So, you ever wonder how to do an instagram following export without all that headache? Yeah, me too. It’s like, Instagram don’t really want you to just grab your followers list and run with it, you know? They kinda hide that option like it’s some secret treasure or something. But honestly, if you’re trying to manage your accounts better or maybe just wanna keep a backup (because who trust internet forever?), figuring out the best way for an instagram export followers list is kinda important. I mean, sure, you could just screenshot everyones’ profile, but good luck with that if you got hundreds or thousands followers. It’s a nightmare, seriously. And don’t even get me started on those shady third-party apps that promises to export your followers but ends up stealing your data or worse. So yeah, the struggle is real when it come to how to export instagram followers data safely. But hey, there’s some legit tricks out there, you just gotta know where to look. Plus, if you’re running a business or influencer gig, having an instagram followers export tool can be a game changer, no joke. So buckle up, cause we gonna dive into the messy world of exporting your Instagram following without losing your mind or your privacy.
How to Export Instagram Following List: Step-by-Step Guide for 2024
So, you wanna know about instagram following export stuff, huh? Well, lemme tell ya, it’s kinda a mixed bag, not really sure why this matters, but people be wanting to export their Instagram following lists like it’s some kinda treasure map or something. Maybe they wanna stalk, maybe they wanna analyze, or maybe it’s just the digital version of hoarding. Who knows? But anyways, exporting your Instagram following (or followers) can be trickier than it looks. Instagram don’t really make it easy for you to just download all your followings in one neat little file.
What is Instagram Following Export Anyway?
Basically, instagram following export means taking all the people you follow on Instagram and making a list of them outside the app. Like, putting all their usernames or info into a spreadsheet or some kinda database. Sounds simple enough, right? But Instagram’s API (that’s like the behind-the-scenes stuff) is pretty limited for this kind of thing. So, you gotta get creative or use third-party tools that sometimes work, and sometimes don’t.
Why Would You Even Want to Export Instagram Following?
Okay, so maybe it’s just me, but I think sometimes people wanna clean up their Instagram. Maybe you follow a gazillion accounts and wanna see who’s actually worth keeping around. Or you wanna track your followers and followings growth for marketing or influencer stuff. Here’s a quick list of reasons folks export their Instagram following:
- Manage your followings better (who really follows back?)
- Analyze audience demographics or interests
- Backup your account info (because data loss is scary)
- Use for competitor research (spying, anyone?)
- Import list into CRM or marketing tools
How to Export Instagram Following? Here’s The Messy Truth
There’s no official button that says “Export My Following List” (wishful thinking, huh?). But you got options:
Method | Pros | Cons |
---|---|---|
Manual Copy-Paste | Free, no tools needed | Time-consuming, error-prone |
Third-party Apps | Automates process | Risky, might violate Instagram rules |
Instagram API | More legit, structured data | Requires programming skills and approval |
Browser Extensions | Easy to use, quick | Often unreliable, privacy concerns |
Some Popular Tools and Their Quirks
- IGExport Tool: Claims to export your following/followers to CSV files. But sometimes it just crashes or doesn’t get all accounts. Plus, you gotta give it your login info, which is kinda sketchy.
- Export Instagram Followers Chrome Extension: This one works by scraping the page, which is slow and Instagram hates it. Could get your account temporarily banned. Not fun.
- Python scripts on GitHub: If you know how to code, you can find scripts that automate the export using Instagram API or web scraping. But beware, you may break Instagram’s terms of service, and risk your account.
Pro Tip: Using Excel or Google Sheets to Manage Your Exported Following
Once you get your instagram following export in some file, usually CSV or XLS, you can do some magic with it. Like sorting, filtering, or even making pivot tables to analyze who you follow most, or which accounts are inactive. Here’s a basic example of how you can organize your sheet:
Username | Full Name | Following Since | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
@cool_insta_guy | Cool Guy | 01/05/2022 | Followed back |
@foodie_queen | Food Lover | 15/03/2021 | No posts lately |
@tech_guru | Tech Enthusiast | 20/11/2020 | Influencer |
You can add columns like “Last Interaction” or “Engagement Rate” if you’re super serious about tracking your Instagram relationships. But hey, if you’re just curious, a simple list is fine too.
A Quick Walkthrough: Export Instagram Following Using a Third-Party Tool (Not Really Recommended)
- Search for a reputable instagram following export tool online (good luck with that).
- Log in with your Instagram credentials (risk alert!).
- Wait for the tool to gather your following list.
- Download the CSV or Excel file.
- Open it in a spreadsheet app and start poking around.
Warning: Lots of these tools are scams or phishing traps. Make sure you use a throwaway account if you’re gonna try.
So Is It Worth Exporting Your Following?
