Backup Instagram photos and videos before deleting your account to avoid losing personal memories, original posts, Reels, and other important content. Instagram provides an official Download Your Information feature through Meta Accounts Center. This feature lets you request an export of your account data and save available media to your device.
For a more complete backup, download the official archive first, then check every file and create a second copy. You can also use InstaQuickly to save individual supported public photos and videos. This guide explains both methods and shows you how to prepare your account before permanent deletion.
Why Should You Back Up Instagram Photos and Videos Before Deleting Your Account?
Deleting an Instagram account can remove access to years of photos, videos, Reels, Stories, and personal information. Back up your content before submitting a permanent deletion request.
Your Instagram profile may contain more than the media you see in your feed.
For example, you may want to keep:
- Family photos and personal memories.
- Travel pictures and videos.
- Instagram Reels you created.
- Stories and Highlights.
- Carousel posts with multiple photos.
- Captions, comments, and other available account information.
- Messages and account activity records.
- Business content, promotional videos, and creative assets.
A complete backup helps you preserve important files and organize them outside Instagram.
What Happens to Your Instagram Photos and Videos After Deletion?
When you permanently delete your Instagram account, you lose access to your profile and its associated content through normal Instagram access.
You should not rely on Instagram to restore your photos or videos after the deletion process.
Meta provides an official data export option so users can download a copy of their information before deleting an account.
Important: Request and download your archive before confirming permanent deletion. Do not assume that you can retrieve the same export after the account disappears.
Should You Delete or Temporarily Deactivate Your Instagram Account?
If you only need a break from Instagram, consider temporary deactivation instead of permanent deletion.
| Feature | Temporary Deactivation | Permanent Deletion |
|---|---|---|
| Profile visibility | Hidden temporarily | Removed |
| Photos and videos | Retained with the account | Removed through the deletion process |
| Reels and posts | Hidden temporarily | Removed through the deletion process |
| Followers | Retained | Removed |
| Account recovery | Log in again to reactivate | Limited cancellation period, subject to Instagram's rules |
| Best for | Taking a break | Leaving Instagram permanently |
| Backup recommended | Yes | Essential |
If you are unsure about leaving Instagram permanently, deactivate your account first. You can take time to organize your files before making the final decision.
Instagram Download Your Information: The Official Backup Method
The safest starting point for an Instagram account backup guide is Meta's official Download Your Information feature.
You can request a copy of available Instagram account information through Accounts Center, select the data you want, and download the resulting archive to your device.
This method is more suitable for a complete backup than downloading posts one by one.
What Does Instagram's Data Export Include?
Instagram's export can include different categories of information associated with your account.
Depending on the options available in your export request, you may find:
- Photos and uploaded images.
- Feed videos.
- Reels and other video content.
- Stories and other available media.
- Profile information.
- Captions and comments.
- Messages and conversation data.
- Followers and following information.
- Likes and interactions.
- Account settings and activity information.
The exact content depends on the categories you select, the available records, and Instagram's export options.
Do not assume that every item visible in your account will appear as a separate downloadable media file. Check the resulting archive before deleting your account.
How Do You Download Your Instagram Information?
Follow these steps to request your account archive.
- Open Instagram and log in to the account you want to back up.
- Go to your profile.
- Tap the menu icon in the top-right corner.
- Open Accounts Center.
- Select Your information and permissions.
- Choose Download your information or Export your information, depending on the current interface.
- Select the Instagram profile you want to export.
- Choose the option to download your information to your device.
- Select all available information if you want a broad account backup.
- Choose your date range, file format, and media quality.
- Review your selections and submit the export request.
- Follow Instagram's notification instructions when the archive becomes available.
- Download the archive to your computer or mobile device.
Menu names can change as Meta updates Accounts Center. Follow the closest matching options shown in your current Instagram interface.
Official reference: https://about.fb.com/news/2023/10/manage-your-information-across-apps/
Should You Choose HTML or JSON for Your Instagram Backup?
Instagram may offer different export formats. Choose the format based on how you plan to use your backup.
| Criteria | HTML Format | JSON Format |
|---|---|---|
| Main purpose | Human-readable archive | Structured data |
| Easy to browse | Yes | Requires more technical knowledge |
| Useful for personal backup | Yes | Yes |
| Useful for developers | Limited | Yes |
| Data structure | Web pages and linked files | Structured records |
| Recommended for casual users | Yes | Not usually necessary |
Choose HTML if you want to browse your exported information using a web browser.
Choose JSON if you plan to process the data with scripts, migrate structured records, or build your own data-management workflow.
If you are unsure, HTML is generally the easier starting point for a personal archive.
Which Media Quality Should You Choose?
Select the highest available media quality when preserving important photos and videos.
