How to Download Photos and Carousel Posts From Your Own Instagram Account
Your Instagram profile is a record of years of photos: travel, family, products, projects. But if your account is locked, hacked or deleted by mistake, the pictures that exist only there could be gone.
This guide is about downloading the photos and carousel posts from your own Instagram account. We start with the official tools, then look at the simple habits that stop you losing pictures in the first place. It applies to images that you posted or have permission to keep, and it does not cover other people's accounts.
Before you start
- This guide is for your own account. Photos posted by other people belong to them.
- Photos of other people in your posts may need their consent if you reuse them publicly.
- Private accounts: these methods work from inside your own account, so a private profile is not a problem for your own data.
Read our Copyright Policy for details on how ownership works.
Method 1: Download your information from Instagram (the complete backup)
This is the official way to get a full copy of what you have shared. Menu names can change, but the idea is always the same.
- Open your profile and go to Settings, then Accounts Center.
- Look for Your information and permissions, then Download your information.
- Choose your Instagram account, then select what you want, for example posts, Stories and Reels.
- Choose the date range, the format (usually HTML or JSON) and the quality of media.
- Submit the request and wait until Instagram tells you the file is ready, then download it from the link.
Large accounts can take a while to prepare. Save the file somewhere safe as soon as you download it, because the link is usually available for a limited time.
Method 2: Save your own posts and carousels from the app
For a single post, open it from your profile and use the three-dot menu to look for a Save or Download option. Carousels can be saved as a set of separate images. Options differ by device and version, so if the option is missing, check that the app is up to date.
Another approach is to save the original files before you post. Most phones let you keep the edited version in the gallery, and some editing apps export directly in full quality.
Method 3: Keep Highlights and Archive safe
Instagram keeps your expired Stories in a private Archive if archiving is on. Open the Archive from your profile menu to see past Stories and add them to Highlights. Highlights are not a backup, because they exist only on Instagram, so download or save the originals too.
For a step-by-step method for Stories, read how to download your own Instagram Story.
Which method is best for you?
| Need | Best method | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Everything on my account | Download your information | Most complete, slowest |
| One post right now | In-app Save or Download option | Fast, availability varies |
| Best possible quality | The original file from your phone or editor | Instagram compresses uploads |
| Videos and Reels | Guide to saving your own Reels | See the Reels guide |
If you post Reels too, follow our guide to downloading your own Instagram Reels in HD.
Using your downloaded photos
Once you have your pictures, you may need to change their format or size. Use the Image Converter to switch between JPG, PNG and WebP, and the Image Size Enhancer if a small photo needs to be larger. Our guide on image formats explains which type to pick.
Simple habits that protect your pictures
- Keep originals. Store the pictures you edit in a dedicated folder before posting.
- Request your data regularly. Once or twice a year is a good rhythm for most people.
- Store two copies. Keep one on a drive and one in cloud storage.
- Turn on two-factor authentication. It makes it much harder for someone else to take over your account.
- Name your folders by date. It makes old pictures easy to find.
You will find a complete plan in our guide to backing up your own videos, and the same principles work for photos.
A simple yearly routine
- In January, request a full data download and store the file in two places.
- In June, check that your phone gallery still contains the originals of your best posts.
- Whenever you publish a big campaign or carousel, copy the finished slides into a folder named after it.
- Review who has access to your account and remove old logins.
- Test that you can open the downloaded archive, because a backup you cannot open is not a backup.
Doing this twice a year keeps your photos safe without much effort.
Frequently asked questions
How do I download all my photos from Instagram?
Use Download your information in Accounts Center, choose your posts, pick the format and date range, and submit the request. Instagram will notify you when the file is ready.
Can I download a carousel post?
You can save the images from your own carousel using the in-app option if it is available, or through your account data download.
Will the downloaded photos have the original quality?
Instagram compresses uploads, but the data download offers a quality setting. Your original file from your phone or editor is always the best copy.
How long does the data download take?
It depends on how much content you have. It can take from a few minutes to a few days.
Can I use this to download other people's photos?
No. This guide covers only your own account. Saving or reposting other people's photos without permission can break copyright and privacy rules.
Are Highlights saved in the download?
Stories and Highlights that are still available to your account can be included when you select them in the data request.
Only save videos, audio and images that you own or have permission to use. Read our Copyright Policy for what is allowed, and see the DMCA page if you are a rights holder.