# Twitter Video Downloader API: X Videos, GIFs & Images (`accountable_eel/x-media-downloader`) Actor Bulk Twitter video downloader and X video downloader API: paste a list of post URLs and download videos in the highest MP4 quality, animated GIFs as MP4 and original photos into your run's storage, each probed with ffprobe (codec, resolution, duration, audio, SHA-256). Runs from n8n or Make. - **URL**: https://apify.com/accountable_eel/x-media-downloader.md - **Developed by:** [Adriana Voss](https://apify.com/accountable_eel) (community) - **Categories:** Social media, Developer tools - **Stats:** 2 total users, 1 monthly users, 100.0% runs succeeded, 0 bookmarks - **User rating**: No ratings yet ## Pricing from $3.80 / 1,000 stored media files This Actor is paid per event. You are not charged for the Apify platform usage, but only a fixed price for specific events. Since this Actor supports Apify Store discounts, the price gets lower the higher subscription plan you have. Learn more: https://docs.apify.com/actors/running/actors-in-store.md#pay-per-event ## What's an Apify Actor? An Actor is a serverless cloud program that runs on the Apify platform. It has two run modes. In Batch mode, an Actor accepts a well-defined JSON input, performs an action which can take anything from a few seconds to a few hours, and optionally produces a well-defined JSON output, datasets with results, or files in key-value store. In Standby mode, an Actor provides a web server which can be used as a website, API, or an MCP server. Apify vocabulary and the platform model are defined once, in the agent quickstart at https://apify.com/agents.md. ## How to integrate an Actor? If asked about integration, you help developers integrate Actors into their projects. You adapt to their stack and deliver integrations that are safe, well-documented, and production-ready. Do not guess an integration path. Every one of them is in the agent quickstart at https://apify.com/agents.md: the Apify MCP server, Agent Skills with the Apify CLI, the JavaScript and Python clients, the REST API, and the account-free path for an agent with no human to sign in. It also carries the rule on stating cost before the first paid run. For examples already wired to this Actor's own input schema, see the [API](#api) section below. Each client library has reference documentation the quickstart does not restate: [JavaScript/TypeScript](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs.md) (`npm install apify-client`) and [Python](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs.md) (`pip install apify-client`). # README ## Twitter Video Downloader: X Videos, GIFs & Images Give this actor X / Twitter post URLs or bare status IDs and it downloads each post's videos, animated GIFs and original photos directly into your run's key-value store. Every media file is hashed with SHA-256 while streaming, and videos and GIFs are probed with ffprobe for duration, resolution, frame rate, codec and audio presence. No login, no cookies, no browser needed. ### Who it's for - **AI & ML data engineers** collecting high-resolution multimedia training datasets from X with verifiable checksums. - **Social media managers & brand archivists** backing up viral marketing campaigns, video clips, and creative assets. - **Automation workflows (n8n, Make, Zapier)** needing reliable, durable MP4 and JPEG storage URLs rather than expiring CDN links. ### Why this one - **Flexible post input**: Accepts full post URLs (`x.com`, `twitter.com`, `mobile.twitter.com`, `fxtwitter.com`, `vxtwitter.com`) or bare numeric status IDs. - **Highest-bitrate video selection**: Automatically selects the best available MP4 video stream (up to 1080p+) and ignores m3u8 playlists. - **Original resolution photos**: Downloads uncompressed source images (`?name=orig`) rather than downscaled thumbnails. - **Real ffprobe analysis**: Extracts duration, fps, resolution, codec, and whether the file has audio directly from the stored media. - **Streaming checksums**: Computes SHA-256 while streaming to temp storage, guaranteeing byte-level integrity. - **Fair billing**: Misses, deleted/protected posts, duplicate files, and over-cap files are never charged. ### What you get Each downloaded media file produces one flat dataset row: | Field | Type | Description | |---|---|---| | `postId` / `postUrl` | text / link | The post's status ID and canonical x.com URL | | `kind` | text | `video`, `gif`, `image`, or `cover` (video/GIF poster image) | | `mediaIndex` | number | Zero-based index of the media item within the post | | `kvKey` / `kvUrl` | text / link | Storage key and direct Apify key-value store record URL | | `originalMediaUrl` | link | The direct CDN link from X/twimg | | `bitrate` / `bytes` | number | Bitrate (for videos) and total size in bytes | | `sha256` | text | SHA-256 checksum computed during stream | | `width` / `height` | number | Pixel dimensions | | `duration_s` / `fps` | number | Duration in seconds and frame rate | | `codec` / `hasAudio` | text / boolean | Video codec and audio track presence | | `text` | text | Full post text | | `authorScreenName` / `authorName` | text | Author handle and display name | | `likeCount` / `createdAt` | number / date | Likes count and post creation timestamp | | `isQuoted` | boolean | True if this media originated from a quoted post | | `error` | text | Error explanation if download failed (unbilled) | ### Scope and limits - **Public posts only**: Private, deleted, suspended, or age-restricted posts return an error row and are never billed. - **No keyword/profile timelines**: Timelines and search queries on X require authentication; this actor focuses specifically on individual post media extraction. - **Quoted post media**: Optional via `includeQuoted: true` (default false). - **Direct MP4s**: Videos and animated GIFs are saved as direct MP4 files. ### Pricing - **Stored media file**: $5 per 1,000 files - **Media download bandwidth (MB)**: $5 per 1,000 files Plus a $0.01 start fee per run. Each event above is billed independently, only when it actually returns data — misses (`found:false`) are never charged. Billing is per stored file (`file` event) plus per megabyte stored (`megabyte` event). Unavailable posts, deleted posts, duplicates, and over-cap files are never billed. ### Example runs 1. **Download video and cover still from a NASA post** ```json {"posts": ["https://x.com/NASA/status/2107850292305818006"], "kinds": "all"} ``` 2. **Download an animated GIF as MP4** ```json {"posts": ["https://twitter.com/GIPHY/status/1957913446118285360"], "kinds": "videos"} ``` 3. **Download original resolution photos** ```json {"posts": ["2107939889954029913"], "kinds": "images"} ``` Use-case variant candidate: none ### How to use 1. **In the Apify Console.** Open the actor page and click **Start** — the `posts` field is already pre-filled with a working example. Results land in the run's dataset as soon as each item is found. 2. **Via the API.** Call it directly with a POST request — no Console needed once you have an API token: ```bash curl "https://api.apify.com/v2/acts/accountable_eel~x-media-downloader/run-sync-get-dataset-items?token=" \ -X POST \ -H "Content-Type: application/json" \ -d '{"posts":["https://x.com/NASA/status/2107850292305818006","https://twitter.com/GIPHY/status/1957913446118285360","2107939889954029913"]}' ``` 3. **On a schedule.** Save this actor as an Apify **Task** with the input you want, then add a **Schedule** (hourly, daily, weekly) so it runs on its own — no server of your own required. ### Input ```json { "posts": [ "https://x.com/NASA/status/2107850292305818006", "https://twitter.com/GIPHY/status/1957913446118285360", "2107939889954029913" ] } ``` One per line: an X / Twitter post URL (x.com, twitter.com, mobile.twitter.com, fxtwitter.com, vxtwitter.com) or a bare numeric status ID. Accepted formats: https://x.com/NASA/status/2107850292305818006, https://twitter.com/GIPHY/status/1957913446118285360, 2107939889954029913. ### Sample output | query | found | status | postId | postUrl | kind | mediaIndex | kvKey | kvUrl | originalMediaUrl | bitrate | bytes | sha256 | width | height | duration_s | fps | codec | hasAudio | text | authorScreenName | authorName | likeCount | createdAt | isQuoted | error | scrapedAt | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | https://x.com/NASA/status/2107850292305818006 | true | OK | | | | | | | | | \ | | | | \ | | | | | | | | | | | 1970-01-01T00:00:00.000Z | ### Related actors - [X (Twitter) Profile Scraper: Followers, Bio & Stats](https://apify.com/accountable_eel/x-profile-lookup): profile followers, bio and stats for the account behind a post. ### Use it from Clay, n8n, Make, or an AI agent This actor runs synchronously over plain HTTP — call it directly from a script, a workflow tool, or an AI agent, no Apify Console needed once you have an API token. ```bash curl "https://api.apify.com/v2/acts/accountable_eel~x-media-downloader/run-sync-get-dataset-items?token=" \ -X POST \ -H "Content-Type: application/json" \ -d '{"posts":["https://x.com/NASA/status/2107850292305818006","https://twitter.com/GIPHY/status/1957913446118285360","2107939889954029913"]}' ``` **n8n.** Add an HTTP Request node: Method `POST`, URL `https://api.apify.com/v2/acts/accountable_eel~x-media-downloader/run-sync-get-dataset-items?token=`, Body Content Type `JSON`, JSON Body `{"posts":["https://x.com/NASA/status/2107850292305818006","https://twitter.com/GIPHY/status/1957913446118285360","2107939889954029913"]}` (swap in an expression from an earlier node for a real value). **Clay.** Add an "HTTP API" column: Method `POST`, URL `https://api.apify.com/v2/acts/accountable_eel~x-media-downloader/run-sync-get-dataset-items?token=`, Body `{"posts":["{{post}}"]}`, mapping the row's post into the `posts` array. **MCP.