Liked Reel Downloader

Download all the Instagram Reels you've liked using your liked_posts.json (from Instagram's Account Center export) and yt-dlp.

This script ensures previously downloaded Reels are skipped, proxy support, and configurable paths via CLI or .env.

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Features

• Parses liked_posts.json to extract Reel URLs
• Downloads Reels using yt-dlp
• Stores videos in a custom or default downloads/ folder
• File names use: {username} - {YYYY-MM-DD HH-MM-SS}.mp4
• Avoids re-downloading the same Reels
• Configurable via .env or command-line arguments
• Optional proxy
• Uses cookies.txt for Instagram authenticated access

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Installation

1. Download the Project

You can either:

Option 1: Clone via Git

git clone https://github.com/thematuu/liked-reel-downloader.git
cd liked-reel-downloader

Option 2: Download ZIP

• Visit: https://github.com/thematuu/liked-reel-downloader
• Click the green "Code" button
• Select "Download ZIP"
• Unzip and open the folder

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2. Install Requirements

You need:

• Python 3.8+
• yt-dlp and python-dotenv

To install dependencies:

pip install -r requirements.txt

Setup

1. Download your Instagram data

Go to: https://accountscenter.instagram.com/info_and_permissions/

Then choose:

• Account Center
• Your Information and Permissions
• Download your information
• Download or transfer information
• Some of your information
• Likes
• Download to device
• Select Data range
• Format JSON
• Create files

Unzip the file and place liked_posts.json into this project folder (or configure its location with CLI or .env).

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2. Export Instagram cookies

Instagram requires login to access all Reel content. You must export your cookies.

Tip: To reduce any risk of account issues, consider using an alternate account for downloading. I haven’t had problems, but it’s better to be cautious.

Recommended extensions:

⚠️ Disclaimer: These are third-party browser extensions. Use at your own discretion. I am not responsible for their security, privacy, or behavior.

• Chrome: Get cookies.txt Locally
• Firefox: cookies.txt

After exporting, save the file as cookies.txt in the project folder (or specify another location via CLI or .env).

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3. (Optional) Use a Proxy

Instagram may block requests depending on your IP address or region. You can route requests through a proxy if needed.

You can configure the proxy in two ways:

Option 1: Set via .env file

Create or edit a .env file in your project folder:

PROXY=http://username:password@proxyhost:port

This will automatically be picked up when you run the script.

Option 2: Pass via command-line

You can override the proxy using a CLI argument:

python main.py --proxy http://username:password@proxyhost:port

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If you're not using a proxy, you can skip this step.

Usage

By default, just run:

python main.py

It will use these default values unless overridden:

Setting	Default Value	Override via
Liked JSON file	liked_posts.json	--liked-json, .env
Downloaded tracker	downloaded_reels.txt	--downloaded-file, .env
Cookies file	cookies.txt	--cookies-file, .env
Download folder	downloads/	--download-dir, .env
Proxy	(none)	--proxy, .env

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Command-Line Options

Example with full customization:

python main.py \
  --liked-json data/liked_posts.json \
  --cookies-file auth/cookies.txt \
  --download-dir ig/saved_reels \
  --downloaded-file logs/downloaded_reels.txt \
  --proxy http://username:password@proxyhost:port

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Example Output

downloads/
├── exampleusername - 2025-08-01 13-54-55.mp4
├── anotheruser - 2025-08-01 14-02-13.mp4

A file called downloaded_reels.txt will track which Reels you've already downloaded.

To redownload everything from scratch, simply delete or empty this file.

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Disclaimer

This tool is intended for personal use only with your own Instagram account and exported data.

It uses cookies.txt to simulate logged-in sessions. Do not use this tool to violate Instagram’s Terms of Service.