How Do I Download My Instagram Data Before It Gets Disabled?

If Account Status warns you, or age rules may affect you, back up your data first. It takes a few minutes to request.

Last checked: 29 October 2026 against the sources listed at the end of this guide.

#How do I download my Instagram data?

1. Open Instagram, go to Settings, then Meta Account (or Accounts Center).
2. Tap Your information and permissions, then Download your information.
3. Choose the Instagram account.
4. Pick all available information or specific types, such as media and messages.
5. Choose the date range, format (HTML is easiest to read, JSON for transfers) and media quality.
6. Submit, then wait for Instagram to tell you the export is ready.

Instagram calls this Download your information, and it sits inside Accounts Center on both the app and the website. If you manage several accounts in Accounts Center, the tool asks which profile you want, so repeat the request for each one that matters. If you are being moved to Meta Account settings you may see that name instead of Accounts Center, but the Download your information option is the same.

#What should I choose in the options?

Once the file is ready, Meta sends a notification and an email. Download it to a computer, check that the folders open, and copy it to a second place such as an external drive. The export holds private messages, contact details and login history, so treat it like a passport scan and do not upload it to unknown websites or apps.

#How long does it take?

Meta says the file can take some time to prepare, depending on how much data you have. , so download it promptly.

Large accounts with years of Reels and Stories produce big files, and Meta may split the export into several parts. Download every part, not just the first, and check the file sizes match what the page lists. If the email never arrives, open Download your information again: the request and its status are shown there, and you can download from that screen while the link is still valid.

Do not change your password, email or phone number while the export is being prepared unless you think the account is compromised. Security changes can trigger extra checks, and on an account that is already under review that is one more signal you do not need.

#Why should I do this now?

Malaysian regulators say under-16 users get one month to download or transfer data before restriction. If your account is disabled, you may not be able to log in to request a copy.

Related guides: Lost Instagram Followers Suddenly: Bug, Purge, or Was I Hacked?.

Instagram explains that it can disable accounts that do not follow its Terms of Use or Community Guidelines, and that disabled accounts may later be permanently removed. When that happens, you lose the posts, Reels, messages and followers on that profile. A data download does not prevent enforcement, but it means your photos, captions and conversations are not lost with the account.

Age rules are a second trigger. Australia's eSafety Commissioner says age-restricted platforms are expected to tell under-16 users how to download their information before an account is deactivated or removed, and recommends young people download what they want to keep as soon as possible. Malaysia's Child Protection Code FAQ, published by MCMC on 1 June 2026, covers similar age assurance measures for platforms serving Malaysian users.

#What warning signs mean I should download today?

• Account Status shows removed content or a warning that your account is at risk of being disabled.
• Instagram asks you to confirm your age, or to take a video selfie, and you are not sure you can pass.
• You have had a takeover attempt or a password reset email you did not request.
• Your account is a business or creator profile and your posts are your portfolio.

#What common mistakes should I avoid?

• Waiting until the account is already disabled.
• Downloading only part of the data.
• Saving the download link but not the file itself.
• Sharing the downloaded file, which contains private messages.

#How do I keep the account safe while I sort this out?

• Never share a login code, password or backup code with anyone, including people who say they work for Meta, the police or a recovery service.
• Make sure the email address and phone number on the account are ones you still control, and remove any you do not recognise.
• Turn on two-factor authentication where the platform offers it, ideally with an authenticator app, and keep your backup codes somewhere offline.
• Log in only from the official app or by typing the address yourself, not from links in messages, comments or ads.
• Keep screenshots of every notice, email and step you take, with dates, in case you need them for a review or a report.
• Make one careful attempt at each official step rather than many rushed ones, because repeated failed attempts can trigger extra checks.

#When It Is Safer to Get Expert Help

Ask for help before you appeal if the account matters to your income, your business or your memories, if you have already had one appeal rejected, or if you cannot tell whether the problem is a bug, a restriction or a hack. That is where most avoidable losses happen.

AwareXone is independent and not affiliated with Meta, Instagram, Facebook, WhatsApp or Threads. Recovery work is best-effort and the platform makes the final decision.

If Instagram has already disabled the account, the screen may still offer a way to request your information or to appeal. Read the screen carefully before you choose: picking the wrong option or appealing with the wrong reason can use up your one review. Send us a screenshot first if you are unsure.