jackwener/OpenCLI · error

Post index not found

Error message

Post index  not found

What it means

Thrown by `getPostFromFeed` when `idx` (the 0-based requested post position) is greater than or equal to `feed.items.length`, i.e. the user's feed returned fewer posts than the requested position. The command requests `count=<idx+1>` posts, but Instagram may return fewer (private account, deleted posts, partial feeds), leaving no item at the requested index.

Source

Thrown at clis/instagram/save.js:37

        { navigate: 'https://www.instagram.com' },
        { evaluate: `(async () => {
  const username = \${{ args.username | json }};
  const idx = \${{ args.index }} - 1;
  if (!Number.isInteger(idx) || idx < 0) throw new Error('index must be a positive integer');
  const headers = { 'X-IG-App-ID': '936619743392459' };
  const opts = { credentials: 'include', headers };
  async function readInstagramJson(response, label) {
    try {
      return await response.json();
    } catch {
      throw new Error(label + ' returned invalid JSON');
    }
  }
  function getPostFromFeed(feed, label) {
    if (!feed || typeof feed !== 'object' || !Array.isArray(feed.items)) {
      throw new Error(label + ' returned malformed items payload');
    }
    if (idx >= feed.items.length) throw new Error('Post index ' + (idx + 1) + ' not found');
    const post = feed.items[idx];
    const pkRaw = post?.pk ?? post?.id;
    const pk = typeof pkRaw === 'number' ? String(pkRaw) : (typeof pkRaw === 'string' ? pkRaw.trim() : '');
    if (!/^\\d+$/.test(pk)) throw new Error(label + ' returned malformed post row');
    const caption = typeof post?.caption?.text === 'string' ? post.caption.text.substring(0, 60) : '';
    return { pk, caption };
  }
  function assertOkStatus(payload, label) {
    if (!payload || typeof payload !== 'object' || payload.status !== 'ok') {
      throw new Error(label + ' returned no success evidence');
    }
  }

  // web_profile_info answers HTTP 400 for business accounts; feed-by-username needs no user id. See #2234.
  const r1 = await fetch('https://www.instagram.com/api/v1/feed/user/' + encodeURIComponent(username) + '/username/?count=' + (idx + 1), opts);
  if (!r1.ok) throw new Error(r1.status === 404 ? 'User not found: ' + username : 'HTTP ' + r1.status + ' - make sure you are logged in to Instagram');
  const { pk, caption } = getPostFromFeed(await readInstagramJson(r1, 'Instagram feed-by-username'), 'Instagram feed-by-username');

View on GitHub (pinned to 49907e53dc)

Solutions

1. Lower the --index value to a position within the number of posts the profile actually shows.
2. Verify on instagram.com how many posts the account visibly has and pick an index within that range.
3. If you need an older post beyond the feed window, open the post on the web and save it manually, or paginate the feed first.

Example fix

// before: account only has 12 visible posts
instagram save someuser --index 40
// after
instagram save someuser --index 5

const visiblePosts = countVisiblePostsOnProfile(username); // e.g. from profile page
if (Number(args.index) > visiblePosts) {
  throw new Error(`--index ${args.index} exceeds the ${visiblePosts} visible posts for ${username}`);
}

try {
  await run(['instagram', 'save', username, '--index', String(i)]);
} catch (e) {
  if (String(e.message).includes('not found')) {
    console.error(`Post #${i} does not exist; the feed returned fewer posts. Lower --index.`);
  }
  throw e;
}

When it happens

Trigger: Running `instagram save <username> --index N` where the user's visible feed has fewer than N posts: index 25 on an account with 10 posts, or an index beyond what the feed endpoint returned despite the count parameter.

Common situations: Targeting an account with very few posts; some posts are deleted/archived or hidden (e.g. restricted content) so the feed is shorter than the profile post count; a large index (e.g. 50+) where Instagram caps or truncates the feed response.

Related errors

• Instagram private publish only supports single-video uploads
• ${label}
• Collection name cannot be empty
• index must be a positive integer
• ${label} returned malformed items payload

AI-assisted analysis of jackwener/OpenCLI@49907e53dc (2026-08-29). Data as JSON: /api/errors/5e586eccf131e571. Report an issue: GitHub.