Instagram aggressively blocks access for scrapers and redirects to a login page. Currently, the only reliable solution to this problem is to use residential proxies. Datacenter proxies work only in rare cases.
The Apify platform provides residential proxies if you have a paid subscription. These proxies are provided only to be run within actors on the Apify platform, not externally. If you are interested in using residential proxies for this scraper, contact support@apify.com via email or in-app chat to get the proxies enabled (a small test is possible).
You can also use proxies from other providers in the custom proxies fields (proxyUrls in the JSON settings).
Since Instagram has removed the option to load public data through its API, this actor should help replace this functionality. It allows you to scrape posts from a user's profile page, hashtag page, or place. When a link to an Instagram post is provided, it can scrape Instagram comments.
The Instagram data scraper supports the following features:
-
Scrape profiles - you can either scrape posts or get metadata from the profile (including followers and following if logged in)
-
Scrape hashtags - query hashtags matched by search keyword - you can either scrape posts or scrape metadata from each hashtag
-
Scrape places/locations - query places matched by search keyword - you can either scrape posts or scrape metadata from each place (scrolling for more posts in places/locations is only possible when logged in)
-
Scrape comments - you can scrape comments from any post
-
Scrape likes - you can scrape likes from any post (if logged in)
If you want to know more about how the Instagram Scraper works, here's a short introduction on the Apify blog.
There are two main components to take into account if you want to run Instagram Scraper on the Apify platform:
- Compute units - used for running the scraper
- Residential proxy traffic - needed to access Instagram without login
The usage costs differ depending on what type of page you are scraping. Some pages, such as details, just need to be opened, while other pages, such as comments, require a lot of scrolling. You should roughly compare how long it takes to do these operations manually to get an idea about how to transfer usage costs from one use case to another.
Apify provides a free plan where you can test your setup. You need to ask the support team to get access to the residential proxy as it is not included in the free plan.
Scraping 1000 profiles requires about:
- 10 Compute units
- 0.24 GB of proxy traffic
Based on Apify's pricing at the time of writing, scraping 1000 profiles would cost 10 CU * $0.25 + 0.24 GB * 12.5 GB which is a total of $5.5. The Personal plan ($49) would allow you to scrape about 9000 Instagram profiles monthly.
The input of this scraper should be JSON containing the list of pages on Instagram that should be visited. Required fields are:
| Field | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|
| search | String | (optional) Query to search Instagram for |
| pageTimeout | Integer | (optional) Defaults to 60 (seconds) |
| searchType | String | (optional, required with search) What to search Instagram for, default is "hashtag", other options are "user" or "place" |
| searchLimit | Integer | (optional) How many search results to process, default is 20, maximum is 100. Set to 1 if you want to get the most matched one |
| directUrls | Array | (optional) List of Instagram URLs (profile or hashtag or place) |
| resultsType | String | What to scrape from each page, default is "posts" the other option is "comments" |
| resultsLimit | Integer | How many items should be loaded from each URL (limit is per page) |
| proxy | Object | Proxy configuration |
| scrapePostsUntilDate | String | (optional) Date in the past when you stop scrolling older posts |
| scrollWaitSecs | Number | How long to wait every 100 scrolled items to prevent blocking by Instagram. This number is randomized. Default is 10 seconds |
| loginCookies | Array | (optional) Cookies copied from logged in profile (for example using EditThisCookie extension) |
| likedByLimit | Number | (optional) How many likes should be scraped from post page (only works with login) |
| followingLimit | Number | (optional) How many following should be scraped from profile page (only works with login) |
| followedByLimit | Number | (optional) How many followers should be scraped from profile page (only works with login) |
| expandOwners | Boolean | (optional) !Experimental! Load additional details about post owner for each post (slows down the solution a lot) |
This solution requires the use of Proxy servers, either your own proxy servers or you can use Apify Proxy.
Instagram imposes rate limits that will block scrolling if you want to scroll for more than 1000 posts or comments. To work around this issue, the scraper starts injecting randomized wait times once you reach 1000 posts or comments. This is configurable by means of the scrollWaitSecs input parameter. If you get the message that you were rate limited, consider increasing this parameter for the specific profile or post.
{
"search": "Náměstí míru",
"searchType": "place",
"searchLimit": 10,
"resultsType": "posts",
"resultsLimit": 100,
"proxy": { "useApifyProxy": true, "apifyProxyGroups": ["RESIDENTIAL"] }
}During the run, the actor will output messages letting you know what is going on. Each message always contains a short label specifying which page from the provided list is currently being scraped. When items are loaded from the page, you should see a message about this event with a loaded item count and total item count for each page, in most cases.
