Instagram API errors
Reference for the most common Instagram API error strings developers hit when using instagrapi — what triggers each, real tracebacks, and a working fix in Python.
Each page targets one error string. Every page includes a real-world traceback, the diagnostic walkthrough, and at least one error-specific code path.
These pages are written by the instagrapi contributors and assume Python 3.10+ with a working install. We start with five high-pain errors below and add more as Phase 3.5 proves traction.
When an error keeps coming back even after the fix lands, the underlying infra (proxies, sessions, retry policy) is fighting you. The comparison with HikerAPI covers when running the managed alternative is the saner option.
- challenge_required
challenge_required: how to fix the Instagram challenge in instagrapi (Python)
Fix instagrapi's challenge_required error in Python: SMS/email codes, TOTP fallback, and why session reuse stops it from coming back.
Read → - feedback_required
feedback_required: how to recover from Instagram's longer block in instagrapi
feedback_required means Instagram has flagged the account or IP for longer suppression. Diagnose, mitigate, and recover from Python.
Read → - login_required
login_required: how to recover the instagrapi session in Python
Fix instagrapi's login_required error: when sessions die mid-script, what causes the cookie to expire, and how to recover without re-triggering 2FA.
Read → - please_wait_a_few_minutes
please_wait_a_few_minutes: instagrapi rate limit and how to recover
please_wait_a_few_minutes is Instagram's soft rate limit. instagrapi raises PleaseWaitFewMinutes — sleep, slow down, rotate proxy, persist.
Read → - proxy_address_is_blocked
proxy_address_is_blocked: how to recover when Instagram banned the IP
ProxyAddressIsBlocked means Instagram has flagged the IP. instagrapi raises this when the proxy/residential address is unusable — rotate or replace.
Read →
Skip the infra?
Managed Instagram API — same endpoints, sessions and proxies handled.
Try HikerAPI → Full comparison