Use Instagram Posts & Reels Data Scraper with Python
Scrape public Instagram posts, Reels, IGTV and carousels from a list of links, no login. Get caption, hashtags, author, photo and video links, likes, comments, video plays, location and music. 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.
{
"post_urls": [
"https://www.instagram.com/p/Dew5IIlNfMW/"
]
}
Download input.example.json and save your reviewed copy as input.json.
| Field | Type | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
post_urls | array | required | Instagram post, reel or IGTV URLs to scrape. Accepts /p/, /reel/, /reels/, /tv/, and canonical username/p/shortcode formats. Duplicates are silently de-duplicated. |
cookies | string | optional | Optional. Leave empty to scrape anonymously. Paste your own Instagram cookies in JSON format to also retry age-restricted and login-protected posts with your account; posts your account still cannot open keep their status, and a private post opens only if your account follows that account. 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/oo9fCmPb42ZdR6g0A/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.
Instagram posts, Reels, IGTV and carousels: caption, hashtags, author, photo and video links, likes, comments, location and music.
Questions before you run
Which inputs are required?
The published required fields are post_urls
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 QEwxf1sK1aMfhNdDF and its README and schemas. Source changes regenerate this guide; no third-party editorial claims are inferred.