IG Diff

How to download your Instagram followers and following list

Instagram gives you a full copy of your followers and following list whenever you ask, for free. Here is exactly how to request it on any device, in the format that IG Diff and other comparison tools can read.

Updated

The three settings that matter

  • Format is JSON, not HTML. An HTML export cannot be read.
  • Category is "Followers and following". Other categories are not needed.
  • Date range is "All time", so nobody is missing.

On iPhone

  1. Open Instagram and go to your profile.
  2. Tap the menu button in the top right, then tap "Your activity".
  3. Tap "Download your information". Accounts Centre opens.
  4. In Accounts Centre, choose "Your information and permissions", then "Download your information".
  5. Choose "Download or transfer information".
  6. Pick the Instagram profile you want, then choose "Some of your information".
  7. Scroll to Connections and tick "Followers and following" only. Leaving everything else unticked keeps the file small.
  8. Choose "Download to device".
  9. Set Date range to "All time" and Format to "JSON". Media quality does not matter. Then choose "Create files".

On Android

  1. Open Instagram and go to your profile.
  2. Tap the menu button in the top right, then tap "Your activity".
  3. Tap "Download your information". Accounts Centre opens.
  4. In Accounts Centre, choose "Your information and permissions", then "Download your information".
  5. Choose "Download or transfer information".
  6. Pick the Instagram profile you want, then choose "Some of your information".
  7. Scroll to Connections and tick "Followers and following" only. Leaving everything else unticked keeps the file small.
  8. Choose "Download to device".
  9. Set Date range to "All time" and Format to "JSON". Media quality does not matter. Then choose "Create files".

On a computer

  1. Go to instagram.com and sign in.
  2. Choose "More" in the left sidebar, then "Your activity".
  3. Choose "Download your information". Accounts Centre opens.
  4. In Accounts Centre, choose "Your information and permissions", then "Download your information".
  5. Choose "Download or transfer information".
  6. Pick the Instagram profile you want, then choose "Some of your information".
  7. Scroll to Connections and tick "Followers and following" only. Leaving everything else unticked keeps the file small.
  8. Choose "Download to device".
  9. Set Date range to "All time" and Format to "JSON". Media quality does not matter. Then choose "Create files".

What happens next

Instagram prepares the file and emails you a link, usually within a few minutes and sometimes up to 48 hours later. The download also appears in Accounts Centre under “Download your information”, in “Available downloads”. Save the ZIP file to your phone or computer. There is no need to unzip it.

Which files in the export hold your followers

The ZIP has a folder for each kind of information you ticked. The follower lists are in connections/followers_and_following:

  • followers_1.json lists everyone who follows you. Large accounts are split across followers_2.json and further files.
  • following.json lists everyone you follow.

IG Diff opens only those files and the one that holds your username. Messages, photos and everything else in the archive are never read, and nothing is uploaded.

Troubleshooting

How long does Instagram take?

Usually a few minutes, sometimes up to 48 hours. They email a link when it is ready, and it also appears in Accounts Centre under "Download your information", in "Available downloads".

I already downloaded it as HTML.

HTML exports cannot be read by any tool that compares lists. Request it again and choose JSON as the format.

My export is several gigabytes.

That happens when every category is selected. It still works: only the two follower files are read, and the rest is never opened.

There are several followers files.

Large accounts are split into followers_1.json, followers_2.json and so on. Drop the whole ZIP, or select all of them together.

The counts do not match my profile.

Instagram builds the export at the moment you request it, and it excludes pending and deactivated accounts. A small difference is normal.

Someone shows as both an unfollower and a new follower.

They changed their username. The export records handles, not stable identifiers, so a rename looks like one person leaving and another arriving.

Got your file?

Drop it into IG Diff to see who does not follow you back, who you do not follow back and your mutuals. It is read in your browser and never uploaded.

Check my followers