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How to download your Instagram data

Wait time
A few minutes – 48 hours
Format to choose
JSON
Updated

Your likes, saved posts and the accounts you follow say a lot about your taste. Requesting a copy takes about five minutes of tapping; Instagram does the rest.

On your phone (app)

  1. Open Instagram and tap your profile picture in the bottom right.
  2. Tap the ☰ (three lines) menu in the top right.
  3. Tap Accounts Center at the top of the page.
  4. Open Your information and permissions.
  5. Tap Export your information.
  6. Tap Create export.
  7. Select your Instagram profile and tap Next.
  8. Choose Export to device.
  9. Set the options described in “Which options to choose” below.
  10. Tap Start export. Enter your password if asked.

On the web

  1. Go to accountscenter.instagram.com/info_and_permissions and log in with your Instagram account.
    • Or on instagram.com, click More in the bottom left → Settings → Accounts Center.
  2. Under Your information and permissions, click Export your information.
  3. Click Create export, pick your Instagram profile and click Next.
  4. Choose Export to device.
  5. Set the options below and click Start export.

Tip: On some accounts this screen is still called Download your information. Same place, different name.

Which options to choose

  • Format: JSON — This is the important one. The default is usually HTML; switch it to JSON. ScrollTwin can’t read HTML exports.
  • Date range: All time — More history means a more accurate profile.
  • Media quality: Low — We don’t need your photos or videos, and low quality keeps the ZIP small.
  • Customize information — Instead of “All information”, these are enough:
    • Followers and following (under Connections)
    • Likes and Saved (under Your Instagram activity)
    • Your topics (under Preferences)
    • Ads interests (under Ads information)

Tip: You can untick Messages, Posts, Stories and Reels. The file gets smaller and is ready sooner.

When the file arrives

  • When the export is ready, Instagram sends you an email and an in-app notification. It usually takes a few minutes to 48 hours, sometimes longer when Instagram is busy.
  • To download it, go to Accounts Center → Export your information → Available downloads. You have 4 days before it expires.
  • Don’t unzip the file. Go to scrolltwin.com/en/upload and drop the ZIP as-is.

FAQ

Are my messages uploaded? No. The file is opened inside your browser and the messages folder is never read. Only a summary of your interests leaves your device — never your messages or photos.

The file is huge. What now? Create a new export with Media quality: Low and only the categories listed above. It usually shrinks to a few MB.

The link never arrived. Check your spam folder first. Then open Accounts Center → Export your information; if the file is ready it will be listed under Available downloads. If it’s still in progress, just wait a little longer.

I picked HTML by mistake. No problem. Create a new export with the same steps and choose JSON under Format this time.