How to save an Instagram profile picture | iOS, Android, PC, or Mac

Updated January 24, 2023

Julia Moore

Content Marketer and Writer

Julia Moore

There is no way to see the full photo added as a profile picture on Instagram. Developers of this social network didn’t adjust the feature to expand the profile image. So then what to do if you need the original photo, but you can’t find it anywhere. The ability to download it through the browser code doesn’t work at the time of writing this article. And if you are looking for an app to save and view the original profile photos on Instagram, then as a rule they are not durable, stuffed with a bulk of ads, or take up phone memory. Therefore, there is only one solution to solve this problem — use a third-party service.

Reading time — 

4 minutes

How to download Instagram profile picture in its original quality

Since Instagram doesn’t allow us to download profile pictures from accounts directly, we will use Instagram Downloads. The minimalistic and user-friendly interface of this tool makes it easy to figure out how to use it. Each action is accompanied by hints so that you don’t miss anything for sure. You can use it to save photos, videos, Stories, Highlights, and even IGTV or Reels.

The service is absolutely free and has no ads.

In the Instagram Downloader, you can save a profile picture in its original quality. Just add a username, shortcode, profile link, or link to a post. Then you get the button you need to tap to download the photo or video.

By the way, if you forget the username of someone’s Instagram profile and can’t find it, read our article to cope with this problem.

Please note: you can download profile pictures even from private Instagram profiles.

Instagram Downloads for PC or Mac

Here is a short guide on how to save profile pictures in Instagram Downloads on a computer. 

01. Open an Instagram web-browser version. Move to the profile from where you want to download a profile picture. Click on the link in the address bar and press Ctrl + C or remember the username.

02. Open Instagram Downloads. Press Ctrl+V to paste the link or type the username in the search bar.

03. Click Search.

04. Hit Download photo above the profile image.

05. The download will start automatically. To find out where the saved Instagram photo is, click on the up arrow in the lower-left corner of the screen next to Download.

06. Click Show in folder.

Done! We’ve saved the profile image from Instagram. The width and height are 1080 pixels.

Instagram Downloads for iPhone, Android

Let’s use the same service that we apply for downloading Instagram profile pictures from PC or Mac. The interface for iPhone and Android is the same.

01. First of all, open Instagram and go to the account from where you wish to save the profile photo. Remember the exact Instagram username or copy a profile link. To copy the link, tap three dots in the upper-right corner.

02. Select Copy Profile URL.

03. Open your mobile browser.

04. Go to Instagram Downloads. In the search bar, paste the link to the Instagram account from which you want to save the profile image.

05. Hit Search.

06. Tap and hold the profile picture to download.

07. Then, you’ll see an action menu. If you have an iPhone, choose Add to Photos. In case you are an Android user, select Download Image.

08. To view the saved Instagram image, go to Photos.

09. Saved photos are placed in Recents.

By the way, you can use InstagramDownloads.com to watch someone’s Instagram Stories anonymously. Read this article to find other ways how to view Instagram profiles without signing in.

Let’s recap

Despite the fact that Instagram formally restricts copying someone else’s content, there is a way that helps users save profile pictures. We’ve told you about the simplest and most convenient tool in our opinion. InstagramDownloads.com allows you to save a profile image, and the owner of the profile won’t get a notification that you downloaded his/her profile photo.