How long does Instagram take to prepare a data export?

For a 'Followers and following' only export, Instagram typically prepares the file in 10–30 minutes. Larger exports that include photos, messages, or other data can take several hours.

Is downloading my Instagram data safe?

Yes. The download happens through Instagram's own settings page, no third party is involved, and your password never leaves Instagram. The ZIP file is delivered to your device just like any other download.

Do I need to be on the desktop to download my data?

No, both the Instagram mobile app and the desktop site support data export requests. We recommend using a desktop browser if you plan to upload the file to a follower tracker afterwards, since ZIP files are easier to handle on a computer.

What format should I choose — JSON or HTML?

Choose JSON. JSON is a structured machine-readable format that tracker tools can parse instantly. HTML is human-readable but harder for automated tools to process accurately.

How to Download Your Instagram Data Export

Instagram gives every user the right to download a complete copy of their account data — including the full followers and following lists. The whole process takes about 10–20 minutes and requires no third-party app. Here's exactly how to do it.

Step 1 — Open the Data Download Page

Open Instagram on your phone or in a desktop browser. Tap your profile, then go to Settings → Your activity → Download your information. On desktop you can also go directly to accountscenter.instagram.com/info_and_permissions/dyi. Make sure you're logged into the correct account if you have multiple.

Step 2 — Request a New Export

Click Request a download (or Create new export, depending on your app version). When asked where to send the file, choose Export to this device rather than a cloud service like Google Drive.

Step 3 — Choose Only "Followers and Following"

By default, Instagram tries to export everything — photos, messages, ads data, the works. This makes the file huge and the wait long. Click Customize information, unselect everything, then under the Connections section, select only Followers and Following. This shrinks the export to a small file that Instagram can prepare in minutes.

Step 4 — Set Date Range and Format

Set the date range to All time to include every follower and following relationship in your history. Then set the file format to JSON (not HTML). JSON is what follower tracker tools expect — HTML is meant for human reading and is much harder to parse accurately.

Step 5 — Submit and Wait

Click Submit request (or Export). Instagram starts preparing the file on its servers. For a Followers-and-following-only export, you can usually expect an email notification within 10–30 minutes. Larger accounts may take a little longer.

Step 6 — Download the ZIP File

When Instagram emails you, open the email and click the download link. You can also return to the same Download your information page in the app and download the file from there. Save the ZIP somewhere you'll remember — your Downloads folder is fine.

What's Inside the ZIP File?

If you selected only Followers and Following, the ZIP contains a small folder structure with two key JSON files: followers_1.json (every account that follows you) and following.json (every account you follow). Some accounts also include pending_follow_requests.json and a few others. These are plain text files you can open in any editor, but they're much easier to use through a follower tracker that parses them for you.

Use the File With a Follower Tracker

Once you have the ZIP file, you can upload it to our free Instagram Follower Tracker to instantly see your full followers and following relationships — including who unfollowed you, who doesn't follow back, mutual followers, and pending requests. The whole analysis takes a few seconds and your data is never stored on a server.

Upload to Free Tracker →

Troubleshooting

If your export is taking longer than an hour, check your spam folder for the Instagram email. If it never arrives, return to the Download your information page — completed exports also appear there with a download button. If you accidentally selected HTML instead of JSON, just request a new export — there's no cooldown between requests.