By the end of this guide, you will have:
Learned what each MirrorWeb Archiver for Instagram connector captures. MirrorWeb has three different connector options for Instagram: Instagram Posts, Instagram Pages, and Instagram Messages.
Instagram Posts connector
The Instagram Posts connector captures the following content on behalf of the authorized user:
- Posts
- Images
- Attachments
- Reels
- Video posts
- Instagram stories
- Carousels
- Post descriptions
- Interactions
- Comments on posts
- Replies to comments
- Reactions to posts
- Reactions to comments
- Reactions to comment replies
Instagram Pages connector
The Instagram Pages connector captures the following content on behalf of the authorized user:
- Page Profile:
- Profile picture
- Bio information
- Website information
Instagram Messages connector
The Facebook Messages connector captures the following content on behalf of the authorized user:
- Messages:
- Messages sent and/or received by the monitored user
- Attachments and images
- Shared posts within a message conversation - It only captures the first image/video in a shared carousel due to Instagram API limitations. Also, it doesn't capture the descriptions or comments on shared posts
Instagram Capture Limitations
Instagram marks some posts as “unsupported” for capture via API due to several factors, including:
1. Privacy Restrictions
Instagram enforces strict privacy measures to protect its users. Posts shared from private accounts, or content with restricted visibility settings, are often marked as “unsupported” to prevent unauthorized access or sharing.
Posts with sensitive or user-restricted content, such as those limited to “Close Friends,” are excluded from API capture.
2. Content Type Limitations
Posts with interactive elements, like polls or stickers, may also be marked as “unsupported” because these dynamic features are difficult to standardize and archive via API.
3. Regional and Legal Restrictions
Posts originating from regions with strict data protection laws (e.g., GDPR in Europe) may be marked as “unsupported” to comply with local regulations.
Content flagged for violating Instagram’s community guidelines, such as posts with inappropriate or flagged material, may also be excluded.