# Instagram Stories Scraper (`nifty.codes/instagram-stories-scraper`) Actor

Extract Instagram stories with media URLs, timestamps, and author details from story viewer pages. Powered by Instagram Scraper.

- **URL**: https://apify.com/nifty.codes/instagram-stories-scraper.md
- **Developed by:** [Nifty](https://apify.com/nifty.codes) (community)
- **Categories:** Social media, Marketing
- **Stats:** 19 total users, 4 monthly users, 100.0% runs succeeded, 1 bookmarks
- **User rating**: No ratings yet

## Pricing

from $2.00 / 1,000 results

This Actor is paid per event. You are not charged for the Apify platform usage, but only a fixed price for specific events.

Learn more: https://docs.apify.com/platform/actors/running/actors-in-store#pay-per-event

## What's an Apify Actor?

Actors are web data automations that power AI and operations. They run on the Apify platform to scrape websites, process data, connect APIs, and automate workflows.
In Batch mode, an Actor accepts a well-defined JSON input, performs an action which can take anything from a few seconds to a few hours,
and optionally produces a well-defined JSON output, datasets with results, or files in key-value store.
In Standby mode, an Actor provides a web server which can be used as a website, API, or an MCP server.
Actors are written with capital "A".

## How to integrate an Actor?

If asked about integration, you help developers integrate Actors into their projects.
You adapt to their stack and deliver integrations that are safe, well-documented, and production-ready.
The best way to integrate Actors is as follows.

- **AI agents and MCP clients** — the [Apify MCP server](https://docs.apify.com/integrations/mcp.md) at `https://mcp.apify.com` (remote, streamable HTTP, OAuth on first use).
- **Agentic workflows and local Actor development** — [Agent Skills](https://apify.com/.well-known/agent-skills/index.json) with the [Apify CLI](https://docs.apify.com/cli/docs.md): `npm install -g apify-cli`, then `apify login`.
- **JavaScript/TypeScript projects** — the official [JS/TS client](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs.md): `npm install apify-client`.
- **Python projects** — the official [Python client](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs.md): `pip install apify-client`.
- **Any other language** — the [REST API](https://docs.apify.com/api/v2.md).

For usage examples, see the [API](#api) section below.

For more details, see Apify documentation as [Markdown index](https://docs.apify.com/llms.txt) and [Markdown full-text](https://docs.apify.com/llms-full.txt).

# README

This actor extracts Stories from Instagram. It works on stories viewer pages and captures active media content before it expires. The actor returns media URLs, timestamps, and author information.

***

#### Want more from Instagram?

This actor covers Stories only. The full **Instagram Scraper** browser extension also includes **Posts, Comments, Profiles, Followers, Accounts** with unlimited personal use, real-time scraping with your logged-in sessions, CSV/Excel/JSON export, field customization, and scheduled monitoring.

**[Get the Instagram Scraper extension](https://nifty.codes/e/instagram-scraper?utm_source=apify\&utm_medium=actor_readme\&utm_content=instagram-stories-scraper)**

***

#### Data Fields

| Field Name | Description | Example |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Story Type | Type of media (image or video) | "video" |
| Story Image | URL to the story image or video thumbnail | "https://instagram.fnyc1.fbcdn.net/v/t51..." |
| Story Video | URL to the story video file if applicable | "https://instagram.fnyc1.fbcdn.net/v/t66..." |
| Story Link | Direct link to the story | "https://www.instagram.com/stories/username/3456789/" |
| Story Date | Timestamp when the story was posted | "2023-10-27T14:30:00Z" |
| Story Expiring At | Timestamp when the story expires | "2023-10-28T14:30:00Z" |
| Story Accessibility Caption | AI-generated or manual alt text | "Photo by User on October 27, 2023." |
| Author Username | Username of the story creator | "cristiano" |
| Author Full Name | Display name of the story creator | "Cristiano Ronaldo" |
| Author Image | Profile picture URL of the author | "https://instagram.fnyc1.fbcdn.net/v/t51..." |
| Author URL | Link to the author profile | "https://www.instagram.com/cristiano/" |
| Author Is Verified | Verification status of the author | true |

#### Input

- `urls`: Array of Instagram story viewer URLs. Ensure the story is active and visible.
- `maxItems`: Maximum number of stories to extract per URL. Default is 100.

