Instagram Upload API

This section details how to upload photos, videos, reels, stories, and carousels to Instagram using the API.

Base URL

https://api.multi-upload-tool.com/api/v1

Authentication

All requests require an API Token in the header: x-api-key: YOUR_API_TOKEN

Requirements

Instagram Video Requirements

Container Format: MOV or MP4 (MPEG-4 Part 14), no edit lists, moov atom at head.
Audio Codec: AAC, 48 kHz max, 1-2 channels, 128 kbps.
Video Codec: HEVC or H264, progressive scan, closed GOP, 4:2:0 chroma subsampling.
Video Bitrate: VBR, max 25 Mbps.
Frame Rate: 23-60 FPS.
Resolution: Max width 1920px.
Aspect Ratio: 0.01:1 to 10:1 (Recommended 9:16 to avoid cropping).
Duration: 3 seconds to 15 minutes.
File Size: Max 300 MB.

Instagram Photo Requirements

Formats: PNG, JPEG, GIF.
Media Types: IMAGE (Feed), STORIES.
Carousels: Up to 10 images/videos.

Upload Photo

Upload a single photo or a story to a connected Instagram account.

Endpoint

POST /upload

Content-Type

multipart/form-data

Parameters

Query Parameters

Parameter	Type	Required	Description
`async`	string	No	Default `"true"`. If `"false"`, the API waits for upload completion.

Body Parameters

Parameter	Type	Required	Description
`accountId`	string	Yes	The ID of the connected Instagram account.
`photo`	File	Yes	The image file to upload.
`title`	string	No	The caption for the post.
`media_type`	string	No	`IMAGE` (Feed), `STORIES`. Auto-detected from file type and count if omitted.
`schedule_date`	string	No	ISO 8601 date string to schedule the post (e.g., `2025-12-25T10:00:00Z`).
`location_id`	string	No	Instagram Location ID to tag a place.
`collaborators`	string	No	Comma-separated list of usernames to invite as collaborators.
`user_tags`	string	No	Comma-separated list of usernames to tag in the image.

Example Request (Photo)


curl -X POST https://api.multi-upload-tool.com/api/v1/upload \
  -H "x-api-key: YOUR_API_TOKEN" \
  -F "accountId=123" \
  -F "photo=@/path/to/image.jpg" \
  -F "title=Hello Instagram! #vibes" \
  -F "media_type=IMAGE" \
  -F "location_id=123456789"

Upload Video

Upload a single video, reel, or video story to a connected Instagram account.

Endpoint

POST /upload

Content-Type

multipart/form-data

Parameters

Query Parameters

Parameter	Type	Required	Description
`async`	string	No	Default `"true"`. If `"false"`, the API waits for upload completion.

Body Parameters

Parameter	Type	Required	Description
`accountId`	string	Yes	The ID of the connected Instagram account.
`video`	File	Yes	The video file to upload.
`title`	string	No	The caption for the post (Reels/Feed).
`media_type`	string	No	`VIDEO`, `REELS`, `STORIES`. Default: `REELS`.
`schedule_date`	string	No	ISO 8601 date string to schedule the post.
`cover_url`	string	No	Custom cover image URL for Reels/Videos.
`location_id`	string	No	Instagram Location ID to tag a place.
`collaborators`	string	No	Comma-separated list of usernames to invite as collaborators.
`share_to_feed`	boolean	No	Whether to share Reels to Feed. Default: `true`.
`audio_name`	string	No	Reels only. Custom display title for the Reel’s original audio (renames the audio shown to viewers — can only be set once). Does not attach a track from Instagram’s music library; the Instagram Platform API does not expose music selection for any media type.
`thumb_offset`	string	No	Time offset (in ms) for the video thumbnail.

Example Request (Video/Reel)


curl -X POST https://api.multi-upload-tool.com/api/v1/upload \
  -H "x-api-key: YOUR_API_TOKEN" \
  -F "accountId=123" \
  -F "video=@/path/to/video.mp4" \
  -F "title=My new reel! 🎥" \
  -F "media_type=REELS" \
  -F "cover_url=https://example.com/cover.jpg"

Upload Carousel

Upload a carousel (album) containing up to 10 photos and/or videos.

Endpoint

POST /upload

Content-Type

multipart/form-data

Parameters

Query Parameters

Parameter	Type	Required	Description
`async`	string	No	Default `"true"`. If `"false"`, the API waits for upload completion.

Body Parameters

Parameter	Type	Required	Description
`accountId`	string	Yes	The ID of the connected Instagram account.
`photo`	File[]	Yes	Array of files (images and/or videos). Use the key `photo` for all items.
`title`	string	No	The caption for the carousel.
`schedule_date`	string	No	ISO 8601 date string to schedule the post.
`location_id`	string	No	Instagram Location ID to tag a place.
`collaborators`	string	No	Comma-separated list of usernames to invite as collaborators.
`user_tags`	string	No	Comma-separated list of usernames to tag in the first image.

Note on music: The Instagram Platform API does not allow attaching music from Instagram’s library to a carousel (or to any other media type). There is no audio_id / music_id parameter — this is an Instagram-side limitation. To add a song from the Instagram music library, open the published post in the Instagram app and add music there.

Example Request (Carousel)


curl -X POST https://api.multi-upload-tool.com/api/v1/upload \
  -H "x-api-key: YOUR_API_TOKEN" \
  -F "accountId=123" \
  -F "photo=@/path/to/photo1.jpg" \
  -F "photo=@/path/to/video2.mp4" \
  -F "photo=@/path/to/photo3.jpg" \
  -F "title=My mixed media dump 📸🎥"

Example Response


{
  "success": true,
  "message": "Upload queued successfully",
  "data": {
    "uploadId": 789,
    "status": "pending",
    "jobId": "job_456"
  }
}