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Guide · Open source

How to use instaloader: install and download Instagram posts

Updated · written with AI from the project's own documentation and checked against our catalogue data

Instaloader is an open-source Python tool for saving pictures and videos from Instagram to your computer, together with their captions and other metadata. This guide explains what it is good for, how to install it with pip, and how to run it from the terminal. By the end you will know how to start a first download and what limits to keep in mind.

Instaloaderinstaloader/instaloader · ★ 13.8k · MIT

Quick start

  1. 1Check Python 3. Confirm that Python 3 is installed on your computer, since instaloader requires it.
  2. 2Install with pip. Run pip install instaloader in your terminal to install the package from PyPI.
  3. 3Choose a public profile. Pick a public Instagram profile for your first test, rather than private content you cannot access.
  4. 4Run the download. Start instaloader from the terminal with the profile you chose and wait for the files to save.
  5. 5Check the saved files. Open the downloaded folder to confirm that pictures or videos were saved along with their captions and metadata.
  6. 6Read the README. Review the project's documentation for the full set of options before building a regular workflow.

What instaloader does

Instaloader downloads pictures or videos from Instagram along with their captions and other metadata. According to the project's description, people use it to keep local copies of public posts or to archive profiles they follow.

It is a command-line tool written in Python. The project's README does not describe a graphical interface, so you run it by typing commands in a terminal.

Install instaloader with pip

Instaloader needs Python 3 installed on your computer. It is published on PyPI, so you can install it with pip, Python's package manager. The README gives this install command:

pip install instaloader

Run your first download

Once installed, you run instaloader from the terminal and pass it the Instagram profile you want. Start with a public profile, since the project's terms and Instagram's rules do not permit downloading private content you have no access to.

Downloaded files are saved to your computer together with their captions and metadata, so you can keep a local archive of the posts.

  • Make sure Python 3 and pip are installed first.
  • Use a public profile for your first test.
  • Check the project README for the full list of options before automating anything.

Use instaloader from Python code

Because instaloader is a Python package, developers can script Instagram downloads in their own Python programs instead of only typing commands. This suits people who want to automate a regular archiving job.

Instagram changes can break scrapers, so any script you write may need updating over time.

Limits and things to know

Instaloader is not a point-and-click app. If you need one, pick a tool with a graphical interface instead.

There is no guaranteed long-term workflow. Instagram changes can break scrapers, so a setup that works today may stop working later.

Only download content you are allowed to access, and respect the project's terms and Instagram's rules.

What people use it for

  • Keeping local copies of public posts from a profile you follow.
  • Archiving a profile's pictures or videos together with their captions.
  • Saving metadata alongside media files for research.
  • Scripting a recurring Instagram download in a Python program.

Frequently asked questions

Is instaloader free?

Instaloader is open source and released under the MIT licence, according to the project's listing. You can read the licence terms in the repository before using or modifying it.

What do I need to run instaloader?

The project lists Python 3 as the prerequisite. You install the tool from PyPI with pip install instaloader and then run it from a terminal.

How do I install instaloader?

Run pip install instaloader in your terminal. This installs the package from PyPI, which is the install method given in the README.

Can instaloader download private Instagram accounts?

No. The project's terms and Instagram's rules do not permit scraping private content you have no access to. Use it for public posts or profiles you are allowed to access.

Is there an alternative to instaloader?

Comparable projects include gallery-dl, yt-dlp and instagram-scraper. Compare them on the features you need, such as metadata handling and how they are run.

Why is instaloader not working?

Instagram changes can break scrapers, so a tool that worked before may fail after a site change. Check the project's README and repository for current guidance.

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Our verdict

Instaloader suits people who are comfortable in a terminal and want to archive public Instagram posts with their captions and metadata, or script downloads in Python. If you want a point-and-click app or a workflow that must keep working unchanged for a long time, pick a different tool, since Instagram changes can break scrapers.

Install options & downloads