install

Additional install commands

macOS

Homebrewverified · 100%

brew install instaloader

local Homebrew formula metadata

Linux

Debian aptverified · 92%

sudo apt install instaloader

Debian stable package indexes · instaloader · source: deb.debian.org

Nixverified · 92%

nix profile install nixpkgs#instaloader

nixpkgs package indexes · pkgs/by-name/in/instaloader/package.nix · source: api.github.com

Windows

Windows Package Managerverified · 92%

winget install --id instaloader.instaloader -e

Windows Package Manager source index · instaloader.instaloader · source: cdn.winget.microsoft.com

overview

Package summary

Download media from Instagram

Project links

Commands and aliases

instaloader

history

Project history and usage

Instaloader is a Python command-line and library tool for downloading Instagram photos, videos, captions, comments, geotags, stories, feeds, saved media, and related metadata. It is one of the more widely packaged Instagram media archiving tools in Unix-like package managers.

Project history

The GitHub repository was created in 2016, and PyPI records the first published package line in 2016. The official documentation describes Instaloader as free open-source Python software for downloading Instagram media and metadata.

The project evolved from profile downloads into a broader archival tool. The docs list support for public and private profiles, hashtags, stories, highlights, tagged posts, reels, IGTV, feed and saved targets, profile-name-change detection, resumable interrupted downloads, customizable filters, and use as a Python module.

The release stream continued through the 4.x series, with the documentation site linking to tagged releases and PyPI distributing a large release history. This matters because Instagram scraping tools often have to react to platform-side changes and authentication/rate-limit behavior.

Adoption history

Instaloader's package-manager reach is broad for a Python CLI. The input metadata records Homebrew, Debian, Ubuntu, Nix, and Winget packages, while the official docs recommend pip and also point to AUR, standalone Windows executables, source downloads, pre-release installs, and Termux on Android.

Homebrew packages Instaloader from PyPI, and the formula records notable installation activity. The GitHub repository has a large user-facing footprint for this batch, with thousands of stars and a documentation site aimed at both CLI users and library users.

How it is used

The basic documented workflow is instaloader profile, with options for fast incremental updates and timestamp-based archive updates. Login enables private profile, stories, feed, saved, and other authenticated targets, and the docs describe reusable session-cookie storage for non-interactive runs.

The docs also cover post filtering, filename templates, metadata text and JSON files, exit codes, cron-style operation, Python API usage, and troubleshooting for rate limits and login errors, which makes the package more of an archival toolkit than a one-command downloader.

Why package nerds care

Instaloader is significant because it sits at the intersection of Python packaging, social-media scraping, local backup workflows, credential/session storage, and fast-moving upstream web behavior. It is also packaged across both language and OS package managers.

For package maintainers, it is a useful example of a CLI whose binary behavior depends on web-service policy, authentication state, rate limits, and user data layout rather than only on local dependencies.

Timeline

2016: GitHub repository created and Instaloader appears on PyPI.
2020s: Documentation covers profile, hashtag, story, feed, saved-media, metadata, cron, and Python-module workflows.
2024: v4.14 release line published.
2026: v4.15.1 release published and packaged by Homebrew.

Related projects

Instaloader is related to PyPI, Homebrew, Debian/Ubuntu/Nix/Winget packaging, AUR, Termux, Python web scraping libraries, Instagram archival scripts, and older or alternative tools such as InstaLooter.

Sources

security posture

No protected-tool coverage found yet

No matching local secret-handling manifest was found for instaloader. Nucleus package metadata is still published here so future coverage has a stable package URL.

Install behavior

No Homebrew post-install hook is recorded in formula metadata.
Homebrew bottle metadata is available for 1 platform targets.
Installs with 2 runtime dependencies.

Recommended review

Before unattended agent use, check whether the tool reads plaintext credentials, writes remote state, publishes artifacts, or shells out to plugins.

local files

Configuration and credential file locations

These source-backed paths show where this package keeps local settings or durable credentials. Automic Vault can use them as review targets for secret scanning, migration, and command approval.

Credential files

Credential-bearing paths to review before unattended agent runs.

Unix: ~/.config/instaloader/session-YOUR-USERNAME

executables

Installed executables

Command	Kind	Exposure	Note
`instaloader`	cli	global executable

freshness

Version and freshness

These signals separate page generation age, package-manager activity, and upstream release comparison. Version lag is warned only when an evidence URL and comparable versions are present.

page generated2026-07-08

manager version4.15.2

manager updated2026-07-06

local dataok

upstreamnot checked

latest detectednot detected

https://instaloader.github.io/

infoRelease/tag comparison is only available for GitHub repositories.https://instaloader.github.io/none confidence

install metadata

Package metadata

Package key	brew:instaloader
Version	4.15.2
Package manager	Homebrew
Package manager page	https://formulae.brew.sh/formula/instaloader
Homepage	https://instaloader.github.io/
Repository	https://github.com/instaloader/instaloader
Upstream docs	https://instaloader.github.io/
License	MIT
Source archive	https://files.pythonhosted.org/packages/d3/14/6630c6564fbe3c0768bb2b15d79e2262f77a317067c1620f7b1c55f47cbc/instaloader-4.15.2.tar.gz
Last updated	2026-07-06T21:40:37Z
Pulse	updated
Dependencies	certifi, python@3.14
Bottle	available (on all)
Homebrew post-install	not defined
Service	none declared

registry facts

Source database details

Source Database	Homebrew formula API
Tap	homebrew/core
Full Name	instaloader
Version Scheme	0
Revision	0
Bottle Stable Root URL	https://ghcr.io/v2/homebrew/core
Deprecated	no
Disabled	no
Keg Only	no
URL Keys	stable

source database matches

Other package-manager records

Matches are pulled from external package-manager indexes and kept separate from local Automic Vault package links.

Debian apt95%

instaloader 4.14.1+ds-1

Instagram automatic photo downloader

https://github.com/instaloader/instaloader

sudo apt install instaloader

Section: net
Architecture: all
2 dependencies
normalized package name match
Matched by: Instaloader

Debian stable package indexes · deb.debian.org · Debian stable package indexes: instaloader from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz

Nix95%

instaloader

nix profile install nixpkgs#instaloader

normalized package name match
Matched by: Instaloader

nixpkgs package indexes · api.github.com · nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/in/instaloader/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1

Ubuntu apt95%

instaloader 4.10.3+ds-1

Instagram automatic photo downloader

https://github.com/instaloader/instaloader

sudo apt install instaloader

Section: universe/net
Architecture: all
2 dependencies
normalized package name match
Matched by: Instaloader

Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes · archive.ubuntu.com · Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: instaloader from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz

winget95%

instaloader.instaloader

winget install --id instaloader.instaloader -e

normalized package name match
Matched by: Instaloader

Windows Package Manager source index · cdn.winget.microsoft.com · Windows Package Manager source index: instaloader.instaloader from https://cdn.winget.microsoft.com/cache/source.msix

package graph

Links come from deterministic package relationships, av.db category and tag curation, ecosystem matches, and package hub membership.

source trail

Generated from repository data

This page is generated by av-web from the private package SQLite artifact built by scripts/generate-pkg-sqlite.py.

Combined YAML source

View the package source record on GitHub.

combined/instaloader.yml

Used sources

Geiger risk classifier
Nucleus package database
av.db category and tag curation
cross-ecosystem install command graph
curated configuration and credential file locations
curated package history
external package-manager database matches
package relationship graph
package version freshness
package-page enrichment

Install instaloader with Homebrew, apt, Nix, winget