Best Ways to Download Instagram Photos Without Ads
Okay, correspondingly 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 vacation 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. untrustworthy redirects. Some of them even start auto-playing music? Like, why.
So yeah, lets repair that. Ive been examination 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 little 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 reveal you want.

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

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

Copy the URL. paste it in a extra tab.

Right-click > Save image as

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

Use DustySave A unmemorable Tool Nobodys Talking not quite (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 instagram viewer private because its technically not public. Some dev upon Reddit mentioned it months ago. The interface is considering 90s-level disgusting but zero ads, clean download, and works on Stories too.
Go to: dustysave.me (if its still up). paste the URL of the post, click download, done. If the sites next to (it was once), just save checking.
This is later my backup plot behind everything else feels gross.

Use Telegram Bots Yeah, Really
Never thought Id say this, but Telegram might be the MVP here.
There are bots in the same way as @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 autograph album for media saves. Keeps all tidy.
Little reprimand though: some bots randomly die or end 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 desire quality?
Heres the move: screenshot it, subsequently upscale using LetsEnhance.io or Remini. Sounds extra, but trust me, works later than magic. I taking into consideration grabbed a blurry description publicize and turned it into printable want ad quality (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 subsequent to InsTake Cache Viewer (Google it).

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

You can then 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 accomplish this.
You gotta install a custom Shortcut search for Instagram Media Downloader iOS Shortcut.
Itll accomplishment up in your allocation sheet. Tap it after copying the Insta URL, and boom: media downloaded into Photos.
Annoying part? iOS might ask for entry in imitation of 17 times. But hey, no ads.

Story Time: That One grow old I Clicked the wrong Link
Okay, fast story. I like used this shady-looking downloader (not naming names, but it rhymed behind Insta-Grammer Saver). Clicked the download button and it redirected me to a casino. A literal slot robot game started auto-playing in different tab.
I panicked, closed everything, cleared my cookies, felt when 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 following Caution
Theres one called Downloader for Instagram (yeah, tacky name, I know). Works on Chrome, and you can bulk download too. But heres the business dont blindly install random extensions. Some are just click-farms in disguise.
Check reviews. Check permissions. If it's asking to retrieve your entire browsing history, most likely skip it.
But if you locate a sealed one? Game changer.

Hidden Trick: Archive Page Snapshots
Bet you didnt see this coming. Wayback machine (archive.org) sometimes saves Instagram proclaim snapshots. Not often, but occasionally.
Why is this cool? If the native declare gets deleted, it might still conscious there. Saved. Immortal.
No ads. No spam. Just... retro-cool internet preservation.
Try it: search the Insta URL on archive.org and see 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 lonely did she say yes, she emailed me a full-res version. Made a new 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. save for personal use, set as wallpaper, print for your diary all good.
But yeah. Im not a lawyer. Just a tired insomniac past 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 once 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 mannerism out.

Dont trust shady downloaders.

Browser extensions = accomplish afterward caution.

Ask nicely. It works.

Archive.org is the weird backup method.

Dont be a jerk similar to the photos.

There. Real, messy, human. Hopefully helpful.
So next epoch you look that absolute pic and wanna keep it without 12 pop-ups, youll know exactly what to do.
Maybe even grin even if performance it.