If you provide incorrect input to the actor, it will immediately stop with failure state and output an explanation of what is wrong.
This solution allows you to log in using the already initialized cookies of a logged-in user. If you use this option, the scraper will do as much as possible to prevent the account from being banned (slow down to just one page open at a time and introduce delays between actions).
It's highly recommended not to use your own account (unless you have to). You should instead create a new Instagram account to use with this solution. Using your own account can result in the account being banned by Instagram.
To log in using cookies. I recommend using a Chrome browser extension like EditThisCookie. With it, just go to Instagram,
log in with the account you want to use and then use the extension to export cookies. This should give you an array of cookies which you can then just paste as a value for the loginCookies field in input.
If you log out of the Instagram account that is connected to the cookies, it will invalidate them and your solution will stop working.
You can also provide your username and password as input and set the "What to scrape from each page" to be "Cookies". You'll need to provide a 2FA code (SMS or email) to continue with the login by going to the "Live View" tab of your run when instructed to do so:
_____ _
| __ \| |
| |__) | | ___ __ _ ___ ___ ___ _ __ ___ _ __
| ___/| |/ _ \/ _` / __|/ _ \ / _ \| '_ \ / _ \ '_ \
| | | | __/ (_| \__ \ __/ | (_) | |_) | __/ | | |
|_| |_|\___|\__,_|___/\___| \___/| .__/ \___|_| |_|
| |
|_|
_ _ _
| (_) (_)
| |___ _____ __ ___ _____ __
| | \ \ / / _ \ \ \ / / |/ _ \ \ /\ / /
| | |\ V / __/ \ V /| | __/\ V V /
|_|_| \_/ \___| \_/ |_|\___| \_/\_/
You'll also need to allow the connection in your Instagram account security settings.
The actor stores its results in a dataset. Each item is a separate item in the dataset.
You can manage the results in any language (Python, PHP, Node JS/NPM). See our API reference to learn more about getting results from the Instagram Scraper.
The structure of each item in Instagram posts when scrolling looks like this:
{
"#debug": {
"pageType": "user",
"id": "teslamotors",
"userId": "297604134",
"userUsername": "teslamotors",
"userFullName": "Tesla",
"limit": 1000000,
"scrollWaitSecs": 0,
"shortcode": "B27C4aRBfet",
"postLocationId": null,
"postOwnerId": "297604134"
},
"queryUsername": "teslamotors",
"position": 10,
"type": "Image",
"shortCode": "B27C4aRBfet",
"caption": "@hub3rt picked up his Model 3 and brought our London team a cake. \nIf there is a purer thing in this world we would like to hear about it.",
"hashtags": [],
"mentions": [
"hub3rt"
],
"url": "https://www.instagram.com/p/B27C4aRBfet",
"commentsCount": 926,
"latestComments": [],
"dimensionsHeight": 1080,
"dimensionsWidth": 1080,
"displayUrl": "https://instagram.fyyc3-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t51.2885-15/e35/70538312_1124483511275040_7970075346943975868_n.jpg?_nc_ht=instagram.fyyc3-1.fna.fbcdn.net&_nc_cat=100&_nc_ohc=UBV8F4hhd_AAX_INMgA&oh=be328b96f1ad3fbb95b54a35b8b0eb79&oe=5F0D6E0E",
"id": "2142318720331413421",
"alt": "Photo by Tesla on September 27, 2019. Image may contain: one or more people, people standing and car",
"likesCount": 181500,
"timestamp": "2019-09-27T17:11:54.000Z",
"locationName": null,
"locationId": null,
"ownerUsername": "teslamotors",
"ownerId": "297604134"
}The structure of each item in Instagram comments looks like this:
{
"#debug": {
"index": 1,
"pageType": "post",
"id": "BwrsO1Bho2N",
"postCommentsDisabled": false,
"postIsVideo": false,
"postVideoViewCount": 0,
"postVideoDurationSecs": 0
},
"id": "17900515570488496",
"postId": "BwrsO1Bho2N",
"text": "When is Tesla going to make boats? It was so nice to see clear water in Venice during the covid lockdown!",
"position": 1,
"timestamp": "2020-06-07T12:54:20.000Z",
"ownerId": "5319127183",
"ownerIsVerified": false,
"ownerUsername": "mauricepaoletti",
