Instant Save

The Instant Save is a concept that was introduced in Season 9 of America's Got Talent during the Semifinals. It appears in live show results episodes (excluding the season finale). American voters can vote to save one of three acts, acts with the least amount of votes among top vote-getters, to the next round. The remaining two acts participate in the Judges' Choice.

In Season 9, the Instant Save was named the Snapple Save, while from Season 10 to Season 15, it was named the Dunkin' Save. It was renamed the Instant Save in Season 16. The Instant Save did not appear in any of the Champions series.

Season 9

Episode	Round	Winner	Losers
918	Semifinals	Mara Justine Singer	Aerial Animation Aerialist	David and Leeman Magicians
920	Semifinals	Blue Journey Shadow Dance Duo	Christian Stoinev Hand Balancer	Smoothini Close-Up Magician
922	Finals (Top 12)	Sons of Serendip Band	Emil and Dariel Rock Cellists	Miguel Dakota Singer

Season 10

Starting with this season, the format was revised.  In the Quarterfinals, the acts that finished in 6th, 7th and 8th place in the public vote would contest for the Instant Save.  In the Semifinals, it would be the acts that finished in 4th, 5th and 6th place.

Episode	Round	Winner	Losers
1013	Quarterfinals	Samantha Johnson Singer	Alondra Santos Mariachi Singer	The Gentlemen Hip-Hop Dance Duo
1015	Quarterfinals	Ira Singing Puppet	3 Shades of Blue Pop Rock Band	Freckled Sky Video Projection Dance Duo
1017	Quarterfinals	Gary Vider Stand-up Comedian	Benjamin Yonattan Dancer	Daniella Mass Opera Singer
1019	Semifinals	Benton Blount Country Singer/Guitarist	Samantha Johnson Singer	The CraigLewis Band R&B Vocal Duo
1021	Semifinals	Uzeyer Novruzov Ladder Acrobat	Freelusion Videomapping Dance Group	Gary Vider Stand-up Comedian

Season 11

Episode	Round	Winner	Losers
1112	Quarterfinals	Lori Mae Hernandez Stand-up Comedienne	Deadly Games Knife Thrower Duo	Hara Magician
1114	Quarterfinals	Sal Valentinetti Jazz Singer	Kadie Lynn Singer/Guitarist	ThroWings Acrobat Duo
1116	Quarterfinals	Malevo Malambo Group	Linkin' Bridge Vocal Group	Ronee Singer
1118	Semifinals	Tape Face Mime	Edgar Family Band	Laura Bretan Opera Singer
1120	Semifinals	Sofie Dossi Contortionist/Aerialist	Steven Brundage Magician	Viktor Kee Juggler

Season 12

Episode	Round	Winner	Losers
1212	Quarterfinals	Christian Guardino Singer	Just Jerk Hip-Hop Dance Crew	Yoli Mayor Singer
1214	Quarterfinals	Evie Clair Singer/Pianist	Eric Jones Magician	The Masqueraders Soul Trio
1216	Quarterfinals	Colin Cloud Mentalist	Angelina Green Singer	DaNell Daymon & Greater Works Gospel Choir
1218	Semifinals	Evie Clair Singer/Pianist	Chase Goehring Singer/Guitarist	Eric Jones Magician
1220	Semifinals	Kechi Singer	Colin Cloud Mentalist	Diavolo Acrobatic Dance Group

Season 13

Episode	Round	Winner	Losers
1311	Quarterfinals	Angel City Chorale Choir	Junior New System Dance Group	Mochi Multimedia Juggler
1314	Quarterfinals	Makayla Phillips Singer	Da RepubliK Dance Group	Front Pictures Multimedia Performance Act
1316	Quarterfinals	Daniel Emmet Opera Singer	Aaron Crow Danger Act	The Future Kingz Dance Group
1318	Semifinals	Samuel J. Comroe Stand-Up Comedian	Duo Transcend Trapeze Duo	Voices of Hope Children's Choir Choir
1320	Semifinals	Glennis Grace Singer	Daniel Emmet Opera Singer	We Three Band

Season 14

Episode	Round	Winner	Losers
1412	Quarterfinals	Ansley Burns Singer	Emerald Belles Drill Dance Team	Sophie Pecora Singer and Guitarist
1414	Quarterfinals	Chris Kläfford Singer and Guitarist	Charlotte Summers Singer	Ndlovu Youth Choir Choir
1416	Quarterfinals	Jackie Fabulous Stand-Up Comedienne	Lukas & Falco Dog Act	Marcin Patrzalek Guitarist
1418	Semifinals	Light Balance Kids Light-Up Dance Crew	Ndlovu Youth Choir Choir	Robert Finley Singer
1420	Semifinals	Ryan Niemiller Stand-Up Comedian	Emanne Beasha Opera Singer	Alex Dowis Blacklight Painter

Season 15

The format for Season 15 is the same across the Quarterfinals and Semifinals due to season reshuffling. The acts finishing in 4th, 5th and 6th place contested the Instant Save.

Episode	Round	Winner	Losers
1510	Quarterfinals	Brett Loudermilk Sword Swallower	Feng E Ukulelist	Double Dragon Singing Duo
1512	Quarterfinals	Spyros Bros Diabolo Duo	Alexis Brownley & The Puppy Pals Dog Act	Jonathan Goodwin Daredevil
1514	Quarterfinals	W.A.F.F.L.E. Crew Dance Group	Malik DOPE Drummer	Nolan Neal Singer/Guitarist
1516	Quarterfinals	Celina Singer	Bello Sisters Acrobatic Trio	Resound Vocal Trio
1518	Semifinals	Alan Silva Aerialist	Archie Williams Singer	Malik DOPE Drummer
1520	Semifinals	Kenadi Dodds Singer/Guitarist	BAD Salsa Salsa Duo	Max Major Magician

Season 16

Episode	Round	Winner	Losers
1610	Quarterfinals	Kabir Singh Stand-Up Comedian	Beyond Belief Dance Company Dance Group	Madilyn Bailey Singer
1612	Quarterfinals	Tory Vagasy Singer	T.3 Vocal Trio	Korean Soul Band
1614	Quarterfinals	Michael Winslow Voicetramentalist	Storm Large Singer	UniCircle Flow Unicycle Group
1616	Semifinals	Jimmie Herrod Singer	Michael Winslow Voicetramentalist	World Taekwondo Demonstration Team Martial Arts Group
1618	Semifinals	Léa Kyle Quick Change Artist	UniCircle Flow Unicycle Group	Victory Brinker Opera Singer

Trivia

• No act that has won the Instant Save has won the competition overall, but six acts have placed in the top 5.  Ryan Niemiller finished third in Season 14, Sons of Serendip and Samuel J. Comroe placed fourth in Seasons 9 and 13 respectively, and Sal Valentinetti,  Alan Silva and Léa Kyle placed fifth in Seasons 11, 15 and 16 respectively.
• The Season 16 semifinals saw the first instances of more than one Golden Buzzer act contesting for the Instant Save.
• Evie Clair is the only act who received the Instant Save twice.
• Four acts have lost the Instant Save twice: Eric Jones, Ndlovu Youth Choir, Malik DOPE, and UniCircle Flow.
  • Coincidentally, Eric Jones lost both times to the same act: Evie Clair.