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Instagram User Following Scraper

Collect Instagram following lists from accessible accounts — including usernames, full names, verification status, and profile links. Process up to 10 accounts in a single run.

What does Instagram User Following Scraper do?

This Actor collects the accounts that Instagram users follow and returns detailed profile information for each one. You can process multiple usernames in a single run.

For each user, the Actor first returns a profile summary row followed by individual following rows — one per account they follow.

Data you can extract

For the source user (profile row):

• Identity — username, full name, biography
• Stats — follower count, following count
• Status — verified badge, private account flag
• Media — profile picture
• Links — profile URL

For each followed account:

• Identity — username, full name
• Status — verified badge, private account flag
• Media — profile picture
• Links — profile URL
• Metadata — position index

How to get your Session ID

This Actor requires an Instagram Session ID for authentication. Here's how to get it:

Option 1: Browser Developer Tools

1. Open instagram.com in your browser and log in
2. Press F12 to open Developer Tools
3. Go to Application → Cookies → https://www.instagram.com
4. Find the cookie named sessionid and copy its value
5. Paste it into the Session ID field in the Actor input

Option 2: Cookie Editor Extension

You can also use a browser extension like Cookie-Editor to quickly view and copy cookies. Simply install the extension, visit instagram.com, and search for the sessionid cookie.

Disclaimer: Cookie-Editor is a third-party extension not affiliated with this Actor. As with any browser extension that accesses cookie data, please review its permissions and use at your own discretion.

Important notes

• Get a fresh Session ID before each run. Session IDs can expire at any time — often without warning. For best results, copy a fresh Session ID from your browser immediately before starting each run.

• Use a secondary account. Automated access may cause Instagram to flag your account or temporarily restrict it. We strongly recommend using a secondary account rather than your primary one.

• Very large runs may take longer. Accounts with large following lists are supported, though they may take more time to complete.

Input example

{
"usernames":[
"zuck",
"instagram"
],
"sessionId":"your-session-id-here",
"maxFollowing":0
}

Output example

Profile row (item_type: "profile"):

{
"item_type":"profile",
"sourceUsername":"zuck",
"username":"zuck",
"userId":"314216",
"fullName":"Mark Zuckerberg",
"biography":"...",
"profileUrl":"https://www.instagram.com/zuck",
"profilePicUrl":"https://...",
"isVerified":true,
"isPrivate":false,
"followerCount":13000000,
"followingCount":500,
"index":null,
"scrapedAt":"2026-03-01T12:00:00.000Z"
}

Following row (item_type: "following"):

{
"item_type":"following",
"sourceUsername":"zuck",
"username":"instagram",
"userId":"25025320",
"fullName":"Instagram",
"biography":null,
"profileUrl":"https://www.instagram.com/instagram",
"profilePicUrl":"https://...",
"isVerified":true,
"isPrivate":false,
"followerCount":null,
"followingCount":null,
"index":1,
"scrapedAt":"2026-03-01T12:00:00.000Z"
}

Output schema

Each run produces two row types in the same dataset:

¹ The field is always present in every row — always null for following items, populated for profile items.

² Field is always present in the row but set to null — position index is only meaningful for following items.

How it works

1. Connects to your Instagram account using your Session ID
2. Looks up each username and collects their profile information
3. Collects available accounts they follow — usernames, display names, verification status, and more
4. Keeps collecting available accounts, stopping when your limit is reached
5. Saves results as they come in — no need to wait for the full run to finish

Tips for best results

• Refresh your Session ID if you see errors. Session IDs can expire at any time. If authentication fails, obtain a fresh one and retry.
• Private accounts are automatically handled. Their profile information will still be collected, but their following list is not accessible. You can identify them by the isPrivate: true field.
• Collected count may occasionally differ from the profile page count. Instagram's displayed following count can change or lag behind what is available during a run.
• Large following lists are handled automatically. Set maxFollowing to 0 when you do not want to apply a manual limit.

Frequently asked questions

Why is a Session ID required?

Instagram requires authentication to access following lists. Without a valid session, the Actor cannot retrieve the data.

Is it safe to use my Session ID?

Your Session ID is treated as a secret — it is stored securely by Apify and never exposed in logs or output. That said, we strongly recommend using a secondary Instagram account rather than your primary one as a precaution.

How many accounts can I scrape?

You can process up to 10 Instagram accounts per run. Set maxFollowing to 0 (the default) for no manual cap, or any value up to 100,000 to limit how many followed accounts are returned per user.

Can I scrape private accounts?

No. Private accounts are not accessible. Their profile information will be collected and returned with isPrivate: true, but their following list will not be available.

What happens if authentication fails?

The Actor will stop and report an authentication error. Obtain a fresh Session ID and try again.

Can I scrape multiple users at once?

Yes. The usernames field accepts up to 10 usernames per run. Each user is processed in sequence.

Integrations

Connect Instagram User Following Scraper with other apps and services using Apify integrations. Export data to Google Sheets, Slack, Zapier, Make, and many more.

Disclaimer

This Actor is intended for learning, research, and personal use. Please use it responsibly and ethically, and ensure your usage complies with Instagram's Terms of Service.

Instagram may update its platform at any time, which could temporarily affect this Actor's functionality. While we actively maintain compatibility, occasional disruptions are possible.

Using a Session ID involves providing authentication credentials to the Actor. We strongly recommend using a secondary account, as automated access may result in account restrictions or temporary bans. You are solely responsible for how you use this tool and any consequences that may arise from its use.

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