# Instagram API: List recent posts > Lists the latest publicly embeddable posts and reels from an Instagram account, newest first. Without login Instagram may show fewer posts than requested. View counts that are not available are null. Unofficial. Not affiliated with or endorsed by Instagram. - Page: https://fous.com/methods/instagram.com/list-recent-posts - Method: `instagram.com/list_recent_posts`, version 1 - Website: instagram.com - Returns: post type, caption, posted time, likes, comments, views, pinned flag, image URL, post URL - Effect: read (it gets data and changes nothing) - Sign-in: none needed - Cost: 1 credit per completed run (1¢ with pay as you go); failed runs are free - Verified: Nov 2, 2026 ## Inputs | Field | Type | Required | In the run below | Description | |---|---|---|---|---| | `username` | string | yes | `"natgeo"` | Instagram account name, @name, or profile link, for example natgeo. | | `max_results` | integer | no | | Most posts to return, for example 12. Instagram may publicly show fewer. Default 12. | ## Output From a run on Oct 23, 2026, shortened. Its input: ```json { "username": "natgeo" } ``` Its output: ```json { "posts": [ { "caption": "Drumroll, please. The people have voted, and Catalina Island, U.S.A., is the winner of National Geographic's Best of the World 2027 Readers' Choice! 🌎 \n\nJust an hour by ferry from Long Beach, California, visitors can explore 165 miles (265 km) of trails across this roughly 48,000-acre island that's…", "post_url": "https://www.instagram.com/p/Dez5emgl2nl/", "image_url": "https://scontent-sea5-1.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.82787-15/861148448_18710930716019133_2222318640552106630_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_e35_tt6&_nc_cat=1&ig_cache_key=NDAxMzgwNDQ4NDUwMTY2MjE4MQ%3D%3D.3-ccb7-5&ccb=7-5&_nc_sid=58cdad&efg=eyJ2ZW5jb2RlX3RhZyI6IkZFRUQueHBpZHMuMTA4MC5zZHIucmVndWxhcl9waG90by5DMyJ9&_nc_o…", "is_pinned": false, "post_type": "photo", "posted_at": "2026-10-22T21:00:10+00:00", "shortcode": "Dez5emgl2nl", "like_count": 8731, "view_count": null, "comment_count": 79 }, { "caption": "Presented by @Rolex. Rehabilitating baby pangolins doesn't just mean keeping them safe and fed, it also involves teaching them how to keep themselves fed in the wild. That's why pangolin handlers at the Tikki Hywood Foundation take young pangolins for walks in the woods every day, showing them where…", "post_url": "https://www.instagram.com/reel/DezlNmyAFeu/", "image_url": "https://scontent-sea5-1.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.82787-15/857819563_18710887837019133_8886683641971152855_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_e15_tt6&_nc_cat=1&ig_cache_key=NDAxMzcxNTM1NTYzMjQyNDg3OA%3D%3D.3-ccb7-5&ccb=7-5&_nc_sid=58cdad&efg=eyJ2ZW5jb2RlX3RhZyI6IkNMSVBTLnhwaWRzLjEwODAuc2RyLnZpZGVvX2RlZmF1bHRfY292ZXJfZn…", "is_pinned": false, "post_type": "reel", "posted_at": "2026-10-22T18:04:21+00:00", "shortcode": "DezlNmyAFeu", "like_count": 76597, "view_count": 393637, "comment_count": 197 }, { "caption": "No wrong answers to this question.\n\n#IndiaFromAbove is now streaming on @disneyplus", "post_url": "https://www.instagram.com/reel/DexcZdvAHXT/", "image_url": "https://scontent-sea5-1.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.82787-15/850269475_18710631136019133_842514770738734313_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_e15_tt6&_nc_cat=109&ig_cache_key=NDAxMzExMzYzODE4MDEyNDExNQ%3D%3D.3-ccb7-5&ccb=7-5&_nc_sid=58cdad&efg=eyJ2ZW5jb2RlX3RhZyI6IkNMSVBTLnhwaWRzLjEwODAuc2RyLnZpZGVvX2RlZmF1bHRfY292ZXJfZ…", "is_pinned": false, "post_type": "reel", "posted_at": "2026-10-21T22:08:24+00:00", "shortcode": "DexcZdvAHXT", "like_count": 15227, "view_count": 126067, "comment_count": 92 } ] } ``` ## Run it From code, with a Fous API key in `FOUS_API_KEY`; the answer's `data` holds the output: ```bash curl https://api.fous.com/v1/runs \ -H "Authorization: Bearer $FOUS_API_KEY" \ -H "Content-Type: application/json" \ -d '{"method":"instagram.com/list_recent_posts","input":{"username":"natgeo"}}' ``` From an AI agent connected to the Fous MCP server: its `run` with the same method and input. To connect one, give it `set up https://fous.com/SKILL.md`. ## Ask your agent - Show me the latest 10 posts and reels from the natgeo account, newest first, with likes and comments - What are the most recent Instagram posts from @nasa? Include captions and view counts if available. - Pull up the last 20 posts from the nytimes profile link, including which ones are pinned. - I want to see recent reels from a creator named travelwithjess — list their newest uploads with post URLs. - Can you grab the 5 latest publicly embeddable posts from the bbcnews Instagram account along with their image URLs? ## Input schema ```json { "type": "object", "required": [ "username" ], "properties": { "username": { "type": "string", "description": "Instagram account name, @name, or profile link, for example natgeo." }, "max_results": { "type": "integer", "default": 12, "maximum": 50, "minimum": 1, "description": "Most posts to return, for example 12. Instagram may publicly show fewer." } } } ``` ## Output schema ```json { "type": "object", "required": [ "posts" ], "properties": { "posts": { "type": "array", "items": { "type": "object", "properties": { "caption": { "type": [ "string", "null" ] }, "post_url": { "type": "string" }, "image_url": { "type": [ "string", "null" ] }, "is_pinned": { "type": "boolean" }, "post_type": { "enum": [ "photo", "video", "reel", "carousel" ], "type": "string" }, "posted_at": { "type": "string" }, "shortcode": { "type": "string" }, "like_count": { "type": [ "integer", "null" ] }, "view_count": { "type": [ "integer", "null" ] }, "comment_count": { "type": [ "integer", "null" ] } } } } } } ``` ## See more - [Instagram API: Get engagement stats](https://fous.com/methods/instagram.com/get-engagement-stats-2.md): Gets an Instagram account's follower count plus its posting and engagement over the last 30 days: posts published, average views of its videos and reels, and average likes and comments per post, from a username or profile link. - [Instagram API: Get profile](https://fous.com/methods/instagram.com/get-profile.md): Gets an Instagram account's public profile from its username, @name or profile link: name, bio, exact follower, following and post counts, verified and private flags, first bio link, profile picture and account ID. - [Threads API: List recent posts](https://fous.com/methods/threads.com/list-recent-posts.md): Lists an account's latest public Threads posts, newest first, with text, engagement counts, thumbnails and links. Only posts shown without logging in are returned. - [Bluesky API: List recent posts](https://fous.com/methods/bsky.app/list-recent-posts.md): Lists an account's latest public Bluesky posts, newest first. Replies and reposts are left out unless requested; a repost's time is when the account reposted it. - [Mastodon API: List recent posts](https://fous.com/methods/mastodon.social/list-recent-posts.md): Lists a Mastodon account's latest public posts, newest first. Replies and boosts are optional. Private and unlisted posts are left out. - [Medium API: List a writer's or publication's latest articles](https://fous.com/methods/medium.com/list-author-articles.md): Lists the latest public articles by a Medium writer or publication (by username, publication name or Medium link), with dates, reading times, claps, member-only labels and tags. - [Telegram API: List channel posts](https://fous.com/methods/t.me/list-channel-posts.md): Lists the latest posts from a public Telegram channel preview, with text, posting time, approximate views, edit flag, forwarded source, thumbnails and post links. - [Tumblr API: List blog posts](https://fous.com/methods/tumblr.com/list-blog-posts.md): Lists recent public posts of a Tumblr blog, optionally only those with a given tag. Private or login-only blogs cannot be read. - [All Instagram methods](https://fous.com/methods/instagram.com.md)