Higher-quality exports may create larger files and require more storage space.
Before submitting the request, check:
- Available media quality options.
- Total available storage on your device.
- Your selected date range.
- Whether you selected all relevant media categories.
If you have years of Instagram content, prepare enough storage before requesting the archive.
How to Save All Your Instagram Photos, Videos and Reels
The official export should be your primary backup method. However, you may also want separate copies of important media files for easier access.
You can organize your content into folders by type, date, or project.
How to Download Your Own Instagram Photos
Use Instagram's official export to retrieve a broader collection of your uploaded photos.
For individual posts, you can also use a supported photo downloader when the content is publicly accessible.
Follow this workflow:
- Open the Instagram photo post.
- Copy its post URL.
- Visit the InstaQuickly website.
- Open the supported Instagram photo download tool.
- Paste the copied URL.
- Click Download.
- Select the available image file.
- Save it to your device.
- Check that the downloaded image opens correctly.
For carousel posts, check every slide rather than saving only the first image.
Read our guide on saving every image in Instagram carousel posts.
How to Save All Your Instagram Reels
Reels may contain video, audio, captions, and editing elements that matter to creators.
Use the official export for your account archive, then check whether the downloaded files include the Reels you want to preserve.
For individual supported public Reels, use a dedicated downloader:
- Open the Reel.
- Tap Share.
- Select Copy Link.
- Visit the InstaQuickly Reels Downloader.
- Paste the URL.
- Click Download.
- Save the available MP4 file.
- Play the file to check its picture and sound.
A downloaded Reel may not contain every original editing element, draft, or separate music asset. Keep your original editing project and source files if you create content professionally.
How to Save Instagram Stories and Highlights
Stories and Highlights need special attention because they have different storage rules.
Your own eligible Stories may appear in Instagram's Stories Archive if you enabled the relevant archive setting.
Highlights can contain Stories that you chose to keep visible on your profile.
Before deleting your account:
- Check your Stories Archive.
- Review every Highlight.
- Export your available account information.
- Save important individual media files.
- Check that your backup contains the content you need.
Read how Instagram Stories and Highlights differ.
Instagram Data Export vs Media Downloader: Which Method Should You Use?
Both methods can help you preserve Instagram content, but they serve different purposes.
Instagram data export is designed for a broader account backup. A media downloader is more suitable for saving selected, individually accessible posts.
| Criteria | Instagram Data Export | Media Downloader |
|---|---|---|
| Main purpose | Account information backup | Individual media downloads |
| Photos | Yes, when included and available | Supported accessible posts |
| Videos | Yes, when included and available | Supported accessible posts |
| Reels | Available through eligible export data | Supported public Reels |
| Stories | Available where included in the export | Depends on current accessibility |
| Captions and account data | Includes available data categories | Usually limited |
| Bulk account backup | More suitable | Not designed for full account export |
| Individual file selection | Depends on archive structure | More convenient |
| Private account content | Your own eligible export | Public content only for InstaQuickly |
| Best use | Before deleting an account | Saving selected media |
Can a Media Downloader Replace Instagram Data Export?
No. A media downloader cannot replace the official Instagram account export.
A downloader generally focuses on retrieving selected media from supported URLs. It does not provide a complete copy of your account information, messages, comments, settings, or other available records.
Use both methods when necessary:
- Request the official export for your overall backup.
- Use a media downloader for selected supported public posts.
- Keep original files from your editing applications.
- Organize everything in a separate backup location.
For more information about safe downloading, read our Instagram downloader security guide.
How to Organize Your Instagram Media Backup
Downloading your archive is only the first step. Organize your files so you can find and reuse them later.
A well-structured backup helps creators, marketers, and casual users manage large collections of photos and videos.
What Folder Structure Should You Use?
Create separate folders for each type of content.
For example:
Instagram_Backup/ │ ├── Photos/ │ ├── 2024/ │ ├── 2025/ │ └── 2026/ │ ├── Videos/ │ ├── Reels/ │ ├── Stories/ │ ├── Highlights/ │ ├── Captions_and_Metadata/ │ ├── Messages_and_Account_Data/ │ └── Original_Editing_Files/
You can adjust the structure based on your content volume and personal needs.
For professional creators, organize files by campaign, client, or project rather than relying only on upload dates.
How Can You Verify That Your Backup Works?
Do not delete your account immediately after downloading the archive.
First, perform these checks:
- Extract the downloaded archive.
- Open several photos from different years.
- Play multiple videos and Reels.
- Check important Stories and Highlights.
- Open HTML files in a browser if you selected HTML.
- Review the available JSON files if you selected JSON.
- Check that important captions and records exist.
- Compare the backup with your most important Instagram posts.
- Copy the archive to another storage location.
- Keep a second backup on an external drive or trusted cloud storage.
