# Instagram Follow Unfollow Bot (`dead00/instagram-follow-unfollow-bot`) Actor Automatically follow or unfollow Instagram users in bulk. Provide a list of usernames, choose your action, and the bot handles the rest — with early-stop protection against Instagram blocks and rate limits. - **URL**: https://apify.com/dead00/instagram-follow-unfollow-bot.md - **Developed by:** [Dead](https://apify.com/dead00) (community) - **Categories:** Automation, Social media, Agents - **Stats:** 1 total users, 1 monthly users, 0.0% runs succeeded, NaN bookmarks - **User rating**: No ratings yet ## Pricing from $0.10 / 1,000 task completeds This Actor is paid per event. You are not charged for the Apify platform usage, but only a fixed price for specific events. Learn more: https://docs.apify.com/platform/actors/running/actors-in-store#pay-per-event ## What's an Apify Actor? Actors are a software tools running on the Apify platform, for all kinds of web data extraction and automation use cases. 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. Actors are written with capital "A". ## 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. The best way to integrate Actors is as follows. In JavaScript/TypeScript projects, use official [JavaScript/TypeScript client](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js.md): ```bash npm install apify-client ``` In Python projects, use official [Python client library](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python.md): ```bash pip install apify-client ``` In shell scripts, use [Apify CLI](https://docs.apify.com/cli/docs.md): ````bash # MacOS / Linux curl -fsSL https://apify.com/install-cli.sh | bash # Windows irm https://apify.com/install-cli.ps1 | iex ```bash In AI frameworks, you might use the [Apify MCP server](https://docs.apify.com/platform/integrations/mcp.md). If your project is in a different language, use the [REST API](https://docs.apify.com/api/v2.md). For usage examples, see the [API](#api) section below. For more details, see Apify documentation as [Markdown index](https://docs.apify.com/llms.txt) and [Markdown full-text](https://docs.apify.com/llms-full.txt). # README ## 👥 Instagram Follow / Unfollow Bot An Actor that automatically follows or unfollows Instagram users. Built with Pay-Per-Event (PPE) charging — you only pay for successful actions. --- ### ✨ Features - ➕ Follow or ➖ unfollow Instagram users in bulk - 💳 Pay-Per-Event (PPE) billing — charged only on success - 🛡️ Early-stop protection on rate limits or Instagram blocks - 🔗 Auto-deduplication — no username is processed twice per run - 🌐 Optional proxy support for reduced ban risk --- ### 🚀 Quick Start #### 1. Get Your Instagram Cookies The most reliable login method is exporting cookies directly from your browser: 1. Open [instagram.com](https://instagram.com) and log in 2. Install the [Cookie-Editor](https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/cookie-editor/hlkenndednhfkekhgcdicdfddnkalmdm) Chrome extension 3. Click the extension → **Export** → **Export as JSON** 4. Paste the JSON array into the **Instagram Cookies** input field #### 2. Choose Your Action Select either **Follow Users** or **Unfollow Users** from the Action dropdown. #### 3. Add Target Usernames Enter the Instagram usernames you want to follow or unfollow (without the `@` symbol): ```` natgeo nasa instagram ```` #### 4. Run the Actor Set your limits and hit **Start**. Results are pushed to the dataset in real time. --- ### 🔧 Input Configuration | Field | Type | Required | Default | Description | |---|---|---|---|---| | `cookies` | Array (JSON) | ✅ Yes | — | Browser cookie export from instagram.com. Use Cookie-Editor → Export as JSON | | `action` | String (select) | ✅ Yes | `follow` | Choose `follow` to follow users or `unfollow` to unfollow them | | `usernames` | Array (strings) | ✅ Yes | — | List of target Instagram usernames (without `@`) | | `maxActionsPerRun` | Integer | No | `20` | Max follow/unfollow actions per run. Range: 1–100 | | `proxyConfiguration` | Object | No | — | Optional proxy settings. Residential proxies recommended | #### Example Input — Follow ```json { "cookies": [ { "name": "sessionid", "value": "YOUR_SESSION_ID" }, { "name": "csrftoken", "value": "YOUR_CSRF_TOKEN" } ], "action": "follow", "usernames": ["natgeo", "nasa", "instagram"], "maxActionsPerRun": 20 } ```` #### Example Input — Unfollow ```json { "cookies": [ { "name": "sessionid", "value": "YOUR_SESSION_ID" }, { "name": "csrftoken", "value": "YOUR_CSRF_TOKEN" } ], "action": "unfollow", "usernames": ["old_account1", "old_account2"], "maxActionsPerRun": 20 } ``` *** ### 📊 Output Format Each processed username is pushed to the Apify dataset with the following structure: ```json { "username": "natgeo", "action": "follow", "status": "success", "message": "✅ Followed @natgeo", "timestamp": "2025-01-15T10:30:00.000000" } ``` #### Status Values | Status | Meaning | |---|---| | `success` | Action completed successfully | | `failed` | User not found or a generic error occurred | | `blocked` | Instagram blocked the action (FeedbackRequired) | | `rate_limited` | Too many requests — actor stops early to protect the account | | `auth_error` | Session expired or a challenge is required | *** ### 💳 Pay-Per-Event (PPE) Pricing This actor uses Apify's Pay-Per-Event model — you only pay for what actually happens: | Event | Description | |---|---| | `login-success` | Charged once when login succeeds | | `action-completed` | Charged once per successful follow or unfollow | | `task-completed` | Charged once when the run finishes | ### ⚠️ Important Notes #### Authentication - **Cookies expire** — If you get authentication errors, export fresh cookies from your browser #### Rate Limits - Instagram may rate limit aggressive scraping - Use delays between (built-in 3s delay) ### 📞 Support If you encounter issues or have questions: - Check the actor's run log for detailed error messages - Ensure your cookies are fresh and valid - Try reducing the `amount` parameter - Contact support with your run details ### 🔒 Privacy & Data - Your cookies are used only for authentication during the run - No credentials are stored after the actor finishes - Respect Instagram's Terms of Service and users' privacy *** # Actor input Schema ## `cookies` (type: `array`): Export cookies from instagram.com using a browser extension like 'EditThisCookie' or 'Cookie-Editor'. Paste the JSON array here. This is the most reliable login method. ## `action` (type: `string`): Choose whether to follow or unfollow the listed users. ## `usernames` (type: `array`): List of Instagram usernames to follow or unfollow (without @). ## `maxActionsPerRun` (type: `integer`): Maximum follow/unfollow actions per run. Keep under 50 for safety on new accounts, up to 80 for aged accounts. ## `proxyConfiguration` (type: `object`): Optional. Residential proxies recommended for best results. ## Actor input object example ```json { "action": "follow", "maxActionsPerRun": 20 } ``` # 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 = {}; // Run the Actor and wait for it to finish const run = await client.actor("dead00/instagram-follow-unfollow-bot").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 = {} # Run the Actor and wait for it to finish run = client.actor("dead00/instagram-follow-unfollow-bot").call(run_input=run_input) # Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if there are any) print("💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/" + run["defaultDatasetId"]) for item in client.dataset(run["defaultDatasetId"]).iterate_items(): print(item) # 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs/quick-start ``` ## CLI example ```bash echo '{}' | apify call dead00/instagram-follow-unfollow-bot --silent --output-dataset ``` ## MCP server setup ```json { "mcpServers": { "apify": { "command": "npx", "args": [ "mcp-remote", "https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=dead00/instagram-follow-unfollow-bot", "--header", "Authorization: Bearer " ] } } } ``` ## OpenAPI specification ```json { "openapi": "3.0.1", "info": { "title": "Instagram Follow Unfollow Bot", "description": "Automatically follow or unfollow Instagram users in bulk. Provide a list of usernames, choose your action, and the bot handles the rest — with early-stop protection against Instagram blocks and rate limits.", "version": "0.0", "x-build-id": "DqebG5ERCcgcwNURT" }, "servers": [ { "url": "https://api.apify.com/v2" } ], "paths": { "/acts/dead00~instagram-follow-unfollow-bot/run-sync-get-dataset-items": { "post": { "operationId": "run-sync-get-dataset-items-dead00-instagram-follow-unfollow-bot", "x-openai-isConsequential": false, "summary": "Executes an Actor, waits for its completion, and returns Actor's dataset items in response.", "tags": [ "Run Actor" ], "requestBody": { "required": true, "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/inputSchema" } } } }, "parameters": [ { "name": "token", "in": "query", "required": true, "schema": { "type": "string" }, "description": "Enter your Apify token here" } ], "responses": { "200": { "description": "OK" } } } }, "/acts/dead00~instagram-follow-unfollow-bot/runs": { "post": { "operationId": "runs-sync-dead00-instagram-follow-unfollow-bot", "x-openai-isConsequential": false, "summary": "Executes an Actor and returns information about the initiated run in response.", "tags": [ "Run Actor" ], "requestBody": { "required": true, "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/inputSchema" } } } }, "parameters": [ { "name": "token", "in": "query", "required": true, "schema": { "type": "string" }, "description": "Enter your Apify token here" } ], "responses": { "200": { "description": "OK", "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/runsResponseSchema" } } } } } } }, "/acts/dead00~instagram-follow-unfollow-bot/run-sync": { "post": { "operationId": "run-sync-dead00-instagram-follow-unfollow-bot", "x-openai-isConsequential": false, "summary": "Executes