jackwener/OpenCLI · error · CommandExecutionError

Open the post in a logged-in browser session and retry

Error message

Open the post in a logged-in browser session and retry

What it means

When the in-page fetch reports errorCode 'PRIVATE_OR_UNAVAILABLE', handleFetchFailure throws a CommandExecutionError with this remediation hint: the post is either private, deleted, or otherwise unreachable for the current session. Unlike AUTH_REQUIRED, the session is valid but the account lacks access to the content, so the suggested fix is to open the post in a logged-in browser session that follows the owner.

Source

Thrown at clis/instagram/download.js:320

    const unwrapped = unwrapEvaluateResult(result);
    if (!unwrapped || typeof unwrapped !== 'object' || Array.isArray(unwrapped)) {
        throw new CommandExecutionError('Failed to fetch Instagram media metadata');
    }
    if (typeof unwrapped.ok !== 'boolean') {
        throw new CommandExecutionError('Instagram media metadata returned malformed result');
    }
    return unwrapped;
}
function handleFetchFailure(result) {
    const message = result.error || 'Instagram media fetch failed';
    if (result.errorCode === 'AUTH_REQUIRED') {
        throw new AuthRequiredError('instagram.com', message);
    }
    if (result.errorCode === 'RATE_LIMITED') {
        throw new CliError('RATE_LIMITED', message, 'Wait a few minutes and retry, or switch to a browser session with a warmer Instagram login state.', EXIT_CODES.TEMPFAIL);
    }
    if (result.errorCode === 'PRIVATE_OR_UNAVAILABLE') {
        throw new CommandExecutionError(message, 'Open the post in a logged-in browser session and retry');
    }
    throw new CommandExecutionError(message);
}
async function downloadInstagramMedia(items, outputDir) {
    fs.mkdirSync(outputDir, { recursive: true });
    for (const item of items) {
        const destPath = path.join(outputDir, item.filename);
        const result = await httpDownload(item.url, destPath, {
            timeout: item.type === 'video' ? 120000 : 60000,
        });
        if (!result.success) {
            throw new CommandExecutionError(`Failed to download ${item.filename}: ${result.error || 'unknown error'}`);
        }
        if (!Number.isFinite(result.size) || result.size <= 0) {
            throw new CommandExecutionError(`Failed to verify downloaded bytes for ${item.filename}`);
        }
    }
}

View on GitHub (pinned to 49907e53dc)

Solutions

1. Log in with an account that follows the private account, then retry
2. Verify the post still exists by opening the URL in a normal browser
3. Check the URL/shortcode for typos
4. If the account changed username or the post moved, use the updated URL

// verify the post is reachable with the current account before scripting downloads
const reachable = await browserPage.evaluate((shortcode) =>
  !document.querySelector('meta[property="og:title"]')?.content.includes('Page Not Found'), shortcode);
if (!reachable) throw new Error('Post is private, deleted, or unavailable to this account');

try {
  await run(['instagram', 'download', url]);
} catch (e) {
  if (String(e.message).includes('Open the post in a logged-in browser session')) {
    // switch to an account that follows the private account, or skip this URL
  } else throw e;
}

When it happens

Trigger: The metadata fetch returned {ok:false, errorCode:'PRIVATE_OR_UNAVAILABLE'} — the target shortcode resolves to a private account post, a deleted/removed post, or content geo/blocked for the session's user.

Common situations: Downloading a post from a private account you don't follow; post deleted by the author; typo in the URL/shortcode; account suspended or post removed for policy violations.

Related errors

• File could not be read: ${path}
• PAID_CONTENT
• ${wantModel} model requires a paid Claude plan.
• Douyin API auth/permission error ${code} at ${method} ${url}
• Instagram post feed returned malformed payload for ${usernam

AI-assisted analysis of jackwener/OpenCLI@49907e53dc (2026-08-29). Data as JSON: /api/errors/5146975c579e95ed. Report an issue: GitHub.