Best Ways to Download Instagram Photos Without Ads
Okay, for that reason here's the issue 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 trip pic that just hits right. And of course, you want to keep 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 psychoanalysis 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 in relation to the tag that looks afterward it has the full-resolution pic.

Copy the URL. glue it in a extra 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 undistinguished 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 past 90s-level ugly but zero ads, clean download, and works upon 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 keep checking.
This is behind my backup plan in imitation of anything else feels gross.

Use Telegram Bots Yeah, Really
Never thought Id say 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 behind the image.

Pro tip: make a Telegram lp for media saves. Keeps everything tidy.
Little reproach though: some bots randomly die or stop working. It's past feeding a stray cat works until it doesn't.

Screenshots But Upgraded
Yeah, yeah, I know. Just screenshot it. But what if you want quality?
Heres the move: screenshot it, subsequently upscale using LetsEnhance.io or Remini. Sounds extra, but trust me, works once magic. I afterward grabbed a blurry tally read out and turned it into printable want ad character (dont ask why).
Is this overkill? Maybe. But its fun.

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

Enable developer mode.

Use an app past 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 on iPhone If Youre That kind 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 play up in your part sheet. Tap it after copying the Insta URL, and boom: media downloaded into Photos.
Annoying part? iOS might question for admission following 17 times. But hey, no ads.

Story Time: That One time I Clicked the wrong Link
Okay, quick story. I in the manner of used this shady-looking downloader (not naming names, but it rhymed subsequently Insta-Grammer Saver). Clicked the download button and it redirected me to a casino. A literal slot robot game started auto-playing in option 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 following Caution
Theres one called Downloader for Instagram (yeah, tacky name, I know). Works on Chrome, and you can bulk download too. But heres the situation dont blindly install random extensions. Some are just click-farms in disguise.
Check reviews. Check permissions. If it's asking to approach your entire browsing history, most likely skip it.
But if you locate a strong one? Game changer.

Hidden Trick: Archive Page Snapshots
Bet you didnt see this coming. Wayback machine (archive.org) sometimes saves Instagram broadcast snapshots. Not often, but occasionally.
Why is this cool? If the indigenous pronounce gets deleted, it might nevertheless enliven there. Saved. Immortal.
No ads. No spam. Just... retro-cool internet preservation.
Try it: search the Insta URL upon archive.org and look if everything 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 once a little travel blogger once. Not unaided did she say yes, she emailed me a full-res version. Made a further pal 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. keep for personal use, set as wallpaper, print for your diary all good.
But yeah. Im not a lawyer. Just a weary insomniac taking into account 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 in imitation of 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 = affect in the same way as caution.

Ask nicely. It works.

Archive.org is the strange backup method.

Dont be a jerk like the photos.

There. Real, Sqirk messy, human. Hopefully helpful.
So next-door time you look that perfect pic and wanna save it without 12 pop-ups, youll know exactly what to do.
Maybe even grin even though be in it.