"ownerProfilePicUrl": "https://scontent-lhr8-1.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.2885-19/s150x150/84630643_482577542360727_932647097444859904_n.jpg?_nc_ht=scontent-lhr8-1.cdninstagram.com&_nc_ohc=B3lQcy6UHX4AX8RjJKN&oh=1df825b662e1f1412eb21fc581c5db75&oe=5F0A760B"
}The structure of each user profile looks like this:
{
"#debug": {
"url": "https://www.instagram.com/avengers/"
},
"id": "6622284809",
"username": "avengers",
"fullName": "Avengers: Endgame",
"biography": "Marvel Studios’ \"Avengers: Endgame” is now playing in theaters.",
"externalUrl": "http://www.fandango.com/avengersendgame",
"externalUrlShimmed": "https://l.instagram.com/?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.fandango.com%2Favengersendgame&e=ATNWJ4avEN0vwSx1YQCqQqFJst7aAFzINa-BzGZLoTVrdC6sTRTmjM9QNgWKR3URJHMxwg9x",
"followersCount": 8212505,
"followsCount": 4,
"hasChannel": false,
"highlightReelCount": 3,
"isBusinessAccount": true,
"joinedRecently": false,
"businessCategoryName": "Content & Apps",
"private": false,
"verified": true,
"profilePicUrl": "https://scontent-ort2-2.cdninstagram.com/vp/eaea4675dc1e937f3b449dba21ac3867/5D5DF0E0/t51.2885-19/s150x150/54446499_2222190077828037_3317168817985028096_n.jpg?_nc_ht=scontent-ort2-2.cdninstagram.com",
"profilePicUrlHD": "https://scontent-ort2-2.cdninstagram.com/vp/38a36006532165263f0d82c32de1d0ce/5D767E98/t51.2885-19/s320x320/54446499_2222190077828037_3317168817985028096_n.jpg?_nc_ht=scontent-ort2-2.cdninstagram.com",
"facebookPage": null,
"igtvVideoCount": 5,
"latestIgtvVideos": [
{
"type": "Video",
"shortCode": "Bwr3OkpnZZ5",
"title": "Marvel Studios’ Avengers: Endgame | “Don’t Do It”",
"caption": "Don’t do it. #DontSpoilTheEndgame",
"commentsCount": 115,
"commentsDisabled": false,
"dimensionsHeight": 1333,
"dimensionsWidth": 750,
"displayUrl": "https://scontent-ort2-2.cdninstagram.com/vp/1c063ea4ff0e4768a852411c74470bae/5CCD7FE3/t51.2885-15/e35/58684999_167806787545179_7836940807335402934_n.jpg?_nc_ht=scontent-ort2-2.cdninstagram.com",
"likesCount": 123,
"videoDuration": 21.688,
"videoViewCount": 77426
},
// ...
],
"postsCount": 274,
"latestPosts": [
{
"type": "Video",
"shortCode": "Bw7jACTn3tC",
"caption": "“We need to take a stand.” Marvel Studios’ #AvengersEndgame is in theaters now. Get tickets: [link in bio]",
"commentsCount": 1045,
"dimensionsHeight": 750,
"dimensionsWidth": 750,
"displayUrl": "https://scontent-ort2-2.cdninstagram.com/vp/c336cf708e62596cd46879656f86ad70/5CCD112C/t51.2885-15/e35/57649006_653609661751971_8438348841277997450_n.jpg?_nc_ht=scontent-ort2-2.cdninstagram.com",
"likesCount": 142707,
"videoViewCount": 482810,
"timestamp": "2019-05-01T18:44:12.000Z",
"locationName": null
},
// ...
],
"following": [],
"followedBy": [],
}The structure of each hashtag detail looks like this:
{
"#debug": {
"url": "https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/endgame/"
},
"id": "17843854051054595",
"name": "endgame",
"topPostsOnly": false,
"profilePicUrl": "https://scontent-ort2-2.cdninstagram.com/vp/c3074c4492e7594fdd330ff8b81cf724/5D558BBC/t51.2885-15/e15/s150x150/58410922_577374706107933_1468173581283089454_n.jpg?_nc_ht=scontent-ort2-2.cdninstagram.com",
"postsCount": 1510549,
"topPosts": [
{
"type": "Image",
"shortCode": "Bw9UYRrhxfl",
"caption": "Here is the second part😂😂 Find the first part on the page\nGuess the pictures😏\n-\n-\n-\n#marvel #mcu #dceu #worldofdc #endgame #superhero #superheros #infinitywar #batman #superman #wonderwoman #iroman #captainamerica #thor #thanos #memes #news #dc #dcuniverse #power #funny #fun" "@marvel",
"hashtags": ["marvel", "mcu", "etc..."],
"mentions": ["marvel"],
"commentsCount": 9,
"dimensionsHeight": 1326,
"dimensionsWidth": 1080,
"displayUrl": "https://scontent-ort2-2.cdninstagram.com/vp/4d67498d0bc033cbfdf8b666d0fce6d1/5D629B3E/t51.2885-15/e35/57216878_2119889691397544_8022105877563047858_n.jpg?_nc_ht=scontent-ort2-2.cdninstagram.com",
"likesCount": 2342,
"timestamp": "2019-05-02T11:14:55.000Z",
"locationName": null
},
// ...
