How to Export Instagram Followers List

Exporting your Instagram followers list is possible through Instagram's own official data download feature — no third-party tools required, no terms of service violations. This guide covers the exact steps to request and download your followers list and what you can do with the data once you have it.

The Official Way: Instagram's Data Download

Instagram allows you to download a full copy of your account data including your complete followers list. This is an official feature required by privacy regulations in multiple countries.

1. 1.Open Instagram and go to your profile
2. 2.Tap the three lines menu (top right) and select Settings and Privacy
3. 3.Scroll to "Your Activity" and tap "Download Your Information"
4. 4.Select "Download or Transfer Information"
5. 5.Choose "Some of your information"
6. 6.Under "Connections", check "Followers and Following"
7. 7.Select date range (All time recommended)
8. 8.Choose format: JSON or HTML
9. 9.Enter your email address
10. 10.Tap "Create Files" — Instagram will email you when the download is ready (can take up to 48 hours)

What the Export Contains

The followers export includes the username and a timestamp for each follower. The following export includes the accounts you follow. Together, these files let you:

• See your complete followers list as a file
• Identify accounts you follow who do not follow you back
• Compare two exports over time to identify who unfollowed you
• Back up your followers list in case of account issues
• Import the data into a spreadsheet for analysis

How to Find Unfollowers Using Your Export

Download your followers list today. Save the file. Wait 30-60 days and download it again. Compare the two files — any username in the first file that is not in the second has unfollowed you during that period.

For the JSON format, you can compare files programmatically. For the HTML format, you can open both in a browser and visually scan for differences, or copy the usernames into a comparison tool. This is the safest and most official method to detect unfollowers — it uses only Instagram-provided data.

Limitations of the Export Approach

• Takes up to 48 hours to receive the download
• Manual process — not automatic or continuous
• Comparison requires two separate exports (point-in-time snapshots)
• Does not show the specific date someone unfollowed (only which period)
• File format requires some technical comfort to interpret

For continuous automated monitoring of your follower count changes, use our Instagram unfollow tracker alongside the official export. The tracker gives you daily change data; the export gives you the specific usernames in aggregate.

Why Not Use Third-Party Apps for This?

For tracking your follower count changes without exporting individual names, our Instagram Followers Tracker records daily net changes automatically. For the full list of monitoring tools, see our Instagram tracking tools overview.