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supreme-gg-gg/instagram-cli

A terminal UI and CLI client for Instagram that lets you read feeds, stories, notifications and direct messages from the keyboard.

Open-source alternative to:Instagram

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Last commit
6 days ago

What is it?

Instagram CLI is an unofficial Instagram client that runs in the terminal. It provides interactive TUI views for direct message threads, the post feed, stories (beta) and notifications, all navigable with the keyboard and optional mouse support. Images and videos can be rendered in the terminal using several image protocols, including kitty, iTerm2, sixel, and ASCII or braille fallbacks.

Beyond the interactive interface, the tool offers non-interactive one-shot commands such as inbox, send, read, reply and unsend. These print to stdout and accept a JSON output flag, which makes them suitable for scripts and AI agent tool use. A bundled agent skill file documents the commands for agent workspaces. Multiple accounts can be saved locally and switched between with a single command.

The project is built with TypeScript on Ink, a React-based terminal UI framework, and is installable through npm or Homebrew. It is not affiliated with Instagram, and the author notes that using it may violate Meta's terms of service.

Key features

  • 01Browse direct message threads, the post feed, stories and notifications in terminal views.
  • 02Full keyboard navigation with optional mouse support.
  • 03Send, read, reply and unsend messages from non-interactive commands with JSON output.
  • 04Send images, videos and files, and download media from messages.
  • 05Switch between multiple locally saved accounts.
  • 06Choose among several terminal image protocols for rendering media.

Use cases

  • Keeping up with friends' messages without opening the mobile app or browser.
  • Working on a remote Linux server or inside an editor terminal.
  • Scripting or letting an AI agent read and send Instagram direct messages.

Quick start

  1. 1

    Ensure Node.js v22 or higher is installed

  2. 2

    Install the CLI globally via npm

    npm install -g @i7m/instagram-cli
  3. 3

    Log in with your username and password

    instagram-cli auth login --username
  4. 4

    Open the feed in the terminal UI

    instagram-cli feed

Things to know

  • This is an unofficial project not affiliated with Instagram, and using it may violate Meta's Terms of Service.
  • Requires Node.js v22 or higher.
  • The stories feature is still in beta.

In collections

Terminal UI appsCLI & terminal tools

Topics

#instagram#tui#cli#terminal#typescript#messaging#ink#brainrot#command-line-app#messenger

FAQ

What is instagram-cli?
A terminal UI and CLI client for Instagram that lets you read feeds, stories, notifications and direct messages from the keyboard. Instagram CLI is an unofficial Instagram client that runs in the terminal. It provides interactive TUI views for direct message threads, the post feed, stories (beta) and notifications, all navigable with the keyboard and optional mouse support. Images and videos can be rendered in the terminal using several image protocols, including kitty, iTerm2, sixel, and ASCII or braille fallbacks.
Is instagram-cli free to use? What license does it have?
instagram-cli is open source under the MIT license. Check the license terms before using it in commercial products.
Is instagram-cli still maintained?
Actively maintained. The last commit to instagram-cli was on Oct 31, 2026.
What can I use instagram-cli for?
Keeping up with friends' messages without opening the mobile app or browser. Working on a remote Linux server or inside an editor terminal. Scripting or letting an AI agent read and send Instagram direct messages.
How do I install instagram-cli?
Ensure Node.js v22 or higher is installed Install the CLI globally via npm: npm install -g @i7m/instagram-cli Log in with your username and password: instagram-cli auth login --username Open the feed in the terminal UI: instagram-cli feed
Where can I get instagram-cli?
The source code and installation instructions are on GitHub: https://github.com/supreme-gg-gg/instagram-cli

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