Instagram API (beta)
Instagram Reel transcript API public Reels through AI transcription, in beta
Public Reels and video posts, transcribed from their audio with word timing.
1.0Capabilities
Core advantages and the limits that come with them
Extract transcripts from Instagram Reels and public video posts via API. Currently in beta with AI transcription.
Operational limits and transparency
- Instagram support is currently in beta.
- Native Instagram captions are unverified and disabled; AI transcription is used.
- Photo carousels and Stories are unsupported.
- Single region deployment.
2.0Implementation
Request and response the exact request and what comes back
POST/v1/jobs
curl -X POST https://www.transcriptdock.com/v1/jobs \-H "Authorization: Bearer td_live_..." \-H "Content-Type: application/json" \-H "Idempotency-Key: $(uuidgen)" \-d '{"source": {"url": "https://www.instagram.com/reel/C8xYz123456/"},"mode": "transcribe"}'
Job outcome
{"id": "5c6d7e8f-9a0b-1c2d-3e4f-5a6b7c8d9e0f","status": "succeeded","stage": null,"result_id": "6d7e8f9a-0b1c-2d3e-4f5a-6b7c8d9e0f1a","error": null,"billing": {"credits_reserved": 0,"credits_charged": 2,"kind": "ai_transcription"},"source": {"platform": "instagram","media_id": "C8xYz123456","canonical_url": "https://www.instagram.com/reel/C8xYz123456/","title": null,"upload_id": null},"options": {"mode": "transcribe","language": null,"caption_preference": "prefer_creator"},"created_at": "2026-09-12T16:05:00Z"}
3.0Questions
Frequently asked
What happens with captions, AI transcription and limits for this source.
Why is Instagram listed as beta?
Public Reel pages do not expose a subtitle track we could verify, so native captions stay off and every Reel goes through AI transcription instead.
Can I transcribe Stories or private Reels?
No. Content must be a public Reel or video post accessible without login credentials.