How to download your Instagram data

Choose Available information for everything except data logs, or Specific types of information to add data logs or pick only certain types, such as photos or messages. Exporting to an external service can include the original photos and videos you shared.

The export won't include what other people shared, like their photos you're tagged in. Information you deleted won't appear, even if Instagram still holds it temporarily for safety reasons.

• Your Instagram activity, and the personal information you gave when setting up
• Connections: who you've connected with and how
• Logged information, such as location and search history
• Security and login information
• Apps and websites off Instagram, preferences, and ad information

Sources: Instagram Help Centre: Review and export a copy of your Instagram information, checked 15 October 2026; Instagram Help Centre: Information available to download from your Instagram profile, checked 15 October 2026

Instagram is gradually moving people to Meta Account settings, so you may see Accounts Center instead. Check your storage first: high-quality video makes the file much larger, and exporting one type of information keeps it small.

1. Tap your profile picture in the bottom right, then Menu in the top right.
2. Tap Meta Account, then Your information and permissions.
3. Tap Export your information, then Create export.
4. Select the profile and tap Next.
5. Select Export to device.
6. Choose the information, date range, format, notification email and media quality.
7. Tap Start export.

Source: Instagram Help Centre: Review and export a copy of your Instagram information, checked 15 October 2026

1. Follow the same path to Create export, select the profile and tap Next.
2. Select Export to external service, choose the service and tap Next.
3. Connect to that service.
4. Choose how often you want to export and tap Next.
5. Enter your Instagram password and tap Next.
6. Customise the export, notification email and format, then tap Start export.

Source: Instagram Help Centre: Review and export a copy of your Instagram information, checked 15 October 2026

Our advice: export before any big change, such as handing the account to someone new, deleting it, or clearing out old posts.

• Instagram says it can take up to 30 days to email you the export link
• When it's ready, you have 4 days to download it from Available downloads in the Export your information tool
• The download is password-protected
• You can delete an export or see past requests in the same tool

Source: Instagram Help Centre: Review and export a copy of your Instagram information, checked 15 October 2026

To check past changes without exporting anything:

1. Tap your profile picture, then Menu.
2. Below How you use Instagram, tap Your activity.
3. Tap Account history to see changes made to your account.
4. Use Newest to oldest, All dates and Update type at the top to filter, then tap Apply if asked.

Source: Instagram Help Centre: Review and export a copy of your Instagram information, checked 15 October 2026

• The profile is deactivated. Reactivate it, then export
• The profile is scheduled for deletion. Cancel the deletion to export
• You can't log in. Instagram has a contact route to request an export without access
• The link expired. You have 4 days, so create a new export
• Your phone ran out of space. Export one type of information, lower the media quality, or send it to an external service
• You're looking for Accounts Center and see Meta Account, or the other way round. Both lead to Your information and permissions

Source: Instagram Help Centre: Review and export a copy of your Instagram information, checked 15 October 2026

Disclosure: this is our product. An export is a record of what you've posted. To keep posting, Zolyp plans, writes and designs your Instagram posts, publishes them once you approve, and reports on how they perform. There's a 3-day free trial, no card required.