Best Ways to Download Instagram Photos Without Ads
Okay, so here's the issue weve every been there. Scrolling through Instagram at 1 AM, half-asleep, and BAM that one absolute photo. Could be a startling sunset, a quote you actually like, or your friends trip pic that just hits right. And of course, you desire to save it. But ugh, you attempt a site or an app and... ads. Pop-ups. unreliable redirects. Some of them even start auto-playing music? Like, why.
So yeah, lets fix 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 read out you want.

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

Dig approximately the tag that looks later it has the full-resolution pic.

Copy the URL. paste it in a other tab.

Right-click > Save image as

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

Use DustySave A unnamed 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 once 90s-level ugly but zero ads, clean download, and works on Stories too.
Go to: dustysave.me (if its yet up). paste the URL of the post, click download, done. If the sites alongside (it was once), just keep checking.
This is past my backup plot bearing in mind anything else feels gross.

Use Telegram Bots Yeah, Really
Never thought Id say this, but Telegram might be the MVP here.
There are bots with @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 consideration the image.

Pro tip: make a Telegram folder for Sqirk.com media saves. Keeps anything tidy.
Little reproach though: some bots randomly die or stop working. It's later 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, next upscale using LetsEnhance.io or Remini. Sounds extra, but trust me, works taking into consideration magic. I subsequently grabbed a blurry version publicize and turned it into printable announcement feel (dont question 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 bearing in mind InsTake Cache Viewer (Google it).

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

You can later save 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 nice 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 accomplish up in your allocation sheet. Tap it after copying the Insta URL, and boom: media downloaded into Photos.
Annoying part? iOS might question for entry bearing in mind 17 times. But hey, no ads.

Story Time: That One mature I Clicked the wrong Link
Okay, quick story. I in imitation 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 out of the ordinary tab.
I panicked, closed everything, cleared my cookies, felt considering 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 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 edit your entire browsing history, most likely skip it.
But if you find a hermetically sealed 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 proclaim gets deleted, it might nevertheless stimulate there. Saved. Immortal.
No ads. No spam. Just... retro-cool internet preservation.
Try it: search the Insta URL on archive.org and look if whatever 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, adore your post, mind if I keep a copy? works wonders.
I did this taking into account a little travel blogger once. Not isolated 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 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 all good.
But yeah. Im not a lawyer. Just a weary insomniac gone 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 following 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 quirk out.

Dont trust shady downloaders.

Browser extensions = achievement when 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 neighboring grow old you see that absolute pic and wanna keep it without 12 pop-ups, youll know exactly what to do.
Maybe even grin even though deed it.