How to Download Your Instagram Data as JSON

This complete guide shows you how to get your Instagram data in the correct format for Instagram Unfollow Tracker. The most important step: choose JSON format, not HTML.

Quick Steps

1. Go to Meta Accounts Center: Visit https://accountscenter.instagram.com/
2. Log in with your Instagram credentials
3. Navigate to “Your information and permissions” in the left sidebar
4. Click “Download your information”
5. Configure your download:
   • Select “Some of your information” (not “All of your information”)
   • Choose “Followers and Following” section only
   • Select “JSON” format ← Critical step!
   • Set date range to “All time”
6. Submit the request and wait for Instagram to prepare your data (usually 5-30 minutes)
7. Download the ZIP file when you receive the email notification
8. Upload the ZIP to Instagram Unfollow Tracker using the upload button

JSON vs HTML: Why Format Matters

This is the #1 cause of upload errors — 74% of failed uploads are caused by choosing the wrong format.

Comparison Table

How to Tell Which Format You Have

JSON format — Inside the ZIP you’ll see files like:

connections/followers_and_following/following.json
connections/followers_and_following/followers_1.json

HTML format — Inside the ZIP you’ll see files like:

connections/followers_and_following/following.html
connections/followers_and_following/followers_1.html

Already downloaded HTML? You need to re-request your data. Go back to Meta Accounts Center, select JSON format, and submit a new request. The old HTML export won’t work.

Detailed Instructions

Step 1: Access Meta Accounts Center

• Go directly to https://accountscenter.instagram.com/
• This is the unified center for all Meta accounts (Instagram, Facebook, etc.)
• Log in with your Instagram credentials

Step 2: Navigate to Data Download

• Look for “Your information and permissions” in the left sidebar
• Click on “Download your information”
• This will take you to the data request configuration page

Step 3: Select Information Type

• Choose “Some of your information” to customize your download
• This option allows you to select only the specific data you need instead of downloading everything

Step 4: Choose Data Section

• Select ONLY “Followers and Following” from the available sections
• Important: Do not select other sections like posts, messages, or profile information
• These are not needed for unfollow tracking and will make your download larger and slower

Step 5: Select File Format — JSON

This is the most critical step. Select JSON format.

• Look for the format dropdown or toggle on the download configuration page
• Select “JSON” — not “HTML”
• JSON and HTML ZIP files look identical from the outside (both are .zip files)
• The only way to tell them apart is by opening them and checking the file extensions inside

Step 6: Set Date Range

• Select “All time” to get your complete follower history
• This ensures you have all your followers and following data for accurate tracking

Step 7: Submit Request

• Review your selections and click “Submit request”
• Instagram will process your request — usually takes 5-30 minutes
• You’ll receive an email notification when the data is ready

Step 8: Download and Upload

• Check your email for the download notification (check Spam folder too!)
• Download the ZIP file from the provided link (link expires in 4 days)
• Go to safeunfollow.app/upload and upload the ZIP file
• Analysis happens instantly, 100% in your browser

File Structure Inside the ZIP

The Instagram data export ZIP contains a specific folder structure. Instagram Unfollow Tracker looks for files at these paths:

your-instagram-export.zip
└── connections/
    └── followers_and_following/
        ├── following.json          ← Who you follow
        ├── followers_1.json        ← Your followers (part 1)
        ├── followers_2.json        ← Your followers (part 2, if many)
        ├── followers_3.json        ← (additional parts as needed)
        ├── close_friends.json      ← Close friends list (optional)
        ├── pending_follow_requests.json  ← Pending requests (optional)
        ├── recently_unfollowed_profiles.json  ← Recent unfollows (optional)
        └── restricted_profiles.json     ← Restricted accounts (optional)

What Each File Contains

following.json — List of accounts you follow:

{
  "relationships_following": [
    {
      "title": "",
      "media_list_data": [],
      "string_list_data": [
        {
          "href": "https://www.instagram.com/username",
          "value": "username",
          "timestamp": 1704067200
        }
      ]
    }
  ]
}

followers_1.json — Your followers list (same structure, key is "relationships_followers").

The tracker reads these JSON arrays, extracts usernames and timestamps, and cross-references them to identify:

• Unfollowers — accounts in your following but not in followers
• Non-mutuals — accounts you follow that don’t follow back
• Mutuals — accounts that follow each other

If Your Structure Differs

If your archive has a different folder structure, the tracker will try to locate files by name anywhere in the ZIP. You can also use the sample data demo to test the app.

Common Errors and Solutions

“Wrong Format: HTML” Error

Problem: You downloaded your data in HTML format instead of JSON. Solution: Go back to Meta Accounts Center → Download your information → Select JSON format → Submit a new request. You cannot convert HTML exports to JSON.

“No Data Found” Error

Problem: The ZIP doesn’t contain follower/following data files. Solutions:

1. Make sure you selected “Followers and Following” when configuring the export
2. Check that you selected “Some of your information” (not “All”) and picked the right section
3. Verify the ZIP contains connections/followers_and_following/ folder

“Not an Instagram Export” Error

Problem: The uploaded file isn’t from Instagram’s official data export. Solution: Use the Meta Accounts Center to request your data. Don’t upload random ZIP files or exports from third-party apps.

File Size Expectations

Processing Time by Account Size

Privacy and Security

Your Instagram data export contains personal information. Here’s how we handle it:

• 100% local processing — Your ZIP file is analyzed entirely in your browser
• No server uploads — Data never leaves your device
• No login required — We never ask for your Instagram password
• No tracking — We don’t track individual users or store any data
• Open source — View the code on GitHub

Keep your ZIP file secure and don’t share it with others. Delete it after analysis if you prefer.

Ready to Analyze?

1. Already have your JSON ZIP? → Upload it now
2. Need help downloading? → Follow our step-by-step wizard
3. Want to try first? → Load sample data