Command Line Options ==================== Instaloader is invoked with:: $ instaloader [options] target [target ...] where ``target`` is a ``profile``, a ``"#hashtag"``, ``@profile`` (all profiles that *profile* is following), or if logged in ``:feed`` (pictures from your feed), ``:stories`` (stories of your followees) or ``:saved`` (collection of posts marked as saved). Here we explain the additional options that can be given to Instaloader to customize its behavior. To get a list of all flags, their abbreviations and their descriptions, you may also run ``instaloader --help``. What to Download ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Specify a list of targets (profiles, #hashtags, ``:feed``, ``:stories`` or ``:saved``). For each of these, Instaloader creates a folder and stores all posts along with the pictures's captions and the current **profile picture** there. If an already-downloaded profile has been renamed, Instaloader automatically **finds it by its unique ID** and renames the folder likewise. .. option:: --profile-pic-only Only download profile picture. .. option:: --no-profile-pic Do not download profile picture. .. option:: --no-videos Do not download videos. .. option:: --no-video-thumbnails Do not download thumbnails of videos. .. option:: --geotags **Download geotags** when available. Geotags are stored as a text file with the location's name and a Google Maps link. This requires an additional request to the Instagram server for each picture, which is why it is disabled by default. .. option:: --comments Download and update comments for each post. This requires an additional request to the Instagram server for each post, which is why it is disabled by default. .. option:: --no-captions Do not create txt files. .. option:: --post-metadata-txt Template to write in txt file for each Post. .. option:: --storyitem-metadata-txt Template to write in txt file for each StoryItem. .. option:: --stories Also **download stories** of each profile that is downloaded. Requires :option:`--login`. .. option:: --no-metadata-json Do not create a JSON file containing the metadata of each post. .. option:: --no-compress-json Do not xz compress JSON files, rather create pretty formatted JSONs. .. option:: --stories-only Rather than downloading regular posts of each specified profile, only download stories. Requires :option:`--login`. Does not imply :option:`--no-profile-pic`. .. option:: --post-filter filter, --only-if filter Expression that, if given, must evaluate to True for each post to be downloaded. Must be a syntactically valid Python expression. Variables are evaluated to :class:`instaloader.Post` attributes. Example: ``--post-filter=viewer_has_liked``. See :ref:`filter-posts` for more examples. .. option:: --storyitem-filter filter Expression that, if given, must evaluate to True for each storyitem to be downloaded. Must be a syntactically valid Python expression. Variables are evaluated to :class:`instaloader.StoryItem` attributes. See :ref:`filter-posts` for more examples. When to Stop Downloading ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ If none of these options are given, Instaloader goes through all pictures matching the specified targets. .. option:: --fast-update For each target, stop when encountering the first already-downloaded picture. This flag is recommended when you use Instaloader to update your personal Instagram archive. .. option:: --count COUNT Do not attempt to download more than COUNT posts. Applies only to ``#hashtag`` and ``:feed``. Login (Download Private Profiles) ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Instaloader can **login to Instagram**. This allows downloading private profiles. To login, pass the :option:`--login` option. Your session cookie (not your password!) will be saved to a local file to be reused next time you want Instaloader to login. .. option:: --login YOUR-USERNAME Login name (profile name) for your Instagram account. .. option:: --sessionfile SESSIONFILE Path for loading and storing session key file. Defaults to a path within your temporary directory, encoding your local username and your Instagram profile name. .. option:: --password YOUR-PASSWORD Password for your Instagram account. Without this option, you'll be prompted for your password interactively if there is not yet a valid session file. How to Download ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ .. option:: --dirname-pattern DIRNAME_PATTERN Name of directory where to store posts. ``{profile}`` is replaced by the profile name, ``{target}`` is replaced by the target you specified, i.e. either ``:feed``, ``#hashtag`` or the profile name. Defaults to ``{target}``. See :ref:`filename-specification`. .. option:: --filename-pattern FILENAME_PATTERN Prefix of filenames, relative to the directory given with :option:`--dirname-pattern`. ``{profile}`` is replaced by the profile name, ``{target}`` is replaced by the target you specified, i.e. either ``:feed``, ``#hashtag`` or the profile name. Defaults to ``{date_utc}_UTC``. See :ref:`filename-specification` for a list of supported tokens. .. option:: --user-agent USER_AGENT User Agent to use for HTTP requests. Per default, Instaloader pretends being Chrome/51. .. option:: --max-connection-attempts N Maximum number of connection attempts until a request is aborted. Defaults to ``3``. If a connection fails, it can be manually skipped by hitting :kbd:`Control-c`. Set this to ``0`` to retry infinitely. Miscellaneous Options ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ .. option:: --quiet Disable user interaction, i.e. do not print messages (except errors) and fail if login credentials are needed but not given. This makes Instaloader **suitable as a cron job**.