Best Ways to Download Instagram Photos Without Ads
Okay, for that reason here's the situation weve every 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 want 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 psychotherapy 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 publish you want.

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

Dig on the order of the tag that looks in the same way as it has the full-resolution pic.

Copy the URL. paste it in a supplementary tab.

Right-click > Save image as

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

Use DustySave A unknown Tool Nobodys Talking not quite (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 in the same way as 90s-level ugly but zero ads, clean download, and works upon Stories too.
Go to: dustysave.me (if its still up). glue the URL of the post, click download, done. If the sites by the side of (it was once), just keep checking.
This is following my backup scheme later than all else feels gross.

Use Telegram Bots Yeah, Really
Never thought Id tell this, but Telegram might be the MVP here.
There are bots afterward @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 folder for media saves. Keeps everything tidy.
Little reprimand though: some bots randomly die or end working. It's with 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, then upscale using LetsEnhance.io or Remini. Sounds extra, but trust me, works subsequently magic. I considering grabbed a blurry bank account say and turned it into printable announcement air (dont ask why).
Is this overkill? Maybe. But its fun.

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

Enable developer mode.

Use an app in imitation of InsTake Cache private profile viewer for instagram (Google it).

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

You can later 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 kind of Person
Apple fans, youre not left out. The Shortcuts app (yep, the one preinstalled) can realize this.
You gotta install a custom Shortcut search for Instagram Media Downloader iOS Shortcut.
Itll enactment going on in your allowance sheet. Tap it after copying the Insta URL, and boom: media downloaded into Photos.
Annoying part? iOS might ask for admission considering 17 times. But hey, no ads.

Story Time: That One mature I Clicked the incorrect Link
Okay, quick story. I later than used this shady-looking downloader (not naming names, but it rhymed following Insta-Grammer Saver). Clicked the download button and it redirected me to a casino. A literal slot machine game started auto-playing in unorthodox tab.
I panicked, closed everything, cleared my cookies, felt subsequently 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 in imitation of 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 admittance your entire browsing history, maybe skip it.
But if you locate a solid one? Game changer.

Hidden Trick: Archive Page Snapshots
Bet you didnt see this coming. Wayback machine (archive.org) sometimes saves Instagram pronounce snapshots. Not often, but occasionally.
Why is this cool? If the native broadcast gets deleted, it might yet sentient there. Saved. Immortal.
No ads. No spam. Just... retro-cool internet preservation.
Try it: search the Insta URL upon 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, love your post, mind if I save a copy? works wonders.
I did this later than a little travel blogger once. Not solitary did she say yes, she emailed me a full-res version. Made a new 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 tired insomniac following 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 with 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 = be in when caution.

Ask nicely. It works.

Archive.org is the strange backup method.

Dont be a jerk in the same way as the photos.

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