User guides
How to Save Instagram Photos in Full Quality
By the IGLink team ·
A screenshot only captures your screen. A download gets the actual photo file. The difference is huge when you want to print, zoom or edit.
Screenshot vs. download
| Screenshot | IGLink download | |
|---|---|---|
| Resolution | Your screen size | Up to 1440 px wide original |
| Extra icons | Yes (status bar, buttons) | None |
| Cropping | Often | No |
| File size | Larger PNG | Smaller JPG |
How to download a photo
- Copy the post link (Share › Copy link).
- Paste it into the Photo Downloader.
- Tap Download under the image you want.
Getting the best quality
- Use the post link, not a link to the profile.
- If the post has many images, each one is listed. Pick the right number.
- Don't edit and re-save the JPG more than once, each save loses detail.
Why does Instagram limit resolution?
Instagram resizes photos on upload to save space. Images wider than 1440 px are scaled down, so that's the maximum anyone can get, including us.