The short answer

Download the Instagram export as a ZIP and select that ZIP directly in Social Janitor. You do not need to unzip it or browse through the archive to find individual JSON files first.

The import path

Instagram ZIP → select the ZIP in Social Janitor → automatic local scan → review detected totals → create the preview or save a snapshot.

If you already extracted an older export, direct JSON-file import is still supported as a fallback. The ZIP workflow is usually simpler, especially on mobile.

Request the right Instagram export

When creating the export in Instagram Accounts Center, choose the Instagram profile you want to analyze and include the follower relationship data.

Use these export settings

Customize information: Followers and following · Date range: All time · Format: JSON.

After Instagram finishes preparing the export, download the ZIP to your device. Keep each export tied to the Instagram profile it came from.

Keep the Instagram ZIP intact

You do not need to extract the Instagram ZIP before importing it into Social Janitor. Leave the downloaded archive as a .zip file and select it directly from your Downloads or Files folder.

This avoids the extra mobile steps of decompressing the archive, opening nested folders and adding several JSON files one by one.

Already unzipped it?

That is fine. If you already have the follower and following JSON files, Social Janitor can still import those files directly.

Select the ZIP in Social Janitor

Open the import area and choose the Instagram ZIP. You can also drag and drop the ZIP into the import area on a desktop browser.

Select the Instagram .zip file you downloaded.
Wait while Social Janitor scans the archive in your browser.
Review the detected Followers and Following totals.
Create the free preview or save the snapshot in Pro.

Your Instagram data stays local

Social Janitor processes the import in your browser. Avoid importing personal Instagram data on a shared device.

What Social Janitor finds automatically

Instagram exports can contain many folders and unrelated files. Social Janitor scans the ZIP for the supported relationship JSON files it recognizes instead of requiring you to locate them manually.

The main relationship analysis needs the follower and following data. If the archive also contains supported relationship files such as pending requests, blocked profiles or recently unfollowed profiles, Social Janitor can use those as additional context.

Larger exports may split Followers across several JSON parts. When the recognized parts are inside the same ZIP, Social Janitor combines them for the import.

If you want to inspect the archive manually, see where to find Followers and Following in an Instagram data export.

What is different on mobile and desktop?

On mobile, the simplest path is to leave the ZIP in your Downloads or Files folder and choose it directly from Social Janitor. There is no need to decompress it in a separate file-manager app.

On desktop, you can use the file picker or drag and drop the ZIP into the import area. Processing still happens locally in the browser.

If you use the JSON fallback instead, keep all selected files from the same Instagram export and profile. Do not combine files from different profiles.

If the Instagram ZIP still will not import

First confirm that the export belongs to the correct Instagram profile, includes Followers and Following, and was requested in JSON format. Then try selecting the original downloaded ZIP again.

Make sure you selected the Instagram ZIP, not an unrelated archive.
Confirm that Followers and Following were included in the export request.
Confirm that the export format was JSON.
Request a fresh export if the archive is incomplete or damaged.
If using the JSON fallback, keep all relevant parts from the same profile together.

For a more detailed checklist, read why your Instagram export will not import. If the export itself appears incomplete, see what to check when an Instagram export is missing followers.