DataspryvaUse Instagram Profile Scraper - Bio & Posts with Python
Scrape public Instagram profiles from a list of usernames: bio, followers, following, post count, verified badge and bio links. Add recent posts with captions, hashtags, likes and comments. Export to Excel, CSV or JSON.
1. Choose the data you need
Review the published README for supported collection modes, examples, and limits. The recipe below uses the current published input definition.
2. Prepare a source-based input
This JSON contains published prefills and required-field defaults. Review every value for your task before running it; it is not a promise of successful collection.
{
"maxPosts": 3,
"usernames": [
"instagram"
]
}
Download input.example.json and save your reviewed copy as input.json.
| Field | Type | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
usernames | array | required | Instagram profiles to scrape. Each entry can be a username (with or without @) or a profile link such as https://www.instagram.com/natgeo/. Each profile is scraped in turn. Example: 'instagram', '@instagram' or 'https://www.instagram.com/instagram/'. |
maxPosts | integer | optional | Maximum number of posts to extract per profile (after the date and pinned-post filters below). Set to 0 to only extract profile data without posts. Public profiles need no sign-in, however many posts you ask for. |
newerThan | string | optional | Skip posts published before this date. Leave empty for no date filter. Must be a date from 2000-01-01 up to the day before the run. The date is read from the post's id, so it can be off by up to a day. |
skipPinnedPosts | boolean | optional | Leave out the posts a profile has pinned to the top of its grid. A pinned post that is also the newest post cannot be recognised and stays in. |
cookies | string | optional | Optional. Leave empty to scrape public profiles without signing in. Paste your own Instagram cookies in JSON format to also scrape private profiles your account follows and age-restricted posts. It is a secret input, so the Apify Console hides and encrypts it. Format: [{"name":"sessionid","value":"...","domain":".instagram.com"}, ...] |
3. Start an Actor run
Set APIFY_TOKEN in your environment. Python 3.10 or newer is sufficient; this recipe uses no third-party packages.
Execution may incur charges. Review current pricing on Apify. The request asks for a 120-second timeout and a charge limit; these settings are subject to Apify’s pricing and do not guarantee an all-inclusive spending cap.
import json
import os
import urllib.request
# Save the schema-derived example as input.json; review and edit it first.
with open("input.json", encoding="utf-8") as stream:
actor_input = json.load(stream)
token = os.environ["APIFY_TOKEN"]
request = urllib.request.Request(
"https://api.apify.com/v2/acts/eVCmIqrAiaiMAKEF7/runs?timeout=120&maxTotalChargeUsd=0.50",
data=json.dumps(actor_input).encode("utf-8"),
headers={"Authorization": "Bearer " + token, "Content-Type": "application/json"},
method="POST",
)
# This starts a potentially billable run. Do not automatically retry this POST.
with urllib.request.urlopen(request, timeout=40) as response:
run = json.load(response)["data"]
print("Run ID:", run["id"])
print("Status:", run["status"])
# Inspect and download results in Apify Console once the run succeeds.
4. Inspect the actual results
Open the run in Apify Console and wait for a successful completion. Use the published output schema to locate results and the dataset schema to understand declared views. Missing or optional record fields must not be treated as guaranteed values.
Questions before you run
Which inputs are required?
The published required fields are usernames
What does this guide verify?
The fields, prefills, and schema links are rendered from the published build. This is a usage recipe, not a paid live extraction test. Source availability and collection results can vary.
What if the run request times out?
Check Apify Console before retrying. The first request may already have created a run. Do not automatically repeat a run-creation POST.
Generated from source build OmzUBfZ01FOWJ3Y1P and its README and schemas. Source changes regenerate this guide; no third-party editorial claims are inferred.