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3 min read•Updated December 2024

How to Download Your Instagram Followers Data

Complete guide to requesting and downloading your Instagram data export on any device.

Instagram gives every user the ability to download their account data, including complete lists of everyone who follows you and everyone you follow. This data export is essential for using safe unfollower tools like Unfollowr.

In this guide, we'll walk you through the exact steps to download your Instagram followers data on mobile (iPhone/Android) and desktop.

Before You Start

Make sure you have access to the email address associated with your Instagram account. Instagram will send a download link to this email when your export is ready.

Download on Mobile (iPhone & Android)

  1. Navigate to Instagram Settings (profile → menu → Settings and privacy).
  2. Go to Accounts Center.
  3. Tap "Your information and permissions".
  4. Tap "Export your information".
  5. Tap "Create export".
  6. Select your Instagram profile if you have multiple accounts.
  7. Tap "Export to device".
  8. Tap "Customize information".
  9. Tap "Clear all" for every section/field so only the data you need is selected.
  10. Under Connections, select only "Followers and following".
  11. On the "Confirm your export" page you can set the date range for followers/following (e.g. All time).
  12. Leave format as HTML and media quality as Medium quality.
  13. Tap "Start export" to submit your request.
  14. When the download is ready, open the ZIP, go to the connections folder, then use followers_1.html and following.html in Unfollowr.

Instagram will now prepare your download. You'll receive an email notification (and an Instagram notification) when it's ready. This usually takes a few minutes but can take up to 48 hours for larger accounts.

Download on Desktop (Web Browser)

  1. Go to instagram.com and log in, then open Settings (More → Settings).
  2. Click "Accounts Center" in the left menu.
  3. Click "Your information and permissions".
  4. Click "Export your information" then "Create export".
  5. Select your Instagram profile.
  6. Click "Export to device".
  7. Click "Customize information".
  8. Click "Clear all" for every section, then under Connections select only "Followers and following".
  9. On "Confirm your export" set the date range for followers/following, leave format as HTML and media quality as Medium quality.
  10. Click "Start export".
  11. After the download, open the ZIP → connections folder → upload followers_1.html and following.html to Unfollowr.

Downloading Your Export File

Once your export is ready, you'll receive an email from Instagram with a download link. Here's what to do:

  1. Open the email from Instagram (check spam if you don't see it).
  2. Click "Download your information" in the email.
  3. Log into Instagram if prompted to verify your identity.
  4. Click "Download" to save the ZIP file to your device.
  5. Extract the ZIP file to access your data files.

Important: Download Link Expires

The download link in Instagram's email expires after 4 days. Make sure to download your data before it expires, or you'll need to request a new export.

Finding Your Follower Files

After extracting the ZIP file, you'll find your follower data in these locations:

In the ZIP, go to the connections folder. For Unfollowr you need:

connections/followers_and_following/followers_1.html

connections/followers_and_following/following.html

JSON also works:

connections/followers_and_following/followers_1.json

connections/followers_and_following/following.json

Upload followers_1.html and following.html (or the JSON versions) into Unfollowr to see who doesn't follow you back.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to get my Instagram data export?

Instagram typically prepares your download within a few minutes to a few hours. For accounts with lots of data, it may take up to 48 hours. You'll receive an email notification when your download is ready.

What format should I choose for my Instagram export?

Both JSON and HTML formats work with Unfollowr. JSON is more compact and processes faster, while HTML is human-readable if you want to view the files directly. Either format contains the same follower and following data.

Can I download just my followers list without other data?

Yes! When requesting your download, select 'Some of your information' instead of 'All available information.' Then check only 'Followers and Following' to get just the data you need for tracking unfollowers.

Got your export files?

Upload them to Unfollowr and see who doesn't follow you back in seconds.

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