How to Download Your Instagram Data (JSON Format) — Step-by-Step
Want to see who unfollowed you, back up your photos, or just see what Instagram knows about you? Instagram lets every user download a complete copy of their information — including your full followers and following lists in JSON format. Here’s exactly how to do it on phone and desktop in 2026.
What you’ll get
Instagram sends you a ZIP file containing machine-readable JSON files of your account data. The two files that matter for unfollower tracking are:
- followers_1.json — every account following you (usernames + timestamps)
- following.json — every account you follow
Large accounts may get followers_2.json, followers_3.json, etc. — same format, just split across files. Our free tool reads all of them.
From your phone (Instagram app)
- Open Instagram → profile → ☰ menu (top right)
- Settings and privacy → Accounts Center
- Your information and permissions → Download your information
- Download or transfer information → select your profile → Next
- Some of your information → tick Followers and following
- Format JSON, date range All time → Create files
Instagram emails you when ready — usually minutes, sometimes up to 48 hours.
From desktop (browser)
- Go to accountscenter.instagram.com and log in
- Your information and permissions → Download your information
- Same steps: your profile → Some of your information → Followers and following → JSON → Create files
What’s inside the ZIP?
Look for the followers_and_following folder:
- followers_1.json — your followers with usernames and timestamps
- following.json — everyone you follow
- recently_unfollowed_profiles.json — often empty; don’t rely on it
Troubleshooting
No email? Check spam. Verify the email on your account is current.
Can’t find followers_1.json? You likely downloaded HTML instead of JSON — request again and choose JSON.
Link expired? Links expire after a few days; request a fresh export.
What to do with the files
Upload followers_1.json and following.json to UnfollowersTracker — instantly see who doesn’t follow you back. Files are processed in your browser, never uploaded anywhere. See how it works.