Instagram is a popular platform for sharing images or videos, but unlike other apps, it does not provide native options to download stories and highlights. Fortunately, there are several ways to download stories and highlights from Instagram directly to your Android phone, and this post explores each option step by step.
Good to know: learn how to download your Instagram chats with media.
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Use a Web Tool
The easiest solution is to use a web tool to download the Instagram stories and highlights you want to save for later. For the purpose of this article, I’m using InDown.io, but there are other alternatives.
Open your favorite browser on your Android device, and navigate to InDown.io.
Open the Instagram app on your device, and find a story or highlight you’d like to download. Grab the link to that particular story or highlight by tapping the Share button in the lower-right corner.
Press the Copy link button at the bottom.
Generate links for individual highlights just as you did above.
If you want the link for the entire highlight bundle, long-press on the link you want to save. Select Copy link from the menu at the bottom.
Armed with the Instagram story link (or highlight), switch to InDown.io in your browser. This tool allows you to download content from Instagram, but also Pinterest, and TikTok, so make sure you’ve selected Instagram at the top. Select whether you want to download a story or highlight.
Note: be prepared to see a few ads while using this tool. While they can be annoying, you can dismiss them quickly.
Press the Paste button next to the link area, then tap Search.
With the story or highlight at the bottom, swipe down and tap the Download button.
If you’ve opted to download a highlight bundle, you will see all the images below, and need to download them one at a time.
Tip: learn how to change the background of your Instagram story.
Use a Third-Party App
If you don’t mind downloading another app on your phone, this third-party app method is a bit simpler. I’m using InSaver for the purposes of this tutorial.
Navigate to an Instagram story or highlight, and copy the link as shown above. Open the InSaver app, and it will start downloading the story or highlight for you.
The downloaded media will be in the app and can be shared from there. For instance, via WhatsApp. If you need to save them on your device, do so via WhatsApp.
The only downside to this method is that you’ll need to take on quite a few ads. These pop up every time you open the app, or want to do something in the app, and can be very irritating.
If you want to download a few stories/highlights at the time, you will be prompted to upgrade to Premium or log in with your Instagram account. There’s also a third option that allows you to watch an ad in exchange for a download.
FYI: check out how to add music to Instagram stories to make them more appealing.
Take a Screenshot
If you don’t want to use a tool to download Instagram stories or highlights, you can rely on good old screenshots – my preferred method. When I spot something I like on Instagram, I take a quick screenshot of it. The best part is that Instagram doesn’t notify users when someone takes a screenshot of their story or highlight.
The classic method is pressing the Power and the Volume down buttons together, but depending on the Android model, there may be alternative options. For instance, on OnePlus phones, take a screenshot by swiping three fingers on the screen.
After you screenshot the story or highlight, edit the photo to crop out details, such as the name of the person who posted the story. I’m using my phone’s built-in editor to crop out unwanted elements.
This method works if you’re not dealing with a video story. If you are, use one of the methods above.
Tip: upload Instagram videos from your PC.
If you like the idea of highlights, check out our guide on how to add them to your Instagram profile. If you’re worried someone will look at your stories, learn how to share Instagram stories only with close friends.
Image credit: DepositPhotos. All screenshots by Alexandra Arici.
Alexandra Arici –
Staff Writer
Alexandra is passionate about mobile tech and can be often found fiddling with a smartphone from some obscure company. She kick-started her career in tech journalism in 2013, after working a few years as a middle-school teacher. Constantly driven by curiosity, Alexandra likes to know how things work and to share that knowledge with everyone.
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