],
"latestPosts": [
{
"type": "Sidecar",
"shortCode": "Bw9flNKl56O",
"caption": "Mínimo lo se mi tributo a semejante peli pero bue algo quería hacer me llore la vidaaaaa #endgame #avengersendgame #avengers #thanos #ironman #hulk #thor #makeupcomic #makeup #moviemakeup #makeupeyes #makeupfantasy #makeupavengers #makeuphero",
"commentsCount": 0,
"dimensionsHeight": 936,
"dimensionsWidth": 1080,
"displayUrl": "https://scontent-ort2-2.cdninstagram.com/vp/d97b7e434dbbb4141552c9af9c8fb05b/5D5F34FD/t51.2885-15/e35/58087917_2268263940082789_7711745336102849043_n.jpg?_nc_ht=scontent-ort2-2.cdninstagram.com",
"likesCount": 12312,
"timestamp": "2019-05-02T12:52:48.000Z",
"locationName": null
},
// ...
]
}The structure of each place detail looks like this:
{
"#debug": {
"url": "https://www.instagram.com/explore/locations/1017812091/namesti-miru/"
},
"id": "1017812091",
"name": "Náměstí Míru",
"public": true,
"lat": 50.0753325,
"lng": 14.43769,
"slug": "namesti-miru",
"description": "",
"website": "",
"phone": "",
"aliasOnFacebook": "",
"addressStreetAddress": "",
"addressZipCode": "",
"addressCityName": "Prague, Czech Republic",
"addressRegionName": "",
"addressCountryCode": "CZ",
"addressExactCityMatch": false,
"addressExactRegionMatch": false,
"addressExactCountryMatch": false,
"profilePicUrl": "https://scontent-ort2-2.cdninstagram.com/vp/aa8cc8c627cbddf3df270747223f5f23/5D68CDEA/t51.2885-15/e35/s150x150/57561454_2452560724777787_307886881124344332_n.jpg?_nc_ht=scontent-ort2-2.cdninstagram.com",
"postsCount": 5310,
"topPosts": [
{
"type": "Image",
"shortCode": "Bw6lVVZhXXB",
"caption": "🦋🦋🦋",
"commentsCount": 3,
"dimensionsHeight": 750,
"dimensionsWidth": 750,
"displayUrl": "https://scontent-ort2-2.cdninstagram.com/vp/03de7e9343f98fdf47513a0a944c427f/5D6656A8/t51.2885-15/e35/57561454_2452560724777787_307886881124344332_n.jpg?_nc_ht=scontent-ort2-2.cdninstagram.com",
"likesCount": 345,
"timestamp": "2019-05-01T09:45:20.000Z",
"locationName": null
},
// ...
],
"latestPosts": [
{
"type": "Image",
"shortCode": "Bw9KSlIhAc-",
"caption": "#vinohradskaprincezna #nekdotomusikontrolovat #jestezememaji #jmenujusebufinka 🐶",
"commentsCount": 0,
"dimensionsHeight": 1080,
"dimensionsWidth": 1080,
"displayUrl": "https://scontent-ort2-2.cdninstagram.com/vp/0fa17a87dee94c0c63c8973c6c0677eb/5D59EE21/t51.2885-15/e35/57506136_399700847249384_6385808161520210872_n.jpg?_nc_ht=scontent-ort2-2.cdninstagram.com",
"likesCount": 4546,
"timestamp": "2019-05-02T09:46:45.000Z",
"locationName": null
},
// ...
]
}The structure of each post detail looks like this:
{
"#debug": {
"requestId": "YCyUc93vUGzK9eA",
"url": "https://www.instagram.com/p/BwrsO1Bho2N",
"loadedUrl": "https://www.instagram.com/p/BwrsO1Bho2N/",
"method": "GET",
"retryCount": 0,
"errorMessages": null
},
"type": "Sidecar",
"shortCode": "BwrsO1Bho2N",
"caption": "Newly upgraded Model S and X drive units rolling down the production line at Gigafactory 1 #tesla #model3 @elonmusk",
"hashtags": ["tesla", "model3"],
"mentions": ["elonmusk"],
"position": 1,
"url": "https://www.instagram.com/p/BwrsO1Bho2N",
"commentsCount": 711,
"latestComments": [
{
"ownerUsername": "mauricepaoletti",
"text": "When is Tesla going to make boats? It was so nice to see clear water in Venice during the covid lockdown!"
