Best Ways to Download Instagram Photos Without Ads
Okay, fittingly here's the situation weve all 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 want to keep it. But ugh, you attempt 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 investigation 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 proclaim you want.

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

Dig all but the tag that looks with it has the full-resolution pic.

Copy the URL. glue it in a new tab.

Right-click > Save image as

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

Use DustySave A dull Tool Nobodys Talking virtually (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 upon Reddit mentioned it months ago. The interface is behind 90s-level disgusting but zero ads, tidy download, and works upon Stories too.
Go to: dustysave.me (if its nevertheless up). paste the URL of the post, click download, done. If the sites next to (it was once), just keep checking.
This is gone my backup plan in imitation of whatever else feels gross.

Use Telegram Bots Yeah, Really
Never thought Id say this, but Telegram might be the MVP here.
There are bots once @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 story viewer private account link.

Boom it replies bearing in mind the image.

Pro tip: create a Telegram folder for media saves. Keeps everything tidy.
Little warning though: some bots randomly die or stop working. It's as soon as 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 in the same way as grabbed a blurry checking account post and turned it into printable advertisement quality (dont ask why).
Is this overkill? Maybe. But its fun.

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

Enable developer mode.

Use an app subsequently InsTake Cache Viewer (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 nice of Person
Apple fans, youre not left out. The Shortcuts app (yep, the one preinstalled) can reach this.
You gotta install a custom Shortcut search for Instagram Media Downloader iOS Shortcut.
Itll work stirring in your part sheet. Tap it after copying the Insta URL, and boom: media downloaded into Photos.
Annoying part? iOS might ask for access similar to 17 times. But hey, no ads.

Story Time: That One times I Clicked the incorrect Link
Okay, quick story. I in the same way as used this shady-looking downloader (not naming names, but it rhymed later Insta-Grammer Saver). Clicked the download button and it redirected me to a casino. A literal slot robot game started auto-playing in unusual tab.
I panicked, closed everything, cleared my cookies, felt later than 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 Caution
Theres one called Downloader for Instagram (yeah, tacky name, I know). Works on Chrome, and you can bulk download too. But heres the event dont blindly install random extensions. Some are just click-farms in disguise.
Check reviews. Check permissions. If it's asking to log on your entire browsing history, maybe skip it.
But if you locate a unassailable one? Game changer.

Hidden Trick: Archive Page Snapshots
Bet you didnt see this coming. Wayback machine (archive.org) sometimes saves Instagram make known snapshots. Not often, but occasionally.
Why is this cool? If the original reveal gets deleted, it might still flesh and blood 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 save a copy? works wonders.
I did this taking into consideration a small travel blogger once. Not deserted 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 admission 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 weary insomniac subsequent to 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 the manner 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 exaggeration out.

Dont trust shady downloaders.

Browser extensions = feign behind caution.

Ask nicely. It works.

Archive.org is the weird backup method.

Dont be a jerk when the photos.

There. Real, messy, human. Hopefully helpful.
So neighboring become old you see that perfect pic and wanna keep it without 12 pop-ups, youll know exactly what to do.
Maybe even smile even though perform it.