# Install instaloader with Homebrew, apt, Nix, winget Download media from Instagram. Version 4.15.2 via Homebrew; verified 2026-07-06. ## Install ```sh sudo av install brew:instaloader ``` Additional install commands: ### macOS - Homebrew (100%): ```sh brew install instaloader ``` Evidence: local Homebrew formula metadata ### Linux - Debian apt (92%): ```sh sudo apt install instaloader ``` Evidence: Debian stable package indexes: instaloader from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz - Nix (92%): ```sh nix profile install nixpkgs#instaloader ``` Evidence: nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/in/instaloader/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1 ### Windows - winget (92%): ```sh winget install --id instaloader.instaloader -e ``` Evidence: Windows Package Manager source index: instaloader.instaloader from https://cdn.winget.microsoft.com/cache/source.msix ## Package facts - **Package key:** brew:instaloader - **Package manager:** Homebrew - **Package manager page:** - **Version:** 4.15.2 - **Source summary:** Download media from Instagram - **Homepage:** - **Repository:** - **Upstream docs:** - **License:** MIT - **Source archive:** - **Last updated:** 2026-07-06T21:40:37Z - **Generated:** 2026-07-08T18:08:21+00:00 ## Executables - instaloader (cli) - instaloader (alias) ## Dependencies - certifi - python@3.14 ## Install behavior - Post-install hook: not defined - Bottle: available on all ## Freshness - Page generated: 2026-07-08 - Package-manager version: 4.15.2 - Package-manager updated: 2026-07-06 - Local data: ok - Upstream repository: https://instaloader.github.io/ - info: Release/tag comparison is only available for GitHub repositories. ## 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 Notes 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. ## 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 - Unix: ~/.config/instaloader/session-YOUR-USERNAME ## Source Database Details - **Source Database:** Homebrew formula API - **Tap:** homebrew/core - **Full Name:** instaloader - **Version Scheme:** 0 - **Revision:** 0 - **Bottle Stable Root URL:** - **Deprecated:** no - **Disabled:** no - **Keg Only:** no - **URL Keys:** stable ## Other Package-Manager Records - Debian apt - instaloader - 4.14.1+ds-1: normalized package name match | Debian stable package indexes: instaloader from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | Instagram automatic photo downloader | https://github.com/instaloader/instaloader - Nix - instaloader: normalized package name match | nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/in/instaloader/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1 - Ubuntu apt - instaloader - 4.10.3+ds-1: normalized package name match | Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: instaloader from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz | Instagram automatic photo downloader | https://github.com/instaloader/instaloader - winget - instaloader.instaloader: normalized package name match | Windows Package Manager source index: instaloader.instaloader from https://cdn.winget.microsoft.com/cache/source.msix ## Related links - [Source-control packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/source-control-tools/) - Belongs to a source-control command family. - [Terminal utility packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/terminal-utilities/) - Matched terminal and command-line workflow metadata. - [Language runtime packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/language-runtime-packages/) - Matched language runtime, compiler, or interpreter metadata. - [Networking and protocol packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/networking-protocol-tools/) - Matched network, protocol, or remote-service metadata. - [python@3.14](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/python-3-14/) - Runtime dependency declared by Homebrew. - [instalooter](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/instalooter/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, downloader, downloaders, instagram, media. - [gallery-dl](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/gallery-dl/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, downloader, downloaders, media, python. - [gamdl](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/gamdl/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, downloader, downloaders, media, python. - [you-get](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/you-get/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, downloader, downloaders, media, python. - [yt-dlp](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/yt-dlp/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, downloader, downloaders, media. - [youtubedr](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/youtubedr/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, downloader, downloaders, media. - [dash-mpd-cli](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/dash-mpd-cli/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, downloaders, media. - [dezoomify-rs](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/dezoomify-rs/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, downloaders, media. ## Combined YAML source View the package source record on GitHub. [combined/instaloader.yml](https://github.com/automic-vault/db/blob/main/combined/instaloader.yml) ## Sources - Nucleus package database - Geiger risk classifier - package-page enrichment - curated configuration and credential file locations - curated package history - package version freshness - av.db category and tag curation - package relationship graph - external package-manager database matches - cross-ecosystem install command graph