A successful download does not always mean a complete backup.
Check the files before proceeding with account deletion.
Where Should You Store Your Instagram Backup?
Use at least two separate storage locations.
| Storage Option | Main Benefit | Limitation |
|---|---|---|
| Computer SSD | Fast access | Hardware failure risk |
| External HDD | Large storage capacity | Physical damage risk |
| External SSD | Fast and portable | Can be lost or damaged |
| Cloud storage | Access from different devices | Depends on account and internet access |
| USB drive | Easy to carry | Limited capacity and loss risk |
For important personal or business media, use a simple 3-2-1 backup approach:
- Keep three copies of important files.
- Use at least two different storage types.
- Keep one copy in a separate location.
This reduces the risk of losing everything if one device fails.
What to Check Before Permanently Deleting Your Instagram Account
Complete your backup and review other account dependencies before submitting a deletion request.
Your Instagram account may connect to other services, business assets, and login systems.
Instagram Account Deletion Checklist
Use this checklist before your final decision.
- [ ] Request the official Instagram data export.
- [ ] Download the completed archive.
- [ ] Extract and inspect the files.
- [ ] Check important photos and videos.
- [ ] Save selected Reels separately if needed.
- [ ] Review Stories Archive and Highlights.
- [ ] Preserve original editing projects.
- [ ] Back up important captions and account records.
- [ ] Create a second copy on external or cloud storage.
- [ ] Check connected Facebook accounts and business tools.
- [ ] Review applications that use Instagram login.
- [ ] Confirm that you no longer need the account.
- [ ] Only then proceed with permanent deletion.
What If Your Instagram Data Export Is Not Ready?
Do not rush the deletion process.
Instagram may need time to prepare your archive. The waiting time depends on the request and the amount of information involved.
If the export does not appear:
- Check the export status in Accounts Center.
- Review the notification method you selected.
- Check your email inbox and spam folder if Instagram sends an email.
- Confirm that you selected the correct Instagram profile.
- Check whether the requested date range and categories are correct.
- Submit another request if the current request fails and Instagram allows it.
Keep your account active until you have retrieved and verified the archive.
What If You Only Want to Leave Instagram Temporarily?
Choose temporary deactivation instead of permanent deletion if you are uncertain.
Deactivation lets you hide your profile while keeping the option to return later.
You can also complete your backup first and make the deletion decision after reviewing your saved files.
Frequently Asked Questions About Instagram Photo and Video Backups
Can I download all my Instagram photos and videos at once?
Yes. Use Meta Accounts Center and select the official Download Your Information or Export Your Information feature.
Choose all available information or the relevant media categories, then request an archive. The exact content depends on your selected categories and the data available in your account.
Does Instagram export include Reels?
The export can include eligible video content and Reels data when available in the selected categories.
After downloading, inspect the archive to confirm that the Reels you want to keep appear in the files.
Can I back up Instagram Stories before deleting my account?
Yes. Use the official account export and check your Stories Archive. You can also save important individual Stories using available Instagram options before deleting the account.
Can I download Instagram data after deleting my account?
You should not rely on this option. Meta recommends downloading your information before deleting your account because you may lose access to the export feature after deletion.
Is Instagram data export better than a media downloader?
For a full account backup, Instagram's official export is the better starting point because it covers more than individual media files.
A media downloader is more convenient when you only want selected supported public photos or videos.
Will Instagram preserve the original quality of my photos and videos?
The export provides available media files based on Instagram's stored content and selected export settings.
Do not assume that every downloaded file matches your original camera or editing file. Keep your original source files if quality is important.
How long does Instagram take to prepare a data export?
The preparation time varies depending on the amount of data and the request. Instagram provides an update when the archive becomes available.
Start the process early rather than waiting until the day you plan to delete your account.
Should I deactivate or delete Instagram after backing up my content?
Choose deactivation if you may return to Instagram later. Choose permanent deletion if you want to leave the platform and understand the consequences.
In either case, keep a verified copy of your important content outside Instagram.
Conclusion: Back Up Your Instagram Content Before Deleting Your Account
Before permanently deleting Instagram, backup Instagram photos and videos through Meta Accounts Center. Download the official archive, check your photos, videos, Reels, Stories, and available account records, then create a second copy on external or cloud storage.
Use InstaQuickly when you need to save individual supported public photos, videos, or Reels. Remember that a media downloader cannot replace a complete account export.
Do not delete your account until you have verified that your important files open correctly and your backup contains the content you want to keep.
Visit InstaQuickly to save supported Instagram media and preserve the content you have permission to download.
Save public videos for offline personal research and educational purposes only, unless you own the content or have the rights or permission required for other uses.
InstaQuickly is an independent service and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Instagram or Meta.