# Anyone know how long the instagram personal data export process takes?

**URL:** <https://community.redact.dev/t/anyone-know-how-long-the-instagram-personal-data-export-process-takes/487>\
**Category:** General\
**Tags:** instagram\
**Created:** [July 29, 2026, 2:42pm UTC](https://community.redact.dev/t/anyone-know-how-long-the-instagram-personal-data-export-process-takes/487 "2026-07-29T14:42:45Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![bugsy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/2bfe46/32.png) [@bugsy](https://community.redact.dev/u/bugsy)\
**Post date:** [July 29, 2026, 2:42pm UTC](https://community.redact.dev/t/anyone-know-how-long-the-instagram-personal-data-export-process-takes/487/1 "2026-07-29T14:42:45Z")

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How long does it usually take to get your data file? I want to clear my IG with redact but I have too much account data so it’s bogging down redact. Support told me since I have a ton of posts and stuff that I need to d/l my archive. But I assumed IG would just generate it for me on the spot, apparantly this is not the way it works.

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**Author:** ![The607llc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eb9ed0/32.png) [@The607llc](https://community.redact.dev/u/The607llc)\
**Post date:** [July 29, 2026, 7:37pm UTC](https://community.redact.dev/t/anyone-know-how-long-the-instagram-personal-data-export-process-takes/487/2 "2026-07-29T19:37:20Z")

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Mine took the better part of two days for a large old account mate. The thing to know is you request it once and leave it. Re-requesting resets your spot in the queue so people who keep hitting the button actually make their own wait longer. Fire it off and forget about it for a day or 10.

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**Author:** ![sheesh](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex027/user_avatar/community.redact.dev/sheesh/32/248_2.png) [@sheesh](https://community.redact.dev/u/sheesh)\
**Post date:** [July 29, 2026, 7:39pm UTC](https://community.redact.dev/t/anyone-know-how-long-the-instagram-personal-data-export-process-takes/487/3 "2026-07-29T19:39:11Z")

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I hope you’re prepared for more than a few days, I mean depending on how big your account actually is.

look:

 ![9b8b247ed250390041e84029864f3e43](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex027/uploads/redact/original/1X/b55f296f14cc95b9b95159f7a6ca7bf6c4e6a308.png)

[https://help.instagram.com/181231772500920/#:~:text=Note%3A%20It%20may%20take%20up%20to%2030%20days%20for%20us%20to%20email%20you%20an%20export%20link.%20Some%20information%20you%20have%20deleted%20may%20be%20stored%20temporarily%20for%20safety%20and%20security%20purposes%2C%20but%20will%20not%20appear%20when%20you%20access%20or%20download%20your%20information](https://help.instagram.com/181231772500920/#:~:text=Note%3A%20It%20may%20take%20up%20to%2030%20days%20for%20us%20to%20email%20you%20an%20export%20link.%20Some%20information%20you%20have%20deleted%20may%20be%20stored%20temporarily%20for%20safety%20and%20security%20purposes%2C%20but%20will%20not%20appear%20when%20you%20access%20or%20download%20your%20information).

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**Author:** ![bigbutter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/67e7ee/32.png) [@bigbutter](https://community.redact.dev/u/bigbutter)\
**Post date:** [July 29, 2026, 10:45pm UTC](https://community.redact.dev/t/anyone-know-how-long-the-instagram-personal-data-export-process-takes/487/4 "2026-07-29T22:45:56Z")

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Only took about a day and a half for mine but mine is really small. My wife thought it was broken cause nothing happened for hours but the email just shows up eventually. Be patient and DO NOT re request it a bunch or you reset the queue position (as @The607llc said)