Instagram Gallery Download

Instagram Gallery Download

Use this skill to run gallery-dl for Instagram post/carousel URLs in /p/ form.

Quick Start

1. Use the helper script for consistent defaults:
   • scripts/download_instagram_gallery.sh 'https://www.instagram.com/p/<code>/'
2. For login-required content, pass browser cookies:
   • scripts/download_instagram_gallery.sh '<instagram-url>' --cookies-browser chrome

Execution Context

Always run this skill in escalation permission mode.

Required for every invocation:

• sandbox_permissions: "require_escalated"
• Run gallery-dl commands outside the Codex sandbox (escalated permissions).

Workflow

1. Validate URL shape:
   • Supported: https://www.instagram.com/p/<code>/
   • Not supported by this skill: .../reel/... and .../reels/... (route to yt-dlp)
2. Choose output folder (default: current directory).
3. Run the helper script with sandbox_permissions: "require_escalated".
4. Verify output files and .json metadata sidecars.

Command Patterns

Recommended - with cookies

Instagram often blocks direct downloads with redirect to login page. Always use browser cookies:

• Basic:
  • scripts/download_instagram_gallery.sh 'https://www.instagram.com/p/POST_ID/'
• With cookies:
  • scripts/download_instagram_gallery.sh 'https://www.instagram.com/p/POST_ID/' --cookies-browser chrome
• Pass-through gallery-dl flags:
  • scripts/download_instagram_gallery.sh 'https://www.instagram.com/p/POST_ID/' -- -R 2 --sleep 1-3

Routing Rule

• If URL matches instagram.com/reel/<code>/ or instagram.com/reels/<code>/, use the yt-dlp skill instead of this skill.

It enables:

• tag text files
  • JSON metadata sidecars
• archive tracking file (.gallery-dl-archive.sqlite3) to reduce duplicates

Troubleshooting

1. Redirect to login page:
   • Retry with --cookies-browser using a logged-in browser profile.
2. No new downloads:
   • Expected when archive tracking sees already-downloaded items.
   • Use a new output directory if re-download is required.
3. Rate limiting:
   • Add delay/retry flags via pass-through options (after --).

Resources

• Script runner: scripts/download_instagram_gallery.sh
• Extra examples/options: references/gallery-dl-instagram.md