Downloading media

How to turn Instagram media links into stable download files with the IGramAPI Downloader: video, merged HD with sound, MP3 audio and images.

Media links in API responses point to Instagram’s CDN. They expire after a while and browsers frequently cannot download them directly. The Downloader endpoint solves both problems.

The flow

1. Get a media URL from another endpoint (video_url, a formats[].url, a downloads[].url or a thumbnail).
2. Send it to POST /v1/downloads.
3. Download the file from the returned download_url. No API key is needed for that link.

Request

curl -X POST "https://api.igramapi.com/v1/downloads" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"type": "video", "url": "https://scontent.cdninstagram.com/v/example/clip.mp4", "filename": "my-reel"}'

Response

{
  "download_url": "https://download.example.com/files/my-reel.mp4?signature=example",
  "expires_at": "2026-10-31T12:00:00Z",
  "filename": "my-reel.mp4",
  "content_type": "video/mp4",
  "size_bytes": 4100000
}

The link works until expires_at (about an hour). Request a new one after that.

Types and prices

Why some qualities have an audio_url

Instagram publishes its highest qualities as a video-only stream and a separate audio stream. When a formats entry from the Post & Reel Data API has an audio_url, send both and the Downloader returns a single MP4.

Good to know

• Identical requests are served from the stored copy, so repeated downloads are fast.
• Only Instagram media addresses are accepted; other URLs return invalid_media_url.
• An expired media link returns media_url_expired. Fetch the post again to get a fresh URL.
• Errors are not charged.
• Only download content you are allowed to use. See the Acceptable Use Policy.

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