Threads Search Scraper

Search Threads posts by keyword and extract structured data including post text, engagement metrics, author information, and media details.

What does Threads Search Scraper do?

This Actor searches Threads for posts matching your keywords and returns structured data for each result. You can search for multiple keywords in a single run.

Data you can extract

For each matching post, you get:

• Post content — full text, post URL, shortcode, hashtags, mentions, links
• Author info — username, user ID, profile URL, profile picture, verification status
• Engagement metrics — likes, replies, reposts, quotes, shares
• Media details — media type (text, photo, video, carousel), image URL
• Metadata — timestamp, result position

How to get your Session ID

This Actor requires an Instagram/Threads Session ID for authentication. Here's how to get it:

Option 1: Browser Developer Tools

1. Open threads.com in your browser and log in
2. Press F12 to open Developer Tools
3. Go to Application → Cookies → https://www.threads.com
4. Find the cookie named sessionid and copy its value
5. Paste it into the Session ID field in the Actor input

Option 2: Cookie Editor Extension

You can also use a browser extension like Cookie-Editor to quickly view and copy cookies. Simply install the extension, visit threads.com, and search for the sessionid cookie.

Disclaimer: Cookie-Editor is a third-party extension not affiliated with this Actor. As with any browser extension that accesses cookie data, please review its permissions and use at your own discretion.

Important notes

• Use a secondary account. Automated access may cause Threads to flag your account or temporarily restrict it. We strongly recommend using a secondary account rather than your primary one.
• Session IDs have no guaranteed lifetime. They expire on logout, password change, new device login, or when Threads invalidates them for security reasons — which can happen unpredictably regardless of usage. If you receive authentication errors, obtain a fresh Session ID before retrying.
• Rate limiting. Making too many requests in a short period may trigger rate limits. The Actor includes built-in delays, but very large runs may still be affected.

Input example

{
    "keywords": ["coffee", "AI startups"],
    "sessionId": "your-session-id-here",
    "maxResults": 50,
    "searchType": "top"
}

Field	Type	Description
keywords	Array	Keywords to search for (1–20)
sessionId	String	Your Threads/Instagram sessionid cookie
maxResults	Number	Max results per keyword (10–2,000, default: 50)
searchType	String	"top" for popular posts or "recent" for newest posts (default: "top")

Output example

{
    "keyword": "coffee",
    "postId": "3716444939648929150",
    "postCode": "DTvuBtXEoiB",
    "postUrl": "https://www.threads.com/@wanderpath.tech/post/DTvuBtXEoiB",
    "text": "Morning coffee ritual ☕ What's your favorite brew method? #coffee #morningroutine @coffeelover",
    "hashtags": ["#coffee", "#morningroutine"],
    "mentions": ["@coffeelover"],
    "urls": [],
    "username": "wanderpath.tech",
    "userId": "77124113224",
    "profileUrl": "https://www.threads.com/@wanderpath.tech",
    "profilePicUrl": "https://scontent.cdninstagram.com/...",
    "isVerified": false,
    "timestamp": "2025-01-25T08:00:00.000Z",
    "likeCount": 796,
    "replyCount": 11,
    "repostCount": 21,
    "quoteCount": 0,
    "shareCount": 81,
    "mediaType": "carousel",
    "imageUrl": "https://scontent.cdninstagram.com/...",
    "index": 1,
    "scrapedAt": "2026-02-25T12:00:00.000Z"
}

How it works

1. Validates your Session ID with Threads
2. Searches for each keyword on Threads
3. Extracts structured data from search results
4. Loads more results until your limit is reached
5. Saves results progressively — you can see data as it's collected

Tips for best results

• Refresh your Session ID if you see errors. Session IDs can expire at any time. If authentication fails, obtain a fresh one and retry.
• Use this Actor for on-demand searches. Because Session IDs expire unpredictably, this Actor works best for manual runs rather than fully automated schedules.
• Use specific keywords. Targeted keywords return more relevant results than broad terms.
• Expect delays on large runs. The Actor paces requests to stay within Threads' limits — this is expected behavior, not a bug.
• Actual results may be fewer than your limit. Niche or low-volume keywords may not have enough posts to reach your requested count.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does this Actor need a Session ID?

Threads requires authentication to return search results via its API. Without a valid session, the Actor cannot retrieve any data.

Is it safe to enter my Session ID?

Your Session ID grants access to your Threads account. We strongly recommend using a secondary account for this reason. The Session ID is used only to make authenticated requests to Threads — it is never stored, logged, or shared beyond your run.

I'm seeing authentication errors — what should I do?

Your Session ID has most likely expired. Follow the steps in How to get your Session ID to obtain a fresh one, then start a new run.

What's the difference between "Top" and "Recent" results?

• Top — returns posts with the highest engagement (likes, reposts) for your keyword. Best for trend analysis and finding influential content.
• Recent — returns the newest posts in real time, regardless of engagement. Best for monitoring breaking news or live events.

Results from "Top" and "Recent" do not overlap — they are separate ranking modes on Threads.

Can I search multiple keywords at once?

Yes. You can add up to 20 keywords per run. Each keyword is searched independently, and every result is labeled with the keyword that produced it — making it easy to filter and compare by topic.

How many results can I actually get?

You can request up to 2,000 results per keyword. The actual number returned depends on how many matching posts Threads has indexed for that keyword. Low-volume keywords may return fewer results than your limit regardless of the setting.

Can I use this Actor on an automated schedule?

Session IDs can expire at any time, making fully automated scheduling unreliable without a mechanism to refresh credentials. This Actor is best suited for on-demand runs. If you need credential-free scheduled scraping, look for our other Threads Actors that do not require a Session ID.

Integrations

Connect Threads Search Scraper with other apps and services using Apify integrations. Export data to Google Sheets, Slack, Zapier, Make, and many more.

Disclaimer

This Actor is intended for learning, research, and personal use. Please use it responsibly and ethically, and ensure your usage complies with Threads' Terms of Service.

Threads may update its platform at any time, which could temporarily affect this Actor's functionality. While we actively maintain compatibility, occasional disruptions are possible.

Using a Session ID involves providing authentication credentials to the Actor. We strongly recommend using a secondary account, as automated access may result in account restrictions or temporary bans. You are solely responsible for how you use this tool and any consequences that may arise from its use.

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