Honestly, it depends. If you’re an influencer, marketer, or just a data nerd, having that list might be gold. But for regular users,
Top 5 Tools to Easily Save and Manage Your Instagram Followers Export
So, you wanna know about instagram following export stuff? Well, lemme tell ya, it’s not as straight forward as it sounds. Like, you think, “Hey, I just wanna save my list of people I follow on Insta,” but Instagram doesn’t really make it easy for us mere mortals. I mean, why would they, right? It’s like they want us to stay glued to the app forever or something.
First things first, what even is instagram following export? Basically, it’s the process where you take all the usernames or profiles you follow and get them outta Instagram into like a spreadsheet or some kinda file. Maybe you wanna analyze it, or keep a backup, or just brag about how many follows you got. Not really sure why this matters, but people be asking for it all the time.
Now, here’s the kicker: Instagram doesn’t offer a native button or feature to “export your following list.” Yeah, I know, bummer. But there’s a few workaround that can help you do this, kinda. Some involve third party apps, others need some manual work. Let’s break it down.
Manual Method (Ugh, the worst)
- Open Instagram on web (because mobile is a pain in the butt for this)
- Go to your profile and click on “Following”
- Scroll down till you reach the bottom (this is where patience dies)
- Copy the usernames one by one or just highlight and copy (if you’re brave enough)
- Paste into Excel or Google Sheets
Sounds simple, but the problem is Instagram only load a limited number of follows at a time, so you gotta scroll, scroll, scroll, like forever. And if you follow hundreds or thousands, well, good luck with that!
Here’s a quick example table you could create after copying:
Username | Profile Link |
---|---|
cooldude123 | https://instagram.com/cooldude123 |
fashion_queen | https://instagram.com/fashion_queen |
travel_guru | https://instagram.com/travel_guru |
See? Useful, but tedious.
Using Third-Party Tools (Risky & Sketchy)
There’s apps and websites claiming to help you with instagram following export. But honestly, some of them feel like scams or they want access to your account, which is scary. You gotta be very careful and read the reviews, or better, avoid giving your password to sketchy sites.
If you do decide to try one, here’s what you might expect:
- Connect your Instagram account (hope they don’t steal it)
- Wait for it to gather your following list
- Download CSV or Excel file with all the usernames
Some popular tools are “ExportGram” or “IGExport,” but none is officially endorsed by Instagram. So, use at your own risk. Maybe it’s just me, but I feel like handing over my Instagram password to some random app is a bad idea.
The Data You Get: What’s Inside?
When you finally get your instagram following export list, what does it even contains? Usually it’s like:
- Username
- Profile URL
- Full Name (sometimes)
- Profile Picture URL (if you’re lucky)
- Follower count (rarely)
- Following count (if available)
Here’s a sample snippet of what the CSV might looks like:
username,profile_url,full_name
cooldude123,https://instagram.com/cooldude123,John Doe
fashion_queen,https://instagram.com/fashion_queen,Anna Smith
travel_guru,https://instagram.com/travel_guru,Mark Johnson
You can open this in Excel, Google Sheets, or any text editor.
Why Would You Even Need This?
You might be wondering, why bother with instagram following export in the first place? Well, some reasons off the top of my head:
- Analyze who you follow and maybe unfollow some inactive accounts
- Track competitors or influencers you follow
- Backup your following list if you planning to delete your account
- Use it for marketing or outreach campaigns (ugh, spam much?)
- Just for curiosity or data hoarding (guilty here)
Tips For Better Export Experience
If you do try to export manually, here’s some tips that might save you some headaches:
- Use desktop browser, not mobile
- Use a tool like “Instant Data Scraper” browser extension to scrape the list automatically
- Export in small batches if you have tons of follows
- Keep your data safe and never share with untrusted apps
- Always double check for accuracy (Instagram sometimes glitches)
A little table for you to compare methods:
Method | Pros | Cons | Recommended For |
---|
Why Exporting Your Instagram Following Is Essential for Influencers and Brands
So, you wanna talk about instagram following export? Yeah, that thing everybody pretends they know but in reality, they just kinda guess. I mean, seriously, why would someone want to export their Instagram following? Not really sure why this matters, but apparently, it’s a big deal for marketers, influencers, or even those nosy folks who wanna keep tabs on who they follow without scrolling forever. Anyway, lemme break down what this whole how to export instagram following list is about, with some messy bits thrown in for good measure.
First off, Instagram itself doesn’t make it super easy to just download your following list. Like, you can’t just click a button and boom, here’s your followers in a spreadsheet. Nope. You gotta get creative or use some third-party tools. And oh boy, those tools can be sketchy or slow or just plain annoying. But if you really want to do an instagram following export csv, you gotta know where to start.
Why Export Your Instagram Following?
- To analyze your audience or the people you follow (maybe figure out who’s a bot, who’s real, who’s active, etc)
- To keep a backup in case Instagram decides to crash or delete your account (which happens more than you think)
- For marketing purposes, like reaching out to potential collaborators or customers
- Or just for plain old curiosity. Hey, no judgment here.
