How to find and export your Instagram data.

Instagram does not show how much data an account holds. The export from Your information and permissions > Export your information is the best measure, so report the downloaded export size in GB.

At a glance

Report in: GB
Category: Photos, video and social
Checked: September 2026

Check your data

Where Instagram shows how much you have.

Sign in to the company's Instagram account and open More > Settings > Meta Account.
Go to Your information and permissions > Export your information > Create export and run an export to your device as described below.
When the files are downloaded, note their total size. That is the number to report.

Plan and role. You need to sign in to the Instagram account itself, and the export is password protected, so only the account holder can run it.

What to report on the Polyshares intake.

Report Instagram in GB. The intake also asks how many years the company has used it and how many seats it has.

Report the export size in GB with high media quality selected, since media quality changes the file size. Years in use runs from the account's first post, and seats are the number of Instagram accounts the company runs.

Export the full history.

In Export your information, select Create export, choose the profile and choose your device as the destination.
Select the information to include, the full date range, JSON or HTML as the format, and high media quality, then click Start export.
When the email arrives, download the files from Available downloads within 4 days.

Instagram says an export link can take up to 30 days to arrive, and the download stays available for 4 days. HTML arrives as a ZIP with an index file you open like a web page; JSON is machine readable and easier to reuse. The default available information option leaves out data logs, which you can add by choosing specific types of information. Some deleted information is kept for a time for security but does not appear in the export.

The intake only needs the size, so you do not have to run an export to fill it in. You also do not need to clean or scrub an export. Polyshares handles anonymization before anything moves.

Why Instagram data has value for AI training.

A brand's Instagram account pairs photos and short video with captions, dates and audience response. Posts tied to the products they promoted show how a business presents itself to customers.

What stays private.

Direct messages can be left out by choosing specific types of information instead of everything.

We anonymize identifying details before anything moves. Polyshares does that work, so your team does not have to scrub records first.

Your company keeps ownership of its data. The license is bounded to defined material and a defined use.

Polyshares is the buyer and pays your company directly. There is no fee or commission, and Polyshares reviews the record before it makes any offer.

Common questions about Instagram data.

Should I choose HTML or JSON for an Instagram export?

JSON is machine readable and easier to process. HTML is easier to browse. Choose JSON if you plan to share the data.

How long does an Instagram export take?

Instagram says it can take up to 30 days to email the export link. Once it is ready, you have 4 days to download it.

Does the Instagram export include photos and videos?

Yes. You choose the media quality, and high quality video makes the files larger. Select all information to get the fullest export.

Source: Review and export a copy of your Instagram information, Information available to download from your Instagram profile. Checked September 2026.

Put your numbers on the intake.

List your systems, their sizes and your headcount in one intake. Polyshares reviews the record and prices it. There is no fee or commission to your company.