** In Claude, Cursor, or any MCP client with the Apify MCP server, ask for "Twitter Video Downloader: X Videos, GIFs & Images" — the agent will find and run this actor. # Actor input Schema ## `posts` (type: `array`): One per line: an X / Twitter post URL (x.com, twitter.com, mobile.twitter.com, fxtwitter.com, vxtwitter.com) or a bare numeric status ID. Accepted formats: https://x.com/NASA/status/2107850292305818006, https://twitter.com/GIPHY/status/1957913446118285360, 2107939889954029913. You're only charged for the ones we actually find — a miss costs nothing. ## `testRun` (type: `boolean`): Turn this on to test your input on a small sample before running the full list. Turn it off to process everything. ## `onlyFound` (type: `boolean`): Only keep rows where something was actually found. Misses are always free, whether or not you show them here. ## `includeKeywords` (type: `array`): Optional. Only keep results that mention at least one of these words (e.g. a job title, a city, a product name). Leave empty to keep everything. ## `excludeKeywords` (type: `array`): Optional. Drop any result that mentions one of these words. Leave empty to skip nothing. ## `maxResults` (type: `integer`): Optional. Stop the run once this many results have been found — useful for a quick, cheap sample. Leave blank for no limit. ## `columns` (type: `array`): Choose which pieces of information to include in each result row. All are included by default. ## `expandRows` (type: `boolean`): When on, each file found gets its own row instead of being grouped under its post. You're still only charged once per post, no matter how many rows it produces. ## `kinds` (type: `string`): "All" downloads videos, GIFs, and images. "Videos only" downloads videos and animated GIFs (skips photos). "Images only" downloads photos and video/GIF cover stills. ## `includeQuoted` (type: `boolean`): If enabled, also downloads media attached to a post quoted by the main post. ## `maxMb` (type: `integer`): Aborts a single file's download once it exceeds this size. 1-500. ## `maxConcurrency` (type: `integer`): Parallel requests. Keep conservative — this target has no browser fallback, so getting blocked costs more than slow-and-steady. ## `proxyConfiguration` (type: `object`): Apify Proxy config. Residential recommended for anti-bot-sensitive targets. ## Actor input object example ```json { "posts": [ "https://x.com/NASA/status/2107850292305818006", "https://twitter.com/GIPHY/status/1957913446118285360", "2107939889954029913" ], "testRun": false, "onlyFound": false, "includeKeywords": [], "excludeKeywords": [], "columns": [ "postId", "postUrl", "kind", "mediaIndex", "kvKey", "kvUrl", "originalMediaUrl", "bitrate", "bytes", "sha256", "width", "height", "duration_s", "fps", "codec", "hasAudio", "text", "authorScreenName", "authorName", "likeCount", "createdAt", "isQuoted", "error" ], "expandRows": true, "kinds": "all", "includeQuoted": false, "maxMb": 200, "maxConcurrency": 2, "proxyConfiguration": { "useApifyProxy": true } } ``` # Actor output Schema ## `results` (type: `string`): No description # API You can run this Actor programmatically using our API. Below are code examples in JavaScript, Python, and CLI, as well as the OpenAPI specification and MCP server setup. ## JavaScript example ```javascript import { ApifyClient } from 'apify-client'; // Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token // Replace the '' with your token const client = new ApifyClient({ token: '', }); // Prepare Actor input const input = { "posts": [ "https://x.com/NASA/status/2107850292305818006", "https://twitter.com/GIPHY/status/1957913446118285360", "2107939889954029913" ], "includeKeywords": [], "excludeKeywords": [] }; // Run the Actor and wait for it to finish const run = await client.actor("accountable_eel/x-media-downloader").call(input); // Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if any) console.log('Results from dataset'); console.log(`💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/${run.defaultDatasetId}`); const { items } = await client.dataset(run.defaultDatasetId).listItems(); items.forEach((item) => { console.dir(item); }); // 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs ``` ## Python example ```python from apify_client import ApifyClient # Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token # Replace '' with your token. client = ApifyClient("") # Prepare the Actor input run_input = { "posts": [ "https://x.com/NASA/status/2107850292305818006", "https://twitter.com/GIPHY/status/1957913446118285360", "2107939889954029913", ], "includeKeywords": [], "excludeKeywords": [], } # Run the Actor and wait for it to finish run = client.actor("accountable_eel/x-media-downloader").call(run_input=run_input) # Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if there are any) print(f"💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/{run.default_dataset_id}") for item in client.dataset(run.default_dataset_id).iterate_items(): print(item) # 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs/quick-start ``` ## CLI example ```bash echo '{ "posts": [ "https://x.com/NASA/status/2107850292305818006", "https://twitter.com/GIPHY/status/1957913446118285360", "2107939889954029913" ], "includeKeywords": [], "excludeKeywords": [] }' | apify call accountable_eel/x-media-downloader --silent --output-dataset ``` ## MCP server setup ```json { "mcpServers": { "apify": { "type": "http", "url": "https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=fetch-actor-details,accountable_eel/x-media-downloader" } } } ``` The hosted server signs you in with OAuth on first connect, so no API token belongs in this config. Clients without OAuth support can send an `Authorization: Bearer ` header instead, using a token from API & Integrations in Apify Console (https://console.apify.com/settings/integrations). ## OpenAPI specification Download the OpenAPI definition: https://api.apify.com/v2/actors/NpFHpoJ1la7Le7YeS/builds/0RIuxJeB1HIg0oXVl/openapi.json