Now, before we jump into the how-to, here’s a quick list of what you might want in your instagram following export spreadsheet:
Data Point | Description | Why it Might Matter |
---|---|---|
Username | The IG handle | To identify people |
Full Name | User’s full name, if available | For better targeting, personalization |
Profile Link | Direct URL to profile | Easy access to their page |
Bio | Short description users add | Understand interests or niches |
Followers Count | How many followers they have | To gauge influence |
Following Count | How many accounts they follow | To see how active or selective they are |
Account Type | Personal or business | For market segmentation |
How to Actually Do an Instagram Following Export?
Okay, so Instagram doesn’t let you export your followers or following lists natively. You have to either:
- Use third-party apps or websites (some free, some paid)
- Use Instagram’s API (but that’s a pain and requires developer skills)
- Manually copy-paste (don’t do this, unless you’re masochist)
- Or some browser extensions that scrape data (risky, but works sometimes)
Third-party Tools – Pros and Cons
- Pros: Usually easy, quick, sometimes free
- Cons: Privacy risks, might get your account banned, limited data
Some popular tools for how to export instagram following list to excel include:
- IGExport (not affiliated, just googled)
- Exportgram
- InstaExport.io
But heads up, these tools sometimes ask for your login info. So yeah, be careful or use a throwaway account. Also, these tools often provide CSV files with your data, which you can then open in Excel or Google Sheets.
Manual Method – The Old School Way
If you want to do things the painful way, here’s a super simplified table of what you’d have to do:
Step | Action | Notes |
---|---|---|
1 | Open your Instagram profile | On desktop, easier to navigate |
2 | Click on “Following” to see the list | Scroll to load all users |
3 | Copy usernames manually or use script | Tedious and time-consuming |
4 | Paste into Excel or Google Sheets | Format as needed |
Now, I’m not saying you should do this, but hey, if you’re into pain and suffering, go for it.
What Kind of Insights Can You Get From Your Export?
Imagine you have your instagram following export sheet all nice and neat. What then? Here some ideas:
- Sort users by follower count to find influencers you follow
- Check bios for keywords to see common interests
- Identify inactive accounts or spam
- Group accounts by location if bio or posts show that info
Here’s a simple example of a few rows you might see:
Username | Full Name | Followers | Following | Bio | Profile Link |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
coolkid99 | John Doe | 1500 | 300 | Music lover, traveler | https://instagram.com/coolkid99 |
jane_doe |
The Ultimate Guide to Instagram Following Export: Protect and Analyze Your Network
So, you wanna know about instagram following export, huh? Well, you’re in the right place, or maybe not, depends how much you like digging into this sorta stuff. Honestly, exporting your Instagram following list sounds like one of those things only a super social media geek would care about. But hey, there are legit reasons people do it, even if it sounds kinda nerdy.
First off, what is this whole instagram following export thing? Basically, it’s when you get a list of all the people you follows on Instagram into a file format like CSV or Excel. Yeah, sounds boring, but imagine you’re managing a business account or maybe you just wanna clean up your follow list without losing track — that’s where it gets useful. Now, Instagram doesn’t give you a simple “Export Followers” button, so it’s a bit of a hassle to do it.
Why Would Someone Need Instagram Following Export?
- Keep a backup of who you follow (not really sure why this matters, but some folks are paranoid)
- Analyze your followers or following lists (maybe you wanna find inactive accounts or bots)
- Migrate your follow list to another account or platform
- Manage relationships or collaborations if you’re an influencer or brand
I mean, if you’re just a casual Insta scroller, exporting your following probably sounds like overkill, but for marketing peeps or data nerds, it’s kinda gold.
How To Export Instagram Following: The Workarounds
Since Instagram doesn’t offer a native feature to export your following list, you gotta get creative. Here’s a few ways people do it:
Method | Difficulty Level | Description | Pros | Cons |
---|---|---|---|---|
Manual Copy-Paste | Easy | Scroll through your following list and copy | No tools needed, free | Super time-consuming |
Third-Party Tools | Medium | Use apps/websites that scrape your data | Quick and automated | Risky, privacy concerns |
Instagram Data Download | Medium-Hard | Request your Instagram data archive | Official, safe | No direct following list, complex use |
Custom Scripts/Code | Hard | Use Python or other programming languages to scrape the list | Very customizable, detailed | Requires coding skills |
Manual Copy-Paste Thingy
This one is the laziest method, but it’s also the most straightforward. You open your Instagram, go to your “following” tab, and just copy the name one by one or copy the whole page with mouse or keyboard. But dude, if you follow hundreds or thousands, good luck with that. It’s like trying to count grains of sand on a beach.
Third-Party Apps and Websites
There’s plenty apps claiming to do instagram following export for you. Some of them might work, but beware! Sharing your Instagram login info with some random website? That’s like giving your house keys to a stranger. Not smart, but hey, some people do it anyway. These tools usually scrape your following list and generate a CSV or Excel file you can download.
