How to export your saved Instagram posts and reels

By Parth Akholkar, who makes Skwirl · 8 November 2026

Instagram lets you download a copy of your data, including the list of posts and reels in your Saved folder. Here's how to get it, and what to do with it.

Step 1: ask Instagram for your saves

In the Instagram app, go to your profile and tap the menu (☰).
Tap Accounts Center, then Your information and permissions.
Tap Export your information, then Create export, and choose Export to device.
Under Customize information, pick only Saved. Set the format to JSON.
Tap Start export. Instagram emails you when it's ready, usually within a few hours.

Menu names can move around between app versions. If a step looks different, search Instagram's help for "download your information".

Step 2: what's in the file

You get a ZIP. Inside is a file of your saved posts: the link to each post and when you saved it. It doesn't include the videos themselves, and it doesn't tell you what each one was about, so on its own it's just a long list of links.

Step 3: turn the list into notes with Skwirl

Open Skwirl and start free.
Go to Set up, then Bring in your old Instagram saves.
Pick the ZIP (or the saved posts file inside it). It's read on your device; only the post links are sent to Skwirl.

Skwirl then reads your old saves in the background, a batch a day, and each becomes a note you can search: recipes as ingredients and steps, books and films in one list. New saves always go first.

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More guides: How to search your saved Instagram reels · How to save recipes from Instagram reels (as real recipes)