The social network Instagram is one of the most popular, and many users share conversations and all kinds of content there. In case you need to make an Instagram backup, the process is relatively simple. We tell you step by step how to achieve it, and thus save all your sensitive content and not lose publications or photos in case of a problem.
Our social networks are vulnerable to viruses and errors that can damage our account. It is also important avoid spam on instagram and maintain a safe and trustworthy interaction. We tell you, step by step, how to make an Instagram backup that protects all your posts and conversations.
Backup Instagram automatically
The backup copies of the social network Instagram can be configured automatically. By default, they save a copy of all our photos and the data that we have been configuring on the platform. Then, if necessary, we can load it without complications to recover our account to the previous state.
The procedure is carried out from this web page. There, we will be asked to enter our Instagram email account, confirm the password and continue the procedure. You have to enter an email account to receive the notice when the files are finished copying, and wait.
The copy procedure can take up to 2 or 3 days depending on the amount of content to copy. The first email you will receive from Instagram indicates that the copy request was positive, but that the procedure can take up to 48 hours. Pay attention to your email inbox, as you will surely receive instructions when it is finished.
Once we receive the email confirming the copy, we can download the file to our phone or computer. You will have to confirm our account once again, and confirm by pressing the Download data button.
Create the backup on Android
In addition to the manual procedure from the web, it is possible to create an Instagram backup directly from the app on Android. The process is even simpler, since it is done from the application interface. We must follow these instructions:
- Open the Instagram app.
- Click on your profile photo in the lower right corner.
- Access the Settings menu.
- In the Privacy and Security section select Download data.
- Change or confirm the email account to receive the backup.
The waiting time is similar, approximately 48 hours. You will receive the same email as with the manual copy. The Instagram servers are in charge of making the copies and it may take one or two days depending on the content of your account.
What data is included in an Instagram backup?
The Instagram backup is stored in a ZIP-type compressed file. When you unzip it you will be able to see all its content, mainly it is downloaded in json format. This format is used to save different data in a structured way, and although it is not so easy for the user to read, it makes it easier for the program to interpret it. The files that are saved are:
Comments.json – with all the comments you've made on Instagram posts.
Connections.json – Blocked users, follow requests, your followers, who you follow, and the hashtags you use are stored here.
Likes.json – This file stores a list of photos and comments that you have liked.
Contacts.json – Here you will find the list of contacts that Instagram saves from your account.
Media.json – This file stores metadata for your stories, photos, videos, profile pictures, and photos sent via Direct.
settings.json – This file is essential to save your current settings and reactivate it if you reinstall Instagram on another phone.
Messages.json – the backup of your messages and conversations through Direct.
Profiles.json – Save the latest information from your profile settings.
Searches.json – This last file is used to save your search history on the social network.
Conclusions
Making a backup on Instagram is very useful if we want to save our usage data on the social network. One would hope that there would be no crashes and not having to use it, but the backup is a very useful backup. Being cautious with applications that depend so much on the cloud is almost a must.
In addition, in case of a virus infection or a hack, we can easily recover the most important information without any problem. Remember that you can make the backup directly on your Android mobile or tablet, or even request it from the web browser. Then the email will arrive confirming the copy and with the download button for the copied content. Download the ZIP and go through the different files to find the important information you wanted to keep.