Examples include:
- InstaExport Pro (yeah, sounds official, but is it?)
- FollowList Extractor
- IGDataSaver
Don’t quote me on these, cause sometimes these apps disappear or get blocked by Instagram’s API changes.
Getting Your Instagram Data Archive
Instagram lets you request a full archive of your data — photos, messages, comments, and more. You can do this via the app or website under Privacy settings. But here’s the kicker: the archive doesn’t include a neat and tidy list of your following. You get a ton of JSON files which you gotta parse through, or use some tools to convert.
Here’s a quick look at what you get:
File Name | Content Description |
---|---|
followers.json | List of people who follow you |
following.json | List of people you follow |
messages.json | Direct messages |
comments.json | Comments you made |
If you’re a techy person, you can open these JSON files and extract the following list easily. But if not, it’s a nightmare.
Custom Scripts — For The Brave Ones
For those with coding skills, you can write a Python script or use existing ones on GitHub that log into Instagram and scrape your following list. This method is powerful because you can export exactly what you want — usernames, user IDs, bios, whatever.
Here’s a tiny example (don’t try this without knowing what you’re doing):
from instaloader import Instaloader, Profile
L = Instaloader()
L.login('your_username', 'your_password')
profile = Profile.from_username(L.context, 'your_username')
following
Can You Export Instagram Followers Data? Best Practices and Legal Tips
So, you want to talk about instagram following export, huh? Honestly, it sound like one of those things that only super techie people care about, but guess what? More and more folks are trying to figure out how to get their Instagram following list out there, like, somewhere safe or maybe to analyze it. Not really sure why this matters to everyone, but it’s a thing, alright.
First off, what exactly is instagram following export? Simply put, it’s the process of downloading or exporting the list of accounts you follow on Instagram into a file, usually a CSV or Excel sheet. Now, Instagram itself don’t really make it easy to do this directly, because they are kinda protective about your data and all that jazz. So, people have to find workarounds.
Why would you want to export your Instagram following?
- To analyze who you follow and clean up your list (because who needs 5000 random accounts you don’t care about, right?)
- For marketing purposes, like keeping track of influencers or competitors
- Just to have a backup or record of your connections, maybe if you planning to delete your account or start fresh
But, exporting your Instagram following list isn’t as straightforward as it sound. Instagram doesn’t offer a built-in feature for this, which means you gotta get creative or use third-party tools. And oh boy, that’s a minefield.
Methods to do instagram following export
Method | Description | Pros | Cons |
---|---|---|---|
Manual Copy-Paste | Scroll through your followings and copy names/emails | No tools needed, simple | Time-consuming, messy |
Third-Party Apps | Apps or websites that claim to export your follow list | Automated, quicker | Risky, privacy concerns |
Instagram API | Using Instagram’s official API to pull data | Official and reliable | Requires programming skills |
Browser Extensions | Extensions that scrape your following data | Easy to install | Can be unreliable or unsafe |
Look, if you don’t wanna spend hours copying and pasting, your best bet probably is a third-party tool or browser extension. But be careful, not all tools are legit. Some might steal your data or worse, get your account banned. So, do a little homework before trusting any random app.
How a typical instagram following export CSV might look?
Username | Full Name | Profile URL |
---|---|---|
coolguy123 | John Doe | https://instagram.com/coolguy123 |
fashionista_89 | Jane Smith | https://instagram.com/fashionista_89 |
tech_guru | Tech Guru | https://instagram.com/tech_guru |
You see, this simple table helps you keep track of who you following, and maybe you can analyze it later using Excel or Google Sheets. Maybe you’ll discover you following way too many cat accounts or food bloggers, who knows?
Step-by-step guide to export followings with a browser extension (example)
- Search for a trusted Instagram following export extension on Chrome Web Store (be skeptical tho, many are scams)
- Install the extension and log into your Instagram account through the browser
- Open the extension and select “Export Following” feature
- Wait a few moments while it scrapes your data (don’t close the tab!)
- Download the CSV or Excel file it generates
- Open the file in your favorite spreadsheet app and start analyzing
Honestly, this process sometimes takes forever or just doesn’t work. Instagram changes their site layout often, so extensions break all the time. It’s like chasing a moving target.
Some practical tips for managing exported Instagram following data
- Use filters in Excel or Google Sheets to sort your followings by name, length, or any custom criteria
- Highlight accounts that you want to unfollow later (maybe those with zero posts or inactive profiles)
- Create a column for notes, like “Met at conference” or “Potential business partner”
- Backup your export file in cloud storage, because you never know when you gonna need it
A quick checklist before you export your Instagram following
- Make sure your Instagram account is set to private if you don’t want your data leaked
- Check the reputation of any third-party tool you plan to use, read reviews carefully
- Avoid giving out your password to suspicious websites (duh!)
