Instagram Private API

Overview

This node interacts with Instagram's private API to perform various actions related to Instagram media. Specifically, the Get Media Info operation retrieves detailed information about a specific Instagram media item using its media ID.

Common scenarios where this node is beneficial include:

• Fetching metadata and details (like captions, comments count, likes count, media type) of a particular Instagram post.
• Integrating Instagram media data into workflows for analytics, reporting, or content management.
• Automating social media monitoring by retrieving up-to-date media information.

Example use case:
You want to automatically gather detailed information about a set of Instagram posts identified by their media IDs to analyze engagement metrics or to archive post details in a database.

Properties

Output

The output is a JSON object containing detailed information about the specified Instagram media item. This typically includes fields such as:

• Media ID
• Caption text
• Number of likes
• Number of comments
• Media type (image, video, carousel)
• User information who posted the media
• Timestamps and other metadata related to the media

If the operation succeeds, the node outputs an array of such JSON objects (usually one per input item). If the operation fails and "Continue On Fail" is enabled, the output will contain an error message object instead.

The node does not output binary data for this operation.

Dependencies

• Requires an API authentication token credential for Instagram Private API access.
• The node uses a custom Instagram client library internally to communicate with Instagram's private API.
• Proper session management is handled: it attempts to reuse saved session data if available; otherwise, it authenticates using provided credentials.
• No additional environment variables are explicitly required beyond the configured Instagram API credentials.

Troubleshooting

• Authentication failures:
  Error message: Instagram authentication failed: ...
  Resolution: Verify that the Instagram API credentials (username/password or session data) are correct and have necessary permissions. Check network connectivity and Instagram account status.

• Invalid or missing Media ID:
  If the Media ID parameter is empty or incorrect, the node may throw an error or return no data. Ensure the Media ID is valid and corresponds to an existing Instagram media item.

• Operation not supported error:
  If the operation or resource combination is invalid, the node throws an error indicating unsupported operation. Confirm that the selected Resource is "Media" and Operation is "Get Media Info".

• Rate limiting or API restrictions:
  Since this uses Instagram's private API, excessive requests might trigger rate limits or temporary bans. Implement appropriate delays or error handling in your workflow.

Links and References

• Instagram Private API (Unofficial) Documentation — The underlying library used for Instagram interactions.
• n8n Documentation on Creating Custom Nodes — For understanding how nodes are structured and executed.