[GH-ISSUE #1463] Instagram Images are downloaded on the main instance but fails in self-hosted docker instance #5346

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GiteaMirror · 2026-04-16T00:44:32-05:00

GiteaMirror commented

2026-04-16 00:44:32 -05:00

Originally created by @arnab-trameter on GitHub (Oct 30, 2025).
Original GitHub issue: https://github.com/imputnet/cobalt/issues/1463

bug description

I have tried multiple publicly accessible image URLs from instagram and have had the same outcome.

The image get downloaded when tested on the main instance but give the following error on my self hosted instance:

Response

{
        "status": "error",
        "error": {
            "code": "error.api.fetch.empty"
        }
}

Request

{
        "url": "https://www.instagram.com/p/DPgqTRGjkQq/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==",
        "filenameStyle": "pretty",
        "alwaysProxy": true
}

Something I noticed

When I use this URL (https://www.instagram.com/p/DPgqTRGjkQq/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==), it fails 100% of the times.

But, when I use this (https://www.instagram.com/p/DPgqTRGjkQq/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA%3D%3D), it works. The difference is the last 2 == signs are URL encoded. Other then that everything is same.

reproduction steps

Host an Instance using docker.
Call the API using FastAPI on python with Instagram Image URL.
It will fail with the error message: error.api.fetch.empty

screenshots

No response

links

https://www.instagram.com/p/DPMnXPeEoIi/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

https://www.instagram.com/p/DQZyp-7gAGM/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

https://www.instagram.com/p/DPgqTRGjkQq/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

https://www.instagram.com/p/DP6trD8DiVS/?hl=en

platform information

Ubuntu 25.04 with python 3.13

additional context

I am testing on Python using FastAPI and httpx.AsyncClient.
The docker instance is running on a GCP VM Instance.

Originally created by @arnab-trameter on GitHub (Oct 30, 2025). Original GitHub issue: https://github.com/imputnet/cobalt/issues/1463 ### bug description I have tried multiple publicly accessible image URLs from instagram and have had the same outcome. The image get downloaded when tested on the main instance but give the following error on my self hosted instance: ### Response ```json { "status": "error", "error": { "code": "error.api.fetch.empty" } } ``` ### Request ```json { "url": "https://www.instagram.com/p/DPgqTRGjkQq/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==", "filenameStyle": "pretty", "alwaysProxy": true } ``` ### Something I noticed When I use this URL (https://www.instagram.com/p/DPgqTRGjkQq/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==), it fails 100% of the times. But, when I use this (https://www.instagram.com/p/DPgqTRGjkQq/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA%3D%3D), it works. The difference is the last 2 == signs are URL encoded. Other then that everything is same. ### reproduction steps Host an Instance using docker. Call the API using FastAPI on python with Instagram Image URL. It will fail with the error message: `error.api.fetch.empty` ### screenshots _No response_ ### links ```shell https://www.instagram.com/p/DPMnXPeEoIi/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== https://www.instagram.com/p/DQZyp-7gAGM/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link https://www.instagram.com/p/DPgqTRGjkQq/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== https://www.instagram.com/p/DP6trD8DiVS/?hl=en ``` ### platform information Ubuntu 25.04 with python 3.13 ### additional context - I am testing on Python using FastAPI and httpx.AsyncClient. - The docker instance is running on a GCP VM Instance.

GiteaMirror added the bug label 2026-04-16 00:44:32 -05:00

GiteaMirror closed this issue

2026-04-16 00:44:32 -05:00

GiteaMirror commented

2026-04-16 00:44:33 -05:00

@olllayor commented on GitHub (Nov 3, 2025):

same for me

@olllayor commented on GitHub (Nov 3, 2025): same for me

GiteaMirror commented

2026-04-16 00:44:33 -05:00

@dumbmoron commented on GitHub (Nov 20, 2025):

this is likely a problem with your IP reputation

@dumbmoron commented on GitHub (Nov 20, 2025): this is likely a problem with your IP reputation

GiteaMirror commented

2026-04-16 00:44:34 -05:00

@arnabJ commented on GitHub (Nov 20, 2025):

But the issue only happens with image only posts.

Videos or Carousels never have any issue. Randomly some Image posts also work.

Moreover, I am using GCP and the IP's reputation is totally fine.

this is likely a problem with your IP reputation

@arnabJ commented on GitHub (Nov 20, 2025): But the issue only happens with image only posts. Videos or Carousels never have any issue. Randomly some Image posts also work. Moreover, I am using GCP and the IP's reputation is totally fine. > this is likely a problem with your IP reputation

GiteaMirror commented

2026-04-16 00:44:34 -05:00

@dumbmoron commented on GitHub (Nov 20, 2025):

But the issue only happens with image only posts.

Videos or Carousels never have any issue. Randomly some Image posts also work.

Moreover, I am using GCP and the IP's reputation is totally fine.

this is likely a problem with your IP reputation

all of the links in OP work on cobalt.tools which uses the docker image that is published on github, so the issue is not with cobalt codebase

@dumbmoron commented on GitHub (Nov 20, 2025): > But the issue only happens with image only posts. > > Videos or Carousels never have any issue. Randomly some Image posts also work. > > Moreover, I am using GCP and the IP's reputation is totally fine. > > > this is likely a problem with your IP reputation all of the links in OP work on cobalt.tools which uses the docker image that is published on github, so the issue is not with cobalt codebase

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Reference: github-starred/cobalt#5346