- Be prepared that the exported list might not include all the data you want — Instagram limits what you can access
You might be wondering if exporting your Instagram following is really worth all this hassle. Maybe it’s just me, but I feel like it’s one of those niche things that once you do it, you realize how messy your Instagram habits are.
How to Download and Back Up Your Instagram Following List Without Stress
Instagram following export is one of those things that people keep asking about but hardly anyone really explains it well. I mean, if you want to get a list of all the accounts you follow on Instagram, you would think it’s simple, right? Nope, not really. Instagram doesn’t just hand you that data on a silver platter. So, what’s the deal with instagram following export and why it’s become a kinda hot topic lately?
First off, let me just say, exporting your Instagram following can be super useful if you wanna do some deep dives into your social media habits or maybe want to clean up your feed without scrolling forever. But guess what? Instagram doesn’t have a built-in feature that let you export the list of people you follow directly. Weird, huh? Like, they let you download your whole data archive, but the list of who you follow is buried somewhere in a JSON file that looks like gibberish to most of us.
Why Would You Even Need Instagram Following Export?
Well, maybe it’s just me but I feel like sometimes you just want to see all the accounts in one place, like a neat spreadsheet or something. Imagine you have 2000+ followings (which is totally possible), and you want to figure out who’s inactive, or who post memes you don’t like anymore. Exporting your instagram following export tool data can help you create a list that you can sort, filter, and basically manage way better than just scrolling through your phone screen.
Here’s a quick list of practical reasons folks look for this feature:
- Identify inactive or fake accounts you follow
- Analyze which niches you follow most (fashion, food, memes, etc)
- Keep track of influencers or brand accounts for marketing
- Backup your following list in case you lose access to your account
How to Export Your Instagram Following List?
Okay, so Instagram doesn’t directly offer it, but there are some workarounds. The most popular one is to request your data from Instagram (go to Settings > Privacy > Download Data) and wait for the email with your archive. This archive includes a file called something like “followers_and_following.json” but good luck trying to open it if you’re not tech-savvy.
Here’s a table that shows the basic steps:
Step | What to do | Notes |
---|---|---|
1 | Request Instagram data download | Takes up to 48 hours |
2 | Download the ZIP file from your email | Contains multiple JSON files |
3 | Extract “followers_and_following.json” | Hard to read without tools |
4 | Use a JSON viewer or converter tool | Convert JSON to CSV or Excel |
If you don’t wanna mess with JSON files, there’s also some third-party apps and browser extensions that claim to do this for you. But be careful, not all of them are trustworthy and some may even steal your data or violate Instagram’s policies. So, using a third-party tool is like playing with fire, you might get lucky or burn your account.
Practical Insight: Using Python Script for Instagram Following Export
I know this might sounds a bit nerdy, but for those who like to tinker, you can write (or find) a Python script that parses your JSON file and exports the list into a nice spreadsheet. Here’s a very basic example of what such a script might look like:
import json
import csv
with open('followers_and_following.json', 'r') as file:
data = json.load(file)
following_list = data['following'] # Assuming the structure is like this
with open('following_export.csv', 'w', newline='') as csvfile:
writer = csv.writer(csvfile)
writer.writerow(['Username', 'Full Name'])
for user in following_list:
writer.writerow([user['username'], user.get('full_name', '')])
Not really sure why this matters, but this kinda gives you the power to see your instagram following export csv in a way that’s easier to manage. Plus, once you got it in Excel or Google Sheets, you can do all kinds of sorting, filtering, or even create charts to visualize your following habits.
What About Browser Extensions and Online Tools?
There’s a bunch of tools out there claiming “Export Instagram Following List” with one click. Some works, some don’t, and some might cost you money. Here’s a quick list of popular options people talk about on forums:
- IGExport (browser extension)
- ExportGram (web-based tool)
- InstaFollowerExporter (third-party app)
Each has pros and cons. For instance, IGExport might be super easy to use but sometimes stops working when Instagram updates their API (which happens a lot). ExportGram asks for your login,
Instagram Following Export: How to Organize and Clean Up Your Account Efficiently
So, you wanna know about instagram following export and all that jazz, huh? Well, buckle up because this topic is kinda weird but also kinda interesting (or so I think). People always ask me, “Can I export my Instagram following list?” and honestly, it’s not as straightforward as it should be. Instagram don’t exactly hand out your followers or followings on a silver platter, which is a bit annoying, if you ask me.
Alright, first thing first. What is instagram following export anyway? In simple words, it means getting a list (usually a file) of all the accounts you follow on Instagram. Like, imagine you want to keep track of all your influencers, friends, or random accounts you stalk daily — exporting that list helps you do it without scrolling forever. Cool, right? But here’s the catch: Instagram doesn’t have a native button for “Export Following.” Weird, huh? Maybe they don’t want us to be too organized or something.
Why would you want to export your Instagram following?