},
// ...
],
"dimensionsHeight": 1350,
"dimensionsWidth": 1080,
"displayUrl": "https://instagram.fist4-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t51.2885-15/e35/57840129_308705413159630_8358160330083042716_n.jpg?_nc_ht=instagram.fist4-1.fna.fbcdn.net&_nc_cat=110&_nc_ohc=g7JIBg70oHMAX_QGayb&oh=1402875349a6d1cd8693f14f2b617fd6&oe=5F0DBA1F",
"id": "2029910590113615245",
"firstComment": "@miszdivastatuz",
"likesCount": 153786,
"timestamp": "2019-04-25T14:57:01.000Z",
"locationName": "Tesla Gigafactory 1",
"locationId": "2172837629656184",
"ownerFullName": "Tesla",
"ownerUsername": "teslamotors",
"ownerId": "297604134",
"captionIsEdited": false,
"hasRankedComments": false,
"commentsDisabled": false,
"displayResourceUrls": [
"https://instagram.fist4-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t51.2885-15/e35/57840129_308705413159630_8358160330083042716_n.jpg?_nc_ht=instagram.fist4-1.fna.fbcdn.net&_nc_cat=110&_nc_ohc=g7JIBg70oHMAX_QGayb&oh=1402875349a6d1cd8693f14f2b617fd6&oe=5F0DBA1F",
"https://instagram.fist4-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t51.2885-15/e35/56744724_532173877312018_171181625703519178_n.jpg?_nc_ht=instagram.fist4-1.fna.fbcdn.net&_nc_cat=110&_nc_ohc=_zTxcKu_hyYAX9KtDax&oh=175f7e2fceb3f6b20f84e148baf4d9f9&oe=5F0C7535"
],
"childPosts": [
// ...
],
"locationSlug": "tesla-gigafactory-1",
"isAdvertisement": false,
"taggedUsers": [],
"likedBy": []
}You can use this function to update the result output of this actor.
Return null to omit the output of the item.
async ({ data, item, itemSpec, page, request, customData, label }) => {
// data variable is the raw object before parsing, that becomes the item
delete item.displayResourceUrls;
item.alt = 'N/A';
item.additionalField = customData.additionalField; // comes from the input
// each result type has it's own label
switch (label) {
case 'comment':
break;
case 'details':
break;
case 'post':
if (!item.caption?.include('cute')) {
return null; // omits output for posts without the alt text containin the word 'cute'
}
break;
case 'stories':
break;
}
return item; // return the modified item to be output
}This example will add a new field additionalField that comes from the input, change the alt field and remove displayResourceUrls field.
Note that the return value of this function has to be an object or an array.
You can split your result into individual items, like to make it CSV friendly or to output one item per profile post, for example:
async ({ data, item, itemSpec, page, request, customData, label }) => {
if (label === 'details') {
// details means it's going to output a profile item
const { latestPosts, ...profile } = item;
// split the latestPosts one per row, by returning an array
return latestPosts.map((post) => {
return {
profile,
...post
}
});
}
return item;
}This parameter allows you to add additional functionalities to the scraper. You can access inner functionalities, add profiles, posts and searches on-the-fly:
async ({ label, addProfile, addLocation, crawler, Apify }) => {
if (label === 'START') {
await addProfile('elonmusk'); // add profile by username
await addLocation(274885506); // add location by id, this is prague
await addHashtag('prague'); // add hashtag, not using #
} else if (label === 'FINISH') {
// scraper finished, display stats
Apify.utils.log.info('STATS', crawler.stats.toJSON());
}
}You can interact with the page as well:
async ({ page, label, response, Apify }) => {
if (label === 'HANDLE' && page.itemSpec.pageType === 'post') {
// we are inside the handlePageFunction, after every comment is being loaded
const spans = await page.$x('//span[@class="EizgU" and contains(.,"View")]');
// this is the "View replies" button, will trigger the label below after clicking
await Promise.all(spans.map((s) => s.click()));
} else if (label === 'RESPONSE' && response.request().url().includes('1ee91c32fc020d44158a3192eda98247')) {
// RESPONSE is the event listener for page.on('response')
// 1ee91c32fc020d44158a3192eda98247 is the query hash for threaded comments
const { data } = await response.json();
// deal with the data.comment.edge_threaded_comments.edges array
await Apify.pushData(data);
}
}This scraper is under active development, so check CHANGELOG.md for new features and fixes.
This scraper clicks cookies and privacy consent dialogs on your behalf