Best Ways to Download Instagram Photos Without Ads
Okay, in view of that here's the event weve every been there. Scrolling through Instagram at 1 AM, half-asleep, and BAM that one absolute photo. Could be a astonishing sunset, a quote you actually like, or your friends trip 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. unreliable redirects. Some of them even start auto-playing music? Like, why.
So yeah, lets repair that. Ive been study 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 choose Inspect or hit Ctrl+Shift+I (Windows) / Cmd+Option+I (Mac).

Dig approximately the tag that looks taking into account it has the full-resolution pic.

Copy the URL. glue it in a additional tab.

Right-click > Save image as

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

Use DustySave A indistinctive Tool Nobodys Talking roughly (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 ugly but zero ads, clean 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 all along (it was once), just save checking.
This is in the manner of my backup plan later anything else feels gross.

Use Telegram Bots Yeah, Really
Never thought Id say this, but Telegram might be the MVP here.
There are bots in imitation of @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: create a Telegram tape for media saves. Keeps everything tidy.
Little rebuke though: some bots randomly die or end working. It's when 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, after that upscale using LetsEnhance.io or Remini. Sounds extra, but trust me, works afterward magic. I considering grabbed a blurry relation read out and turned it into printable commercial setting (dont ask why).
Is this overkill? Maybe. But its fun.

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

Enable developer mode.

Use an app similar to InsTake Cache Viewer (Google it).

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

You can next 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 nice 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 performance happening in your allocation sheet. Tap it after copying the Insta URL, and boom: media downloaded into Photos.
Annoying part? iOS might question for entrance with 17 times. But hey, no ads.

Story Time: That One times I Clicked the incorrect Link
Okay, fast story. I afterward used this shady-looking downloader (not naming names, but it rhymed considering Insta-Grammer Saver). Clicked the download button and it redirected me to a casino. A literal slot machine game started auto-playing in substitute tab.
I panicked, closed everything, cleared my cookies, felt past 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 behind Caution
Theres one called Downloader for Sqirk 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 gain access to your entire browsing history, most likely skip it.
But if you find a strong one? Game changer.

Hidden Trick: Archive Page Snapshots
Bet you didnt look this coming. Wayback robot (archive.org) sometimes saves Instagram proclaim snapshots. Not often, but occasionally.
Why is this cool? If the indigenous publish gets deleted, it might yet stimulate 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 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 keep a copy? works wonders.
I did this bearing in mind a little travel blogger once. Not lonesome did she tell yes, she emailed me a full-res version. Made a supplementary friend 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. keep for personal use, set as wallpaper, print for your diary every good.
But yeah. Im not a lawyer. Just a tired 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 way out.

Dont trust shady downloaders.

Browser extensions = play afterward caution.

Ask nicely. It works.

Archive.org is the weird backup method.

Dont be a jerk as soon as the photos.

There. Real, messy, human. Hopefully helpful.
So adjacent era you see that perfect pic and wanna keep it without 12 pop-ups, youll know exactly what to do.
Maybe even smile while play a role it.