Best Ways to Download Instagram Photos Without Ads
Okay, for that reason here's the matter weve all been there. Scrolling through Instagram at 1 AM, half-asleep, and BAM that one perfect 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. unreliable redirects. Some of them even start auto-playing music? Like, why.
So yeah, lets repair that. Ive been laboratory analysis 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 private instagram viewer upon desktop (not the app, not your phone).

Go to the broadcast you want.

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

Dig regarding the tag that looks as soon as it has the full-resolution pic.

Copy the URL. glue it in a further tab.

Right-click > Save image as

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

Use DustySave A unknown Tool Nobodys Talking very nearly (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 considering 90s-level disgusting but zero ads, tidy 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 down (it was once), just keep checking.
This is past my backup scheme next anything else feels gross.

Use Telegram Bots Yeah, Really
Never thought Id tell this, but Telegram might be the MVP here.
There are bots in the manner 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 taking into account the image.

Pro tip: make a Telegram collection for media saves. Keeps everything tidy.
Little scolding though: some bots randomly die or stop working. It's in imitation of 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 past grabbed a blurry credit post and turned it into printable commercial environment (dont ask why).
Is this overkill? Maybe. But its fun.

Developer Mode on Android If You following 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, and the app will sniff the photo cache.

You can then 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 take effect 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 later than 17 times. But hey, no ads.

Story Time: That One time I Clicked the wrong Link
Okay, quick story. I later than used this shady-looking downloader (not naming names, but it rhymed past Insta-Grammer Saver). Clicked the download button and it redirected me to a casino. A literal slot machine game started auto-playing in out of the ordinary tab.
I panicked, closed everything, cleared my cookies, felt once 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 taking into consideration Caution
Theres one called Downloader for Instagram (yeah, tacky name, I know). Works on Chrome, and you can bulk download too. But heres the thing 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, most likely skip it.
But if you find a solid one? Game changer.

Hidden Trick: Archive Page Snapshots
Bet you didnt see this coming. Wayback robot (archive.org) sometimes saves Instagram state snapshots. Not often, but occasionally.
Why is this cool? If the indigenous state gets deleted, it might still living there. Saved. Immortal.
No ads. No spam. Just... retro-cool internet preservation.
Try it: search the Insta URL on archive.org and see if all 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, adore your post, mind if I keep a copy? works wonders.
I did this later than a small travel blogger once. Not abandoned did she tell 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 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. save for personal use, set as wallpaper, print for your diary every good.
But yeah. Im not a lawyer. Just a tired insomniac behind 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 behind 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 pretentiousness out.

Dont trust shady downloaders.

Browser extensions = accomplishment in imitation of caution.

Ask nicely. It works.

Archive.org is the weird backup method.

Dont be a jerk afterward the photos.

There. Real, messy, human. Hopefully helpful.
So adjacent get older you see that perfect pic and wanna keep it without 12 pop-ups, youll know exactly what to do.
Maybe even grin though deed it.