- To analyze your social media habits (who you really follow)
- For marketing insights if you’re running a business
- To clean up your following list because, let’s be honest, some accounts are just spam or ghost profiles
- Backup your data cause, you never know when Instagram might glitch out
Not really sure why this matters, but some people even export their following lists to compare with their followers and figure out their engagement or follow-back rates. It’s like social media spy stuff, but legal.
How to export your Instagram following list? (Spoiler: it’s complicated)
Instagram itself only allows you to download your data (photos, messages, stories, etc.) through their “Download Data” option, but guess what? Your following list is NOT included in a neat file. They give you JSON files that you have to decode or convert, which sounds like a tech horror story for most people.
Here’s a quick table to show what Instagram gives you vs what you want:
Instagram Data Download | Includes Following List? |
---|---|
Photos | No |
Messages | No |
Profile Info | No |
Followers | No |
Following | Kinda (in JSON format) |
See? Kinda useless for the average user.
Third-party tools to the rescue!
Now, before you go crazy trying to write scripts or decode JSON files, there’s a bunch of third-party apps and websites claiming they can do instagram following export for you. Some of them work, some of them steal your info or just don’t deliver.
Here’s a small listing of popular tools people have tried:
- ExportGram – Supposedly lets you export your followers and following list as CSV.
- IGExport – A Chrome extension that scrapes your Instagram following page and saves it.
- SocialAnalyzer – More for marketers, but has export functions.
- DIY Python scripts – For those who like to tinker with Instagram API (which is kinda restricted nowadays).
I tried a couple of these and lemme tell you, they either require you to give your login info (yikes!) or just crash midway. So maybe it’s just me, but I feel like Instagram wants us to stay in the dark about our own following lists.
What does an exported following list looks like?
Usually, these lists come in CSV or Excel format. Here’s a tiny example of what you might see:
Username | Full Name | Followed Since | Profile URL |
---|---|---|---|
cool_influencer | John Doe | 2022-05-12 | https://instagram.com/cool_influencer |
foodie_lover | Jane Smith | 2021-11-03 | https://instagram.com/foodie_lover |
tech_geek | Mike Johnson | 2020-08-19 | https://instagram.com/tech_geek |
It’s nice cause you can sort, filter, or even see how long you’ve been following someone. Plus, you can use this data to decide who to unfollow or reach out.
How to manually export your Instagram following (if you’re desperate)
If you have like 50 following or less, you could just manually copy-paste your following list, but that’s pain in the neck for anyone with hundreds or thousands of follows. Here’s a rough step-by-step:
- Open Instagram on desktop (mobile is harder)
- Go to your profile > Following
- Scroll down slowly to load all accounts
- Copy the list (try using browser dev tools or just manual)
- Paste into Excel or Google Sheets
- Clean up the data (remove duplicates, add URLs manually if needed)
Export Instagram Following to Excel or CSV: Simple Methods Explained
So, you wanna know about instagram following export? Yeah, me too sometimes. Like, why would anyone want to export their Instagram followings anyway? Not really sure why this matters, but apparently, a lot of people are curious about how to do that. Maybe they want to keep a backup of who they follow or just analyze their social media habits. Whatever the reason, exporting your Instagram following list ain’t as straightforward as it should be.
Let’s start with the basics, shall we? Instagram doesn’t really provide a built-in feature to export your following list. Weird, right? You’d think with all the data privacy laws and stuff, this would be super simple. But nope. So, what’s the workaround? Well, there’s a few methods floating around like using third-party apps, browser extensions, or even manual copying (which sounds like a nightmare but some do it).
Why would you want to export your Instagram following?
Before we jump into the messy details, here’s a quick list of why someone might want to do an instagram following export:
- To analyze your social media connections for marketing purposes.
- Backing up your data in case you lose access or delete your account accidentally.
- Checking which accounts you follow that might be inactive or spammy.
- Transferring your following list to another account (yeah, good luck with that one).
- Or just for pure curiosity, because why not?
Okay, now that we got that out the way, let’s dive into some practical tips.
Method 1: Manual Copy-Paste (The Old School Way)
If you’re patient — and lord knows you gotta be — you can scroll through your following list, select the usernames, and paste them into a spreadsheet. Yeah, sounds like a pain in the neck. But if you only follow a few hundred accounts, it could work okay.
Here’s what it might look like in a spreadsheet:
Username | Profile Link |
---|---|
cool_influencer | https://instagram.com/cool_influencer |
travel_junkie99 | https://instagram.com/travel_junkie99 |
foodie_forever | https://instagram.com/foodie_forever |
Note: This process is tedious and you might miss some accounts if Instagram lazy-loads the list (i.e., loads more as you scroll).
Method 2: Using Instagram Data Download Tool
Instagram allows you to download your data (thank god), which includes your followers and followings in some form. But here’s the catch: the file you get usually is a JSON or HTML file that contains all kinds of data, not neatly arranged for easy reading.
If you’re tech-savvy enough, you can parse these files to extract the following list. For example, look inside the “followers.json” or “following.json” files (if they exist). If you’re not, well… you might be stuck staring at a wall of code.
