Exporting your Instagram data sounds straightforward, but there are a few specific settings you need to get right — otherwise you'll end up with the wrong file format, incomplete data, or a ZIP that doesn't contain what you need.
This guide walks through every step, with the exact settings that ensure you get followers_1.json and following.json in the correct format.
JSON vs. HTML: why format matters
Instagram offers two export formats: JSON and HTML.
HTML is designed for human reading — you can open the file in a browser and see your data in a nicely formatted page. It's useful for personal records, but it can't be processed programmatically by analysis tools.
JSON is a structured data format designed for machines to read. Analysis tools parse JSON to compare your followers list against your following list in milliseconds.
If you export in HTML and try to use it with a follower analysis tool, you'll get an error. Always export in JSON.
Complete export walkthrough
Step 1: Access Accounts Center
The data export feature lives in Instagram's Accounts Center (part of Meta's account management system), not in the regular Instagram settings.
From the Instagram app:
- Tap your profile picture (bottom right)
- Tap the three horizontal lines (≡) in the top right corner
- Go to Settings and Privacy
- Scroll to the bottom and tap Accounts Center
From a browser: go to accountscenter.instagram.com and sign in.
Step 2: Navigate to download
Inside Accounts Center:
- Tap "Your information on Facebook" (this section covers both Instagram and Facebook data, despite the name)
- Select "Transfer or download your information"
- Tap "Download your information"
Step 3: Select your Instagram account
If you have both Instagram and Facebook accounts connected, you'll see both options. Select Instagram only.
Selecting both creates a much larger file and includes Facebook data you don't need for this analysis.
Step 4: Choose what to include
You'll see an option called "Customize information." Tap it.
A list of data categories appears: Posts, Stories, Comments, Messages, and more. For follower analysis, you only need one category.
Deselect everything, then select only Followers and Following.
This keeps the file size small (important if your account is large) and makes it easy to find the relevant files inside the ZIP.
Step 5: Set the correct date range
This is where most people make a mistake.
The default date range is often "Last 30 days" or a recent period. This will not give you your complete follower list.
If you select "Last 30 days," Instagram only exports people who followed you in the last 30 days. Your total followers list might be 2,000 people, but the export will contain only the 50 who followed you in the past month.
For a complete analysis, you need the full list. Select "All time."
Step 6: Set format to JSON
In the format dropdown, select JSON.
Double-check this before confirming. JSON and HTML look similar in the dropdown and it's easy to miss.
Step 7: Submit and wait
Tap "Create files" (or "Submit" depending on your app version).
Instagram will process your request and send you an email when the file is ready. Processing time:
- Small accounts (under 1,000 followers): usually under 30 minutes
- Medium accounts: a few hours
- Large accounts (10,000+ followers): up to 48 hours
Don't submit the request multiple times — this can delay processing.
Downloading and extracting the file
When you receive the email, it contains a link back to Accounts Center (not a direct download link). Click it, then confirm the download from within Instagram/Accounts Center.
You'll get a ZIP file. Extract it on your computer. The structure will look something like:
instagram-username-YYYYMMDD/
followers_and_following/
followers_1.json
following.json
The exact folder structure may vary slightly depending on when you export and what version of the Instagram export system is being used.
Verifying your files are correct
Before using the files in any analysis tool, it's worth a quick check.
Open followers_1.json in a text editor (not Word — use Notepad on Windows, TextEdit on Mac, or any code editor). A correctly formatted file starts with:
[
{
"title": "",
"media_map_data": {},
"string_list_data": [
{
"href": "https://www.instagram.com/some_username/",
"value": "some_username",
"timestamp": 1700000000
}
]
}
]
If it starts with <!DOCTYPE html> or similar HTML tags, you selected HTML format by mistake. Request a new export with JSON selected.
If the file is empty or contains very few entries (much fewer than your actual follower count), you probably selected a limited date range. Request a new export with "All time" selected.
Multiple follower files for large accounts
If your account has more than roughly 5,000 followers, Instagram splits the follower list across multiple files:
followers_1.jsonfollowers_2.jsonfollowers_3.json- (and so on)
All of these files need to be included in your analysis. The following.json file is always a single file regardless of how many people you follow.
Analysis tools like Unfollower accept multiple follower files — you can upload them all at once.
Common issues and fixes
"I can't find the Accounts Center in my Instagram app"
The navigation has changed in different app versions. Try: Profile → three lines → Settings → Meta Accounts Center. If you still can't find it, just go directly to accountscenter.instagram.com in your browser.
"The ZIP file doesn't have a followers_and_following folder"
You may have exported a different category of data. Make sure "Followers and Following" is selected in Step 4 and re-export.
"My followers_1.json has far fewer entries than my follower count"
You selected a date range that's too short. Re-export with "All time" selected.
"The download link in the email expired"
Instagram download links expire (usually within a few days). If yours expired, go back to Accounts Center → Download your information and request a new export.
"I don't see the email from Instagram"
Check your spam/junk folder. The email comes from a Meta/Instagram address. Also make sure the email address on your Instagram account is one you have access to.
Using the files for analysis
Once you have your JSON files:
Option 1: Upload individual files
Go to unfollower.online/upload and upload followers_1.json and following.json. If you have multiple follower files, upload them all.
Option 2: Upload the complete ZIP Unfollower also accepts the complete ZIP file and automatically finds the right files inside. This is the easiest option if you don't want to navigate folder structures.
In both cases, all processing happens locally in your browser. No data is sent to any server, and you can verify this by watching the Network tab in DevTools while uploading.
Got your files ready? Upload them at unfollower.online and see who doesn't follow you back in under a second — no login required, no data leaves your device.