How to confirm you found the right file
The useful follower file usually contains repeated string_list_data entries with Instagram profile links and username values. If the file is empty or missing, request a fresh followers-and-following export.
Instagram export files
What is followers_1.json in an Instagram export?
followers_1.json is one of the most important files in an Instagram followers and following export. It usually contains the accounts that follow you. Unfollio reads this file, compares it with your following file, and turns the raw JSON into a clearer follower report.
Last updated June 23, 2026.
Last verified against the current Unfollio export workflow on June 23, 2026.
Reviewed for Instagram export format, JSON/HTML support, and privacy-safe parsing.
Fast answer
followers_1.json is the JSON file Instagram may include when you export your followers data. Each entry usually represents an account that follows you, often stored with a profile URL, username value, and timestamp inside a nested structure such as string_list_data. You usually do not need to open this file yourself. If your export is complete, Unfollio can read it from the ZIP and compare it with your following file.
Got your Instagram ZIP already?
Upload it to Unfollio and see who does not follow back without entering your Instagram password. Your ZIP is read in your browser, and saved audit history is optional.
Where to find followers_1.json
After downloading your Instagram export, keep it as a ZIP unless your tool specifically asks you to unzip it. Inside the export, follower data may appear in a folder related to connections, followers, or following. The exact folder name can change, but the file is commonly named something like followers_1.json. If you do not have the export yet, use the Instagram export guide.
What is inside followers_1.json?
Instagram’s JSON is meant for machines, not humans. A follower entry often includes a nested field that stores the username, profile URL, and timestamp.
[
{
"title": "",
"string_list_data": [
{
"href": "https://www.instagram.com/example_user",
"value": "example_user",
"timestamp": 1729031492
}
]
}
]- - href is usually the Instagram profile URL.
- - value is usually the username.
- - timestamp may represent when the relationship was recorded.
- - string_list_data is the nested list where Instagram often stores the useful value.
Why raw JSON compare tools can get it wrong
A generic compare tool may compare the whole JSON line, the profile URL, or the wrong nested value. That can create false matches, missing accounts, or a list that looks much bigger or smaller than expected. Unfollio extracts the username field, normalizes the list, and compares it with the accounts you follow. For more detail, read the JSON export format guide, the generic compare tool guide, and the ChatGPT troubleshooting guide.
followers_1.json vs following.json
| File | Usually means | Used for |
|---|---|---|
| followers_1.json | Accounts that follow you | Who follows me? |
| following.json | Accounts you follow | Who do I follow? |
What if followers_1.json is missing?
If followers_1.json is missing, your export may be incomplete or you may have selected the wrong export settings. Try requesting a new export and select only “Followers and following.” Use all-time date range and JSON when available.
- - Did you download the full ZIP?
- - Did you upload the ZIP instead of a partial folder?
- - Did Instagram split the export into multiple files?
- - Did you choose HTML instead of JSON?
- - Did you accidentally export the wrong Instagram account?
Use the incomplete export checklist for a full troubleshooting path.