How to download all your Instagram photos

The revelation this past week that Facebook has been sharing what you do on the site with other companies like Microsoft and Amazon has led a number of us to start considering (perhaps not for the first time) deleting Facebook and other apps owned by the company like Instagram and WhatsApp.

If you delete Instagram, your photos go along with it. That is, unless you back them up first.


Downloading your Instagram photos and creating a backup somewhere is a good idea in general, even if you’re not considering leaving the platform. That said, if you are considering leaving then it’s something you definitely want to do. Here’s how to make it happen:

First, launch the Instagram app on your phone and then tap on the profile button at the bottom right side of the page. From there, tap the Menu button (the three line stacked on top of each other) at the top-right of the screen and select “Settings” from the drop-down menu (it’s at the very bottom).

Toward the middle of the next menu, you’ll see a listing for “Data download.” Select that and then tap “Request download.”


The download won’t happen instantly. Instead, Instagram will email you when your photos are officially ready to download and will include a link for you to grab them. The process can take up to 48 hours, so strap in and be ready to wait.
Once you’ve got everything backed up, you can delete your account freely without worrying that you’ll lose a favorite pic.

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