How to Download Instagram Highlights – Guide
Last updated: October 25, 2026
Highlights are stories that a creator has chosen to keep on their profile after the normal 24-hour story window. They sit in circles under the bio, and they stay visible until the creator removes them. That makes them easier to save than a live story, because there is no 24-hour deadline, but the steps are slightly different, since you start from a profile rather than from a live story tray.
This guide shows how to download Instagram Highlights on Android, iPhone and a computer. The method uses the story downloader on this site, because a highlight is made of saved stories. You copy the highlight link, paste it into the tool, and save the resulting photo or video. You do not need to log in, and you should never enter your Instagram password on a downloader site. Highlights from private accounts cannot be downloaded, and a highlight the creator has deleted is gone.
Open the Instagram Story downloader
What you need
You need the link of a public Instagram highlight, plus a browser on your phone or computer. A highlight link is different from a profile link: you must open the highlight itself and copy its link, not just copy the profile address. You do not need an Instagram login for the downloader.
Step 1: Open the profile and tap the highlight
In the Instagram app, open the public profile and tap the highlight circle under the bio. Wait for the highlight stories to start playing.
Step 2: Copy the highlight link
While the highlight is open, tap the three dots (More) and choose Copy Link. If you only copy the profile address, the tool will not know which highlight you mean.
Step 3: Open the Instagram Story downloader
Open the Instagram Story downloader in your browser and keep the copied link ready.
Step 4: Paste the link and press Download, then save
Paste the highlight link into the box, press Download, and use the download button on the result card. Save each story in the highlight one at a time if the highlight contains several items.
On Android
On Android, copy the highlight link from inside the open highlight, then open the downloader in Chrome or another browser, paste the link and press Download. Files usually go to the Downloads folder, which you can open from the Files app or your browser download list.
On iPhone
On iPhone, open the downloader in Safari. After the file downloads, it does not automatically appear in the Photos app, and this is the point that confuses most people. Safari saves downloads to the Files app, not directly to Photos. Tap the download icon in the Safari address bar, tap Downloads, then tap the file to open it. To move it into Photos, tap Share and choose Save Video for a video or Save Image for a photo. If you only look in Photos and cannot find the file, check Files first, because the download almost certainly succeeded there. If Safari asks where to save, choose Downloads so you can find it again in Files. For highlights, remember the iPhone rule: Safari saves to Files, not directly to Photos. Open Files, tap the file, then Share and Save Video or Save Image to move it into Photos.
On a computer
On a computer, open the public profile in a browser, open the highlight, and copy its address from the address bar. Paste that link into the downloader and press Download. The file saves to the browser Downloads folder, or to the folder you choose if your browser asks.
Highlights, covers and multiple stories
A highlight can contain many stories, and the cover image you see on the profile is just the thumbnail for the group. Downloading a highlight means saving the individual photos and videos inside it, not just the cover. Work through the highlight in order and save each item you want, because a highlight link may return the items one at a time rather than as a single combined video.
Because highlights do not expire after 24 hours, you have more time than with a live story, but that does not make them permanent. A creator can edit or delete a highlight at any time, so if a highlight matters to you, save it sooner rather than later. The saved file is the version Instagram serves, so quality and sound follow the original upload, and a low-resolution story stays low-resolution.
Troubleshooting
You copied a profile link by mistake
Open the highlight itself, tap the three dots while it is playing, and choose Copy Link again. A profile address alone will not return a highlight.
The highlight is private or deleted
Highlights from private accounts are not accessible, and a deleted highlight cannot be recovered. Check that the highlight is still visible on a public profile.
Only one item downloads
A highlight is a collection of stories. Save each item in turn, rather than expecting the whole highlight to arrive as one file.
The file is saved but you cannot find it
On Android, check Downloads. On iPhone, check Files first, then Share into Photos. On a computer, check the browser Downloads folder.
Use downloaded content responsibly
Highlights are still the creator's content, even though they stay on a profile longer than a story. Keep a downloaded highlight for personal use unless the creator has given you permission to share it further, and respect faces, music and brands inside it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I download Instagram Highlights on my phone?
Yes. Copy the highlight link from inside the open highlight, open the downloader in your phone browser, paste the link and press Download.
How is a highlight different from a story?
A highlight is a saved story kept on a profile after the 24-hour story window. A live story disappears after 24 hours unless it is saved as a highlight.
Do I need to log in to download a highlight?
No. The downloader does not ask you to log in, and you should never enter your Instagram password on a downloader site.
Can I download a whole highlight as one video?
Not usually. A highlight is a collection of separate stories, so save each photo or video in turn.
Where is a downloaded highlight saved on iPhone?
It is saved to the Files app first. Open Files, tap the file, tap Share, and choose Save Video or Save Image to copy it into Photos.
Can I download highlights from a private account?
No. Highlights from private accounts are not accessible, so the downloader cannot fetch them.
What if the highlight has been deleted?
A deleted highlight cannot be recovered through the downloader. Save highlights you want to keep while they are still on the profile.
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