Not really sure why Instagram makes it so complicated, but that’s just how they roll.
Method 3: Third-Party Tools (Use With Caution)
There’s a bunch of third-party tools and apps that promise to help you export your Instagram following list. Some are browser extensions, others are standalone apps. Here’s the tricky part: many of these tools require your Instagram login, which is a HUGE security risk. You might end up giving your password to sketchy services that could hack or spam your account.
If you’re still curious, here’s a quick list of popular ones (just don’t blame me if things go sideways):
- IGExportTool
- InstaListExport
- FollowExportPro
Keep in mind, Instagram’s policies often change and these tools might stop working anytime. Plus, your account could get flagged for suspicious activity.
How to keep your exported Instagram following organized?
So, you finally got your list. Congrats! Now what? Here’s a simple way to keep it tidy and useful:
Username | Date Followed | Category | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
cool_influencer | 2022-04-15 | Influencer | Promote collabs |
travel_junkie99 | 2021-12-01 | Travel Blogger | Great travel inspo |
foodie_forever | 2020-07-22 | Foodie | Recipes to try |
You could categorize who you follow: influencers, friends, brands, spam accounts (yes, we all got those). Adding notes is handy if you want to remember why you followed someone in the first place. Maybe it was because they posted cute dog pics. Or maybe, just maybe, you followed them by accident (don’t judge).
Bonus Tips for your instagram following export adventure
How Exporting Your Instagram Following Helps Boost Your Social Media Strategy
Exporting your Instagram following list might sound like one of those unnecessary tech things, but guess what? Sometimes, it actually comes in handy more than you think. Now, if you’re scratching your head wondering why anyone would want to do an instagram following export, you’re not alone. I mean, Instagram don’t exactly make it easy to just grab your entire list of followings and plop it somewhere else, right?
So here’s the deal. Say you wants to backup your Instagram following, or maybe you’re a marketer who wants to analyze your audience or competitors followers. Exporting this data is like gold. But Instagram, with all its privacy drama and policy flips, don’t really let you download your followings in a neat file. You got to get creative, or use some third-party tools (which, yeah, sometimes feel like sketchy at best).
Why Export Instagram Following Anyway?
Honestly, not really sure why this matters, but I feel like knowing who you follow, in a spreadsheet or something, can give you a better idea of your interests, trends, or just plain stalking your ex (no judgment). Here’s some reasons why people do an export followers list from instagram:
- To analyze the engagement with your followings.
- To find out which accounts you followed but don’t interact with anymore.
- To shift your followings to a new account (because you have commitment issues with one account).
- For marketing research or influencer collaborations.
How You Can Export Instagram Following (Kinda)
Alright, Instagram doesn’t have a “download your following list” button, so you gotta do some manual or semi-manual stuff. Here’s a few options:
Method | Pros | Cons |
---|---|---|
Manual Copy-Paste | No tools needed | Tedious for large accounts |
Third-party Apps | Automates process | Risky, can be unsafe or banned |
Browser Extensions | Easy to use, some free options | Privacy concerns, reliability varies |
Instagram Data Download | Official, safe | Doesn’t include following list |
So yeah, if you try the manual way, you basically scroll your following list, select all usernames, copy, and paste it somewhere like Google Sheets or Excel. Sounds easy? Try it with 1000+ accounts, and you’ll probably cry.
Using Third-party Tools (But Be Careful!)
There’s plenty of apps and websites claiming to help you with how to export instagram following list, but many of them ask you for your Instagram login info. Big no-no, unless you want your account hacked or banned (Instagram hates that). Some tools use Instagram’s API to fetch your following data, but they often have limits or require permissions that you might not have.
Pro tip: Always check reviews, and maybe make a burner account to test these apps before handing over your main account details.
What to Do After Exporting Your Instagram Following?
Once you have your list (even if it’s a messy CSV or a plain text), you can analyze it. Here’s a simple table idea you can use in Excel or Google Sheets to organize your exported following data:
Username | Followed Since | Engagement (likes/comments) | Category (Fashion, Food, etc.) |
---|---|---|---|
@cool_influencer | Jan 2022 | High | Fashion |
@foodie_heaven | March 2021 | Medium | Food |
@tech_guy | Nov 2020 | Low | Technology |
Not saying you have to do all that, but it does help if you want to clean up your account or focus on certain niches. Maybe it’s just me, but I feel like sometimes people follow accounts randomly and never check them again. Exporting and analyzing can help you unfollow those ghost accounts.
Step-by-step Quick Guide to Export Instagram Following List Manually
- Open Instagram on a web browser (mobile app doesn’t work well for this).
- Go to your profile and click on “Following”.
- Slowly scroll down to load all accounts.
- Press Ctrl + A (or Cmd + A on Mac) to select all usernames visible.
- Copy (Ctrl + C) and paste (Ctrl + V) into a text editor or spreadsheet.