#### Example Input

```json
{
  "urls": ["https://www.instagram.com/stories/cristiano/"],
  "maxItems": 20
}
```

#### Example Output

```json
[
  {
    "storyType": "video",
    "storyImage": "https://instagram.fnyc1.fbcdn.net/v/t51.2885-15/38472.jpg",
    "storyVideo": "https://instagram.fnyc1.fbcdn.net/v/t66.30197-16/98234.mp4",
    "storyLink": "https://www.instagram.com/stories/cristiano/32228495/",
    "storyDate": "2023-10-27T10:00:00Z",
    "storyExpiringAt": "2023-10-28T10:00:00Z",
    "storyAccessibilityCaption": "Video by Cristiano Ronaldo",
    "authorUsername": "cristiano",
    "authorFullName": "Cristiano Ronaldo",
    "authorImage": "https://instagram.fnyc1.fbcdn.net/v/t51.2885-19/111.jpg",
    "authorUrl": "https://www.instagram.com/cristiano/",
    "authorIsVerified": true
  },
  {
    "storyType": "image",
    "storyImage": "https://instagram.fnyc1.fbcdn.net/v/t51.2885-15/38473.jpg",
    "storyVideo": null,
    "storyLink": "https://www.instagram.com/stories/cristiano/32228496/",
    "storyDate": "2023-10-27T11:15:00Z",
    "storyExpiringAt": "2023-10-28T11:15:00Z",
    "storyAccessibilityCaption": "Image by Cristiano Ronaldo",
    "authorUsername": "cristiano",
    "authorFullName": "Cristiano Ronaldo",
    "authorImage": "https://instagram.fnyc1.fbcdn.net/v/t51.2885-19/111.jpg",
    "authorUrl": "https://www.instagram.com/cristiano/",
    "authorIsVerified": true
  }
]
```

#### Disclaimer

This tool extracts publicly available data. Users are responsible for compliance with applicable terms of service.

# Actor input Schema

## `urls` (type: `array`):

URLs to scrape. Must match: instagram.com

## `maxItems` (type: `integer`):

Maximum number of items to extract per URL

## Actor input object example

```json
{
  "urls": [
    "https://www.instagram.com/stories/highlights/17929440964811872/"
  ],
  "maxItems": 100
}
```

# API

You can run this Actor programmatically using our API. Below are code examples in JavaScript, Python, and CLI, as well as the OpenAPI specification and MCP server setup.

## JavaScript example

```javascript
import { ApifyClient } from 'apify-client';

// Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token
// Replace the '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>' with your token
const client = new ApifyClient({
    token: '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>',
});

// Prepare Actor input
const input = {};

// Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
const run = await client.actor("nifty.codes/instagram-stories-scraper").call(input);

// Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if any)
console.log('Results from dataset');
console.log(`💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/${run.defaultDatasetId}`);
const { items } = await client.dataset(run.defaultDatasetId).listItems();
items.forEach((item) => {
    console.dir(item);
});

// 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs

```

## Python example

```python
from apify_client import ApifyClient

# Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token
# Replace '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>' with your token.
client = ApifyClient("<YOUR_API_TOKEN>")

# Prepare the Actor input
run_input = {}

# Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
run = client.actor("nifty.codes/instagram-stories-scraper").call(run_input=run_input)

# Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if there are any)
print("💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/" + run["defaultDatasetId"])
for item in client.dataset(run["defaultDatasetId"]).iterate_items():
    print(item)

# 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs/quick-start

```

## CLI example

```bash
echo '{}' |
apify call nifty.codes/instagram-stories-scraper --silent --output-dataset

```

## MCP server setup

```json
{
    "mcpServers": {
        "apify": {
            "command": "npx",
            "args": [
                "mcp-remote",
                "https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=nifty.codes/instagram-stories-scraper",
                "--header",
                "Authorization: Bearer <YOUR_API_TOKEN>"
            ]
        }
    }
}

```

## OpenAPI specification

Download the OpenAPI definition: https://api.apify.com/v2/acts/B417sKBoN1WbmB6V7/builds/PSglxkdAwPdZf8vfP/openapi.json