Instagram Search
Search public Instagram posts and Reels through AIAPI Center (Apify managed provider) and return normalized evidence rows.
What it does
Instagram posts and Reels surface creative AI prompts and editing trends that reach audiences beyond YouTube and TikTok. This connector searches public Instagram content through AIAPI Center using a managed public-data provider and returns compact rows with caption, author, publish time, and engagement metrics.
Inputs
| Parameter | Format | Example | Required |
|---|---|---|---|
query | string | ai photo editing | Yes |
hashtag | string | aiphoto | No |
limit | number | 5 | No |
Outputs
| Field | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|
matchedPosts | number | Number of public posts returned for the query |
topCaption | string | Caption summary of the top returned post |
topUrl | string | Instagram URL for the top post |
items | array | Compact post rows with author, metrics, and hashtags |
Example output
Input
query: "ai photo editing" hashtag: "aiphoto" limit: 5
Output
# Instagram Search Results - Query: ai photo editing - Matched Posts: 5 - Top URL: https://www.instagram.com/p/...
What it means
Five public Instagram posts matched the hashtag through the managed Apify provider. Results include likes, comments, and hashtags where available.
Last tested: 2026-06-28
How to install
Via CLI
Via web
- Visit the connector catalog and find Instagram Search.
- Click Install connector and acknowledge any training requirements.
- Complete authorization if prompted.
- Use the connector from Chat or the CLI.
Auth and permissions
| OAuth required | No |
| Managed auth | Included, no API key needed |
| Bring your own key (BYOK) | Not supported in v1 |
| Audit logged | Every request is logged with input, result, cost, and timestamps |
| Training acknowledgment | Not required |
Admins can restrict this connector via blacklist or whitelist in the admin panel.
Limits and edge cases
- •source_mode=third_party_public_search; access_mode=provider_managed.
- •Only public Instagram posts and Reels are returned. No login-wall bypass.
- •Instagram keyword search is approximate; hashtag search is more reliable.
- •Metrics (likes, comments, views) may be missing or delayed.
- •Provider behavior may change when platform markup or policy changes.
- •Run time is longer than YouTube: allow up to 90 seconds.
Common use cases
Find trending AI editing posts
Search Instagram hashtags before writing a growth radar creative brief.
Collect visual trend evidence
Return normalized Instagram rows with author, metrics, and hashtags for agent analysis.
Frequently asked questions
What data source is used?
A managed Apify Instagram scraper via AIAPI Center. source_mode=third_party_public_search; access_mode=provider_managed.
Can I search by keyword instead of hashtag?
You can pass query, but Instagram keyword search is approximate. Hashtag search is more reliable for discovery.
Related connectors
Instagram Post Read
Read a public Instagram post or Reel by URL through AIAPI Center and return normalized metadata and metrics.
YouTube Search
Search public YouTube videos through AIAPI Center and return normalized video evidence rows.
TikTok Search
Search public TikTok videos through AIAPI Center (Apify managed provider) and return normalized video evidence rows.