Saver). Clicked the download button and it redirected me to a casino. A literal slot machine game started auto-playing in other tab.
I panicked, closed everything, cleared my cookies, felt when 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 when Caution
Theres one called Downloader for Instagram (yeah, tacky name, I know). Works upon 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 retrieve your entire browsing history, maybe skip it.
But if you find a unquestionable one? Game changer.

Hidden Trick: Archive Page Snapshots
Bet you didnt look this coming. Wayback robot (archive.org) sometimes saves Instagram post snapshots. Not often, but occasionally.
Why is this cool? If the original read out gets deleted, it might yet breathing there. Saved. Immortal.
No ads. No spam. Just... retro-cool internet preservation.
Try it: search the Insta URL on archive.org and look if everything 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, love your post, mind if I save a copy? works wonders.
I did this afterward a small travel blogger once. Not on your own did she say 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 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. save for personal use, set as wallpaper, print for your diary every good.
But yeah. Im not a lawyer. Just a weary insomniac taking into consideration 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 exaggeration out.

Dont trust shady downloaders.

Browser extensions = take action with caution.

Ask nicely. It works.

Archive.org is the weird backup method.

Dont be a jerk considering the photos.

There. Real, messy, human. Hopefully helpful.
So adjacent time you look that absolute pic and wanna save it without 12 pop-ups, youll know exactly what to do.
Maybe even grin even though operate it.