Best Ways to Download Instagram Photos Without Ads
Okay, consequently here's the business 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 vacation 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. untrustworthy redirects. Some of them even begin auto-playing music? Like, why.
So yeah, lets fix 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 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 state you want.

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

Dig roughly the tag that looks when it has the full-resolution pic.

Copy the URL. paste it in a further tab.

Right-click > Save image as

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

Use DustySave A dull 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 because its technically not public. Some dev upon Reddit mentioned it months ago. The interface is with 90s-level disgusting but zero ads, tidy download, and works on Stories too.
Go to: dustysave.me (if its nevertheless up). paste the URL of the post, click download, done. If the sites down (it was once), just keep checking.
This is in the manner of my backup plot bearing in mind anything else feels gross.

Use Telegram Bots Yeah, Really
Never thought Id tell this, but Telegram might be the MVP here.
There are bots similar to @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 viewer private link.

Boom it replies in the manner of the image.

Pro tip: make a Telegram autograph album for media saves. Keeps everything tidy.
Little caution though: some bots randomly die or end working. It's taking into account 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 in the same way as magic. I with grabbed a blurry explanation declare and turned it into printable public notice tone (dont question why).
Is this overkill? Maybe. But its fun.

Developer Mode upon Android If You when 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 next keep anything, even stuff you viewed hours ago.

Kinda creepy? A bit. But effective. Just dont use it to snoop.

Use Shortcuts on iPhone If Youre That kind of Person
Apple fans, youre not left out. The Shortcuts app (yep, the one preinstalled) can complete this.
You gotta install a custom Shortcut search for Instagram Media Downloader iOS Shortcut.
Itll proceed occurring in your share sheet. Tap it after copying the Insta URL, and boom: media downloaded into Photos.
Annoying part? iOS might ask for permission subsequent to 17 times. But hey, no ads.

Story Time: That One become old I Clicked the wrong Link
Okay, quick story. I in the same way as used this shady-looking downloader (not naming names, but it rhymed taking into account Insta-Grammer Saver). Clicked the download button and it redirected me to a casino. A literal slot machine game started auto-playing in choice tab.
I panicked, closed everything, cleared my cookies, felt as soon as 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 next 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 right to use your entire browsing history, most likely skip it.
But if you find a hermetic one? Game changer.

Hidden Trick: Archive Page Snapshots
Bet you didnt look this coming. Wayback robot (archive.org) sometimes saves Instagram declare snapshots. Not often, but occasionally.
Why is this cool? If the indigenous say gets deleted, it might yet living there. Saved. Immortal.
No ads. No spam. Just... retro-cool internet preservation.
Try it: search the Insta URL on 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 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 gone a little travel blogger once. Not lonely did she tell yes, she emailed me a full-res version. Made a further friend 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 tired insomniac with 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 afterward 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 showing off out.

Dont trust shady downloaders.

Browser extensions = action bearing in mind caution.

Ask nicely. It works.

Archive.org is the weird backup method.

Dont be a jerk subsequent to the photos.

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