Instagram Media Downloader - Bulk Download Images & Videos 2026

Download Instagram images, videos, and stories in bulk. Get high-resolution media files from any public Instagram account or specific post URLs. Save directly to Apify storage or export direct download URLs.

This actor provides the easiest way to bulk download Instagram content without needing login credentials or dealing with Instagram's complex API.

No Login Required

This Instagram Media Downloader works entirely without login credentials:

• No Instagram account needed - Works with public profiles only
• No cookies or sessions - Clean API-based extraction
• No risk of account bans - Your accounts stay safe
• No rate limiting issues - We handle all the complexity

Important: Processing Time

Instagram media downloading requires fetching actual files, which takes time depending on the content type and size:

Request Type	Estimated Time	Notes
Single post	10-30 seconds	Depends on media count in carousel
10 posts	1-3 minutes	Parallel processing
50 posts	3-8 minutes	Standard batch
Full profile (100+ posts)	10-20 minutes	Large downloads
With stories	+2-5 minutes	Additional API calls

Why the wait? We download actual media files, not just metadata. Each image/video is fetched in full resolution.

Streaming Mode: Results are saved incrementally every 60 seconds, so even if the run times out, you keep all downloaded media.

What You Get

For each media item, you receive:

• Post URL - Original Instagram post link
• Media URL - Direct CDN link to image/video (expires in ~24h)
• Media Type - Photo, video, or carousel
• Engagement - Likes and comments count
• Stored URL - Permanent Apify storage link (if enabled)

Input

Parameter	Type	Required	Default	Description
urls	array	No*	-	List of Instagram post/reel URLs
username	string	No*	-	Download from this account's posts
limit	integer	No	50	Maximum media items to download
includeStories	boolean	No	false	Also download active stories
downloadToStorage	boolean	No	false	Save files to Key-Value Store

*Either urls or username is required.

Example Input - Download from URLs

{
    "urls": [
        "https://www.instagram.com/p/ABC123/",
        "https://www.instagram.com/reel/XYZ789/"
    ],
    "downloadToStorage": true
}

Example Input - Download from Profile

{
    "username": "natgeo",
    "limit": 100,
    "includeStories": true,
    "downloadToStorage": true
}

Output

Each run produces a dataset with media information:

{
    "position": 1,
    "postId": "3672156264538473178",
    "postUrl": "https://www.instagram.com/p/DL2HqqrioLa/",
    "mediaUrl": "https://scontent.cdninstagram.com/v/t51...",
    "mediaType": "photo",
    "likes": 125000,
    "comments": 892,
    "storedMediaUrl": "https://api.apify.com/v2/key-value-stores/abc123/records/media_3672156264538473178.jpg",
    "scrapedAt": "2026-01-16T10:30:00.000Z"
}

Output Fields

Field	Type	Description
position	number	Order in results
postId	string	Instagram post ID
postUrl	string	Original post URL
mediaUrl	string	Direct CDN link (expires ~24h)
mediaType	string	"photo" or "video"
likes	number	Like count
comments	number	Comment count
storedMediaUrl	string	Permanent Apify storage URL (if enabled)
scrapedAt	string	ISO timestamp

Use Cases

Content Archiving

Download and preserve Instagram content before it disappears. Save stories, posts, and reels permanently to your own storage.

Competitor Analysis

Download competitor content for visual analysis, ad creative research, or content strategy planning.

Social Media Management

Bulk download client content for reporting, repurposing, or creating compilations.

Research & Analytics

Collect visual datasets for machine learning, trend analysis, or academic research.

Backup & Migration

Create backups of Instagram content or migrate to other platforms with full media files.

Streaming Mode

This actor uses streaming mode to ensure data safety:

╔══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗
║  📡 STREAMING MODE ACTIVE                                    ║
║  ➜ Auto-save every 60 seconds                               ║
║  ➜ Data secured even on timeout                             ║
╚══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝

• Results are pushed to the dataset incrementally
• Every 60 seconds, new media is saved automatically
• If the run times out, you keep all data collected so far
• No data loss even on large downloads

Integrations

Export Options

Download your results in multiple formats:

• JSON - Full structured data
• CSV - Spreadsheet-compatible
• Excel - Direct .xlsx export

Apify Integrations

Connect with 1000+ apps via:

• Zapier - Automate workflows
• Make (Integromat) - Complex automations
• Webhooks - Real-time notifications
• Google Sheets - Direct export
• Slack - Notifications

API Access

Use the Apify API to run this actor programmatically:

import { ApifyClient } from 'apify-client';

const client = new ApifyClient({ token: 'YOUR_TOKEN' });

const run = await client.actor('your-username/instagram-media-downloader').call({
    username: 'natgeo',
    limit: 50,
    downloadToStorage: true
});

const { items } = await client.dataset(run.defaultDatasetId).listItems();
console.log(items);

FAQ

Why do media URLs expire?

Instagram CDN URLs are temporary (usually 24h). Enable downloadToStorage to save files permanently to Apify Key-Value Store with permanent URLs.

Can I download private accounts?

No, this actor only works with public Instagram profiles. Private accounts require login which this actor does not support.

What's the maximum download size?

You can download up to 500 media items per run. For larger downloads, run the actor multiple times with different offsets.

Do carousel posts count as multiple items?

Currently, carousels are counted as single items. Each carousel returns its first media item.

Are stories included by default?

No, stories are optional. Enable includeStories and provide a username to also download active stories.

What video quality is downloaded?

Videos are downloaded in the highest available quality from Instagram's CDN, typically 720p or 1080p.

How long are stored files kept?

Files in Apify Key-Value Store are kept according to your Apify plan's retention policy (default 7 days for free tier).

Keywords

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Need Custom Solutions?

Looking for custom scraping, higher limits, or dedicated infrastructure?

📩 Contact us:

• Telegram: @taskforceorange
• Website: socialswarm.com

We offer:

• Custom actor development
• Enterprise-grade scraping solutions
• Dedicated proxy infrastructure
• White-label integrations
• Priority support

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