How to Download Everything Instagram Knows About You

As with most social media services, Instagram keeps a record of your activities. While most of this data is used to improve your Instagram experience, it can be unsettling to learn that the company stores certain information about you. To ease your concerns, download a copy of all data points that are logged on its servers. You can use these downloaded files, which include your photos and comments, to migrate to a new social media site.

How to Download Instagram Data Using a Web Browser

When you want to download your Instagram data using a web browser, follow these steps:

1. Go to instagram.com and log in.

2. Select your Profile button, represented by a head and torso and located in the upper-right corner of the screen.

   

3. Select Settings represented by a gear icon.

   

4. On the Instagram settings page, select Privacy and Security from the left menu pane.

   

5. When your account's privacy and security settings display, scroll down to the Data Download section, then select Request Download.

   

6. Enter the email address where you want the download link sent to, and select Next.

   

7. When prompted for your Instagram password, enter it, and select Request Download.

   

8. It may take up to 48 hours to receive the link. Click the link to download your photos, comments, profile details, search history, contacts, messages, likes, and other user-specific information.

How to Download Instagram Data Using the iOS or Android App

You can also download your Instagram data using the Instagram app.

1. Open the Instagram app and log in if necessary.

2. Tap your Profile icon, located in the lower-right corner of the screen and represented by a head and torso.

3. Select the menu icon represented by three stacked lines.

4. Choose Settings (the gear icon).

   

5. Tap Security.

6. Choose Download Data.

7. Enter the email address you use with Instagram and select Request Download.

   

8. Enter your password on the next screen and tap Next.

9. Select Done.

   It may take up to 48 hours to receive the link. Click the link to download your photos, comments, profile details, search history, contacts, messages, likes, and other user-specific information.

   

What to Do When Your Data Download Is Ready

You'll receive an email notification when the download is ready. The download file is a compressed ZIP archive containing the images associated with your account and individual JSON-formatted files for each of the data types. You can view these files with a text editor such as Notepad.

Limit the Amount of Data Instagram Keeps

Your Instagram data set includes a significant amount of information. These are items that you provided through your uploads, comments, settings, and other actions while using the service.

Do you want to limit the amount of data Instagram has about you? If so, share less information and connect with fewer people. Instagram saves everything you do. And, when you delete a comment or a photo, for example, there's no guarantee that it will be deleted from the data set associated with your profile.