- Clean up the data by removing extra info like “Follow” buttons or profile descriptions.
Yes, it’s primitive, but sometimes old school wins the race.
Things To Keep In Mind
- Instagram changes their interface often, so what works today might be broken tomorrow.
- Exporting your following list might violate Instagram’s terms of service if done with unauthorized tools.
- Always respect privacy — just because you can export data doesn’t mean you should share it reck
Troubleshooting Common Issues When Exporting Instagram Followers and Following Lists
So, you wanna talk about instagram following export, huh? Well, buckle up because this is gonna be a wild ride with more twists than a soap opera. I mean, who even thought about exporting your Instagram followings in the first place? Not really sure why this matters, but apparently, some people need to keep track of all the accounts they follow. Maybe it’s just me, but I feel like if you follow more than a hundred people, you probably already lost count. Anyway, let’s dive into this mysterious world of exporting Instagram followings.
First off, what does instagram following export even mean? Simply put, it’s the process of getting a list or a file of all the accounts you follow on Instagram. Sounds simple, right? But Instagram, being the social media giant it is, doesn’t exactly make this super easy. They are kinda protective about your data, or so they say. But don’t worry, there are ways around it — some official, some… well, let’s call them “creative.”
Why Would Someone Want to Export Their Instagram Following?
Here’s a quick list of reasons, because who doesn’t love bullet points:
- To keep a backup of accounts they follow (in case Instagram decides to play hardball)
- For marketing purposes, like analyzing competitors or influencers
- To clean up their following list and unfollow inactive or irrelevant accounts
- To share with a friend (because sharing is caring, right?)
- Just because they’re curious about their own Instagram habits (we all do weird stuff sometimes)
Now, exporting your Instagram following sounds super techy, but it’s not always so complicated (or at least it shouldn’t be). The problem is Instagram doesn’t have a built-in button named “Export Following List,” which is kinda annoying. You gotta use other tools or tricks. Let me break down some common methods below.
Method 1: Using Instagram Data Download
Instagram does let you download your data, but spoiler alert — it’s not exactly the easiest way to get your following list.
- Go to Instagram Settings.
- Click on Privacy and Security.
- Scroll down to Data Download and Request Download.
- Enter your email and wait for Instagram to send a file.
The file you get is usually a JSON or HTML file with a lot of info about your account, including your followers and following, but it’s a bit of a pain to extract. You might need some tech skills or a JSON viewer to make sense of it. Here’s a quick table to show what you might get:
Data Type | Included in Download? | Notes |
---|---|---|
Photos | Yes | All your pictures |
Videos | Yes | All your videos |
Followers | Yes | List of followers, but raw format |
Following | Yes | List of accounts you follow (raw JSON) |
Messages | Yes | DM history |
Comments | Yes | All comments you made |
Not the most user-friendly, right? But at least it’s official.
Method 2: Third-Party Tools for Instagram Following Export
There are a bunch of third-party apps and websites promising to export your instagram following export data into nice spreadsheets or CSV files. Sounds good on paper, except you gotta be careful. Some tools are legit, others are sketchy, and some might even steal your data. So, proceed with caution, or you might end up regretting it.
Some popular tools include:
- ExportGram: Claims to export followers and following lists with ease.
- IGExport: A desktop tool that lets you scrape your Instagram data.
- InstaFollowExport: Converts your following list into Excel files.
Here’s a quick pros and cons list of third-party tools:
Tool Name | Pros | Cons |
---|---|---|
ExportGram | Easy to use, quick export | Limited free version |
IGExport | More detailed reports | Requires installation, risky |
InstaFollowExport | Exports to Excel format | Might breach Instagram’s TOS |
Honestly, maybe it’s just me, but trusting a random website with my Instagram data? No thanks. But hey, if you’re brave enough, go for it.
DIY Method: Manual Export (The Old School Way)
If you’re low-tech like me, you could always just screenshot your following list or copy-paste names into a spreadsheet. Tedious? Yes. Effective? Sometimes. But perfect for those who don’t wanna risk third-party tools or mess with JSON files.
Here’s what a simple spreadsheet might looks like if you do it manually:
Username | Profile Link | Notes |
---|---|---|
Conclusion
In conclusion, exporting your Instagram followers can be a valuable strategy for businesses, influencers, and marketers aiming to analyze their audience, streamline outreach efforts, or migrate data efficiently. We explored various methods to export followers, including using third-party tools, Instagram’s API, and manual techniques, each with its own advantages and limitations. While third-party apps offer convenience, it’s essential to prioritize data privacy and comply with Instagram’s terms of service. Understanding your follower demographics and engagement patterns through exported data can significantly enhance your social media strategies and foster deeper connections with your audience. As Instagram continues to evolve, staying informed about the latest tools and best practices will empower you to leverage your follower data effectively. Start exploring export options today to unlock new insights and drive your Instagram growth with data-backed decisions.