an Actor, waits for completion, and returns the OUTPUT from Key-value store in response.", "tags": [ "Run Actor" ], "requestBody": { "required": true, "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/inputSchema" } } } }, "parameters": [ { "name": "token", "in": "query", "required": true, "schema": { "type": "string" }, "description": "Enter your Apify token here" } ], "responses": { "200": { "description": "OK" } } } } }, "components": { "schemas": { "inputSchema": { "type": "object", "required": [ "cookies", "action", "usernames" ], "properties": { "cookies": { "title": "Instagram Cookies", "type": "array", "description": "Export cookies from instagram.com using a browser extension like 'EditThisCookie' or 'Cookie-Editor'. Paste the JSON array here. This is the most reliable login method.", "items": { "type": "object" } }, "action": { "title": "Action", "enum": [ "follow", "unfollow" ], "type": "string", "description": "Choose whether to follow or unfollow the listed users.", "default": "follow" }, "usernames": { "title": "Target Usernames", "type": "array", "description": "List of Instagram usernames to follow or unfollow (without @).", "items": { "type": "string" } }, "maxActionsPerRun": { "title": "Max Actions Per Run", "minimum": 1, "maximum": 100, "type": "integer", "description": "Maximum follow/unfollow actions per run. Keep under 50 for safety on new accounts, up to 80 for aged accounts.", "default": 20 }, "proxyConfiguration": { "title": "Proxy Configuration", "type": "object", "description": "Optional. Residential proxies recommended for best results." } } }, "runsResponseSchema": { "type": "object", "properties": { "data": { "type": "object", "properties": { "id": { "type": "string" }, "actId": { "type": "string" }, "userId": { "type": "string" }, "startedAt": { "type": "string", "format": "date-time", "example": "2025-01-08T00:00:00.000Z" }, "finishedAt": { "type": "string", "format": "date-time", "example": "2025-01-08T00:00:00.000Z" }, "status": { "type": "string", "example": "READY" }, "meta": { "type": "object", "properties": { "origin": { "type": "string", "example": "API" }, "userAgent": { "type": "string" } } }, "stats": { "type": "object", "properties": { "inputBodyLen": { "type": "integer", "example": 2000 }, "rebootCount": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "restartCount": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "resurrectCount": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "computeUnits": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 } } }, "options": { "type": "object", "properties": { "build": { "type": "string", "example": "latest" }, "timeoutSecs": { "type": "integer", "example": 300 }, "memoryMbytes": { "type": "integer", "example": 1024 }, "diskMbytes": { "type": "integer", "example": 2048 } } }, "buildId": { "type": "string" }, "defaultKeyValueStoreId": { "type": "string" }, "defaultDatasetId": { "type": "string" }, "defaultRequestQueueId": { "type": "string" }, "buildNumber": { "type": "string", "example": "1.0.0" }, "containerUrl": { "type": "string" }, "usage": { "type": "object", "properties": { "ACTOR_COMPUTE_UNITS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATASET_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATASET_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 1 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_LISTS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "REQUEST_QUEUE_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "REQUEST_QUEUE_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATA_TRANSFER_INTERNAL_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATA_TRANSFER_EXTERNAL_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "PROXY_RESIDENTIAL_TRANSFER_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "PROXY_SERPS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 } } }, "usageTotalUsd": { "type": "number", "example": 0.00005 }, "usageUsd": { "type": "object", "properties": { "ACTOR_COMPUTE_UNITS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATASET_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATASET_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_WRITES": { "type": "number", "example": 0.00005 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_LISTS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "REQUEST_QUEUE_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "REQUEST_QUEUE_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATA_TRANSFER_INTERNAL_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATA_TRANSFER_EXTERNAL_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "PROXY_RESIDENTIAL_TRANSFER_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "PROXY_SERPS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 } } } } } } } } } } ```