Instagram is the world’s most popular social media app due to its highly visual nature. In addition to posting photos and videos, users can use features such as reels, stories, and live streams.
In 2016, Instagram introduced a Snapchat-like feature that allows messages to disappear. This tool lets pictures or videos sent through Direct Messages vanish after being viewed by the recipient.
The feature allows users to share temporary content that is not permanently stored in chat history. Users can share spontaneous or casual moments through disappearing photos without leaving a lasting digital trace.
Conversely, some shared photos, like a candid picture from a friend or a special moment, may be worth keeping. However, disappearing photos will prevent you from doing so.
3 Methods to Save Disappearing Photos in Instagram DMs
Much like the methods to save profile pictures on Instagram, there are several ways to save disappearing photos on Instagram.
Let’s explore the 3 best ones:
1. Use Another Phone to Record the Screen
One solution is to use a secondary phone to record disappearing photos sent in Instagram DM. This is a workaround for saving content that would otherwise vanish after viewing.
One advantage of this method is that it does not trigger any in-app notifications, which would otherwise happen if you take a screenshot. However, the obvious drawback is that you need to have a second phone or tablet.
To use this method:
- Open the disappearing photo on Instagram.
- Quickly use another phone to take a picture of your phone screen. It’s better to dim the lights to reduce glare and reflections on the screen. This will make the image clearer and easier to see.
This is an effective and undetectable way to retain an image, but it raises some ethical concerns. The user expects the image will vanish after viewing it, so storing it without consent could breach trust.
2. Record Screen or Take a Screenshot on Desktop
On Instagram, when you take a screenshot of a disappearing photo sent through Direct Messages on your mobile phone, the app sends an alert to the sender. This notifies them that their photo or content has been captured. Instagram has kept this feature to protect users’ privacy and discourage the unauthorised saving of images that are supposed to be temporary.
However, the desktop version of Instagram does not have this restriction, which presents a loophole for capturing disappearing photos. When using Instagram on a desktop or laptop, you can take screenshots of disappearing pictures without triggering any notification to the sender.
Here is how this method works:
- Sign in to the Instagram web.
- Open your DMs.
- Next, click on the disappearing photo and take a screenshot.
- On Windows: Use PrtScn and paste it on MS Paint, Paint 3D, or Photoshop. You can even use the Snipping Tool.
- On Mac: Press Shift + Command + 3 to capture a screenshot. The image will be saved to the Desktop by default.
The difference between the mobile and desktop app versions allows you to bypass Instagram’s privacy protections. You can save images without notifying the sender. However, the inherent delay in capturing a screenshot on a desktop may inadvertently cause you to miss the image itself.
3. Use an Instagram Monitoring App
Another practical solution is to use an Instagram monitoring app that automatically captures any picture received.
One such app for buzzwrite is XNSPY. It offers a range of monitoring features, but what stands out is its ability to capture and save images from Instagram DMs without you having to worry about missing them. As soon as a photo is received in a DM, XNSPY takes care of it by saving the image before it disappears. You don’t need to take any extra steps or worry about timing your screenshot perfectly.
Let’s see how to use this method:
- Download and install the app on the target phone.
- Grant permissions to XNSPY to discreetly record all app data and user actions.
- Log in to the dashboard by using your credentials.
- Open the Instagram monitoring feature that logs all activities from messages, photos, videos, and even those designed to disappear.
Moreover, XNSPY doesn’t stop at saving disappearing photos. It also has a screen recording tool that steps things up a notch. This tool automatically captures screenshots of Instagram—and 12 other instant messaging apps—every 5 seconds while the app is being used.
So, if someone messages you on Instagram or browses through stories, XNSPY constantly snaps screenshots in the background. This feature is perfect for tracking not just photos but any kind of activity—whether it’s a text conversation or stories that disappear after 24 hours.
Conclusion
You may think that disappearing images will vanish after buzzwrite.org you view them. However, there are ways to save them. You can take a photo from another device or use a laptop or desktop to take a screenshot. A more practical method is using a monitoring app that records complete Instagram activity, even those photos that will disappear after viewing.
FAQs: Saving Disappearing Photos in Instagram DMs
Q1: Can you save Instagram images in vanish mode?
A1: No, Instagram does not allow you to save the images sent in Vanish Mode directly. However, you can use XNSPY, take a picture from another phone, or use a laptop to screenshot and save the disappearing photos.
Q2: Does Instagram store disappearing images?
A2: No, once the recipient has viewed the image, it will disappear. The image will no longer be accessible to either the sender or recipient. However, Instagram may retain the data for a limited time for security or policy reasons.
Q3: How to replay disappearing videos on Instagram?
A3: Yes, by tapping the “Play” button immediately after the video finishes. However, Instagram only allows one-time replay of the disappearing videos. Once you replay the video, it will vanish once it finishes and cannot be viewed again.
Q4: How long does a disappearing photo last on Instagram?
A4: The photo is no longer visible once the recipient receives and views it. The image can be replayed once if the sender has enabled it.
Q5: Does Instagram save vanishing messages?
A5: No, Instagram does not save vanishing messages. Once viewed and the chat is closed, the messages disappear and cannot be retrieved.
