Instagram now has a ‘data download’ tool: here’s how to use it

After Facebook made its “Download Your Info” tool more prominent, and yesterday announced that a similar tool will be heading to WhatsApp, Instagram users are now able to download their information too.

It’s not entirely because Facebook still feels bad about the Cambridge Analytica fiasco. Instead, the feature’s addition is in compliance with the European Union’s upcoming General Data Protection Regulation.

The feature will allow Instagram users to download their photos, videos, Insta Stories, and a host of personal information including your snappy bio and comments.

Instagram notes that gathering all this data may take as long as 48 hours.

But accessing it will take you less than a minute.

• First, log in to Instagram on a desktop.
• Once on the Insta home page, click your Profile icon in the top right.
• On your Profile page, click the cog icon next to the “Edit Profile” button.
• You should now see a popup menu.
• Navigate to “Privacy and Security” on the menu and click it.
• Scroll down to the “Data Download” section and click “Request Download“.
• Instagram will then ask you to provide an email address, and in the next screen, your password.
• The service will then email you a download link to your content.
• Prepare to be shook at all the content you’ve uploaded to the social network.

The tool isn’t available on the apps, but should be rolling out globally to all users within the coming days on Insta’s lesser visited website.

Feature image: Instagram