Best Ways to Download Instagram Photos Without Ads
Okay, consequently here's the business weve every 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 want to save it. But ugh, you try a site or an app and... ads. Pop-ups. sketchy 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 on desktop (not the app, not your phone).

Go to the broadcast you want.

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

Dig re the tag that looks bearing in mind it has the full-resolution pic.

Copy the URL. paste it in a extra tab.

Right-click > Save image as

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

Use DustySave A unnamed Tool Nobodys Talking not quite (Yet)
Okay so, this one... barely anyone knows. Not even well-liked 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 gone 90s-level ugly but zero ads, clean 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 all along (it was once), just keep checking.
This is similar to my backup plot past whatever else feels gross.

Use Telegram Bots Yeah, Really
Never thought Id tell this, but Telegram might be the MVP here.
There are bots later than @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: make a Telegram photograph album for media saves. Keeps whatever tidy.
Little warning though: some bots randomly die or stop 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 want quality?
Heres the move: screenshot it, then upscale using LetsEnhance.io or Remini. Sounds extra, but trust me, works similar to magic. I when grabbed a blurry checking account publicize and turned it into printable classified ad air (dont question why).
Is this overkill? Maybe. But its fun.

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

Enable developer mode.

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

Browse instagram search user, and the app will sniff the photo cache.

You can subsequently 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 kind of Person
Apple fans, youre not left out. The Shortcuts app (yep, the one preinstalled) can pull off this.
You gotta install a custom Shortcut search for Instagram Media Downloader iOS Shortcut.
Itll comport yourself taking place in your allocation sheet. Tap it after copying the Insta URL, and boom: media downloaded into Photos.
Annoying part? iOS might question for right of entry subsequently 17 times. But hey, no ads.

Story Time: That One epoch I Clicked the incorrect Link
Okay, fast story. I in the same way as used this shady-looking downloader (not naming names, but it rhymed afterward 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 taking into consideration 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 later than Caution
Theres one called Downloader for Instagram (yeah, tacky name, I know). Works upon 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 get into your entire browsing history, most likely skip it.
But if you find a unassailable one? Game changer.

Hidden Trick: Archive Page Snapshots
Bet you didnt look this coming. Wayback robot (archive.org) sometimes saves Instagram herald snapshots. Not often, but occasionally.
Why is this cool? If the indigenous 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 on archive.org and see 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 genuine 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 next a little travel blogger once. Not lonesome 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 right of 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 every good.
But yeah. Im not a lawyer. Just a weary insomniac behind 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 considering 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 = act out subsequently caution.

Ask nicely. It works.

Archive.org is the strange backup method.

Dont be a jerk past the photos.

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