Instagram API Python Tutorial — Extract Reels, Stories & Profiles (2026)

Prerequisites

• Python 3.8 or higher
• An Instagram API key — sign up free to get 100 requests
• The requests library

Install dependencies

pip install requests

Step 1 — Extract a Reel MP4 Download URL

The GET /instagram endpoint accepts any public Instagram Reel or post URL and returns a direct MP4 link:

import requests

API_KEY = "your_api_key"
BASE_URL = "https://api.teraboxdl.site/v1/instagram"

def get_instagram_reel(url: str) -> dict:
    """Direct video URL (and every slide of a carousel) for a reel or post link."""
    response = requests.post(
        f"{BASE_URL}/reel",
        headers={"X-API-Key": API_KEY},
        json={"url": url},
        timeout=30,
    )
    response.raise_for_status()
    return response.json()

# Example usage
result = get_instagram_reel("https://www.instagram.com/reel/DeSX7IaAIUu/")
data = result["data"]
print("MP4 URL:", data["video_url"])
print("Thumbnail:", data["thumbnail"])
print("Caption:", data["caption"])
print("Credits left:", result["credits_remaining"])

Credits are only deducted when the API returns HTTP 200 OK. Private posts and failed extractions consume 0 credits.

Step 2 — Fetch Instagram Profile Data

Use the profile endpoint to extract public user metadata including avatar, bio, and follower counts:

def get_instagram_profile(username: str) -> dict:
    """Public profile details: name, bio, followers, verified badge, avatar."""
    response = requests.get(
        f"{BASE_URL}/profile",
        headers={"X-API-Key": API_KEY},
        params={"username": username},
        timeout=30,
    )
    response.raise_for_status()
    return response.json()

# Example
user = get_instagram_profile("natgeo")["data"]["user"]
print("Followers:", user["stats"]["followers_count"])
print("Bio:", user["biography"])
print("Avatar:", user["profile_pic_url"])

Step 3 — Production Error Handling

Always implement proper error handling for production Telegram bots or automation tools:

import requests

def safe_get_reel(url: str) -> dict | None:
    try:
        result = get_instagram_reel(url)
        return result["data"] if result.get("status") == "success" else None
    except requests.HTTPError as e:
        status = e.response.status_code
        if status == 402:
            print("Out of credits: buy a pack at teraboxapi.com/instagram-api")
        elif status == 401:
            print("Invalid API key")
        elif status == 404:
            print("Post not found, deleted or private (no credit was used)")
        elif status == 429:
            print("Rate limit reached, wait a moment and retry")
        else:
            print(f"HTTP error {status}")
        return None
    except requests.Timeout:
        print("Request timed out, retry")
        return None

Lifetime Credit Model Explained

Unlike monthly Instagram API subscriptions that expire unused credits, the AR Digital Services Instagram API uses lifetime credits:

• Buy a credit pack once — balance never expires
• Purchase ₹499 Starter (25K credits) or scale up to ₹14,999 Mega (1M credits)
• Credits stack — buy more and they add to your balance
• Zero-waste: credits only deduct on successful HTTP 200 OK responses

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