clinstagram

Full Instagram CLI — posting, DMs, stories, analytics, followers, hashtags, likes, comments. Supports Meta Graph API (official, safe) and private API (full features). Three compliance modes: official-only, hybrid-safe, private-enabled.

Hybrid Instagram CLI for AI agents. Routes between Meta Graph API and instagrapi private API based on compliance policy.

Install

bash

pip install clinstagram

Critical: Global Flags Before Subcommand

bash

clinstagram --json --account main dm inbox     # CORRECT
clinstagram dm inbox --json                    # WRONG — Typer limitation

Global flags: --json, --account NAME, --backend auto|graph_ig|graph_fb|private, --proxy URL, --dry-run, --enable-growth-actions

Quick Start

bash

# Check status
clinstagram --json auth status

# Set compliance mode
clinstagram config mode official-only    # Graph API only, zero risk
clinstagram config mode hybrid-safe      # Graph primary, private read-only (default)
clinstagram config mode private-enabled  # Full access, user accepts risk

# Connect backends
clinstagram auth connect-ig   # Instagram Login (posting, comments, analytics)
clinstagram auth connect-fb   # Facebook Login (adds DMs, stories, webhooks)
clinstagram auth login         # Private API (username/password/2FA via instagrapi)

Commands

Group	Commands	Notes
auth	status, login, connect-ig, connect-fb, probe, logout	Start with auth status --json
post	photo, video, reel, carousel	Accepts local paths or URLs
dm	inbox, thread ID, send @user "text", send-media, search	Cold DMs = private API only
story	list [@user], post-photo, post-video, viewers ID
comments	list MEDIA_ID, add, reply, delete	add/reply need --enable-growth-actions
analytics	profile, post ID|latest, hashtag TAG
followers	list, following, follow @user, unfollow @user	follow/unfollow need --enable-growth-actions
user	info @user, search QUERY, posts @user
hashtag	top TAG, recent TAG
like	post MEDIA_ID, undo MEDIA_ID	Needs --enable-growth-actions
config	show, mode MODE, set KEY VAL	Modes: official-only, hybrid-safe, private-enabled

JSON Output

Success:

json

{"exit_code": 0, "data": {}, "backend_used": "graph_fb"}

Error:

json

{"exit_code": 2, "error": "session_expired", "remediation": "Run: clinstagram auth login", "retry_after": null}

Exit Codes

Code	Meaning	Action
0	Success	Parse data
1	Bad arguments	Fix syntax
2	Auth error	Run remediation command
3	Rate limited	Wait retry_after seconds
4	API error	Retry
5	Challenge required	Check challenge_type, prompt user
6	Policy blocked	Change compliance mode
7	Capability unavailable	Connect another backend

Agent Workflow

bash

# 1. Check what's available
clinstagram --json auth status

# 2. Probe capabilities
clinstagram --json auth probe

# 3. Preview before acting
clinstagram --dry-run --json post photo img.jpg --caption "test"

# 4. Execute
clinstagram --json dm inbox --unread --limit 20

# 5. On error, read remediation field and execute it

Growth Actions (Disabled by Default)

Follow, unfollow, like, unlike, comment add/reply require --enable-growth-actions. This is a safety gate — confirm with user before enabling.

Backend Capability Matrix

Feature	graph_ig	graph_fb	private
Post	Y	Y	Y
DM inbox	-	Y	Y
Cold DM	-	-	Y
Stories	-	Y	Y
Comments	Y	Y	Y
Analytics	Y	Y	Y
Follow/Unfollow	-	-	Y
Hashtag	Y	Y	Y

Preference order: graph_ig > graph_fb > private. Override with --backend.

Examples

bash

# Check DMs
clinstagram --json dm inbox --unread

# Reply to a message
clinstagram --json dm send @alice "Thanks!"

# Post a photo
clinstagram --json post photo /path/to/img.jpg --caption "Hello world"

# Get analytics
clinstagram --json analytics post latest

# Search users
clinstagram --json user search "coffee shops"

# Browse hashtag
clinstagram --json hashtag top photography --limit 10

Config

File: ~/.clinstagram/config.toml. Override dir with CLINSTAGRAM_CONFIG_DIR env var.