# GET /v1/story: Instagram story API

One story by its link or id: media link, time and duration, and the account it belongs to. Stories are only available while they are up.

- Call: `GET https://storiesfly.com/api/v1/story`
- Price **1 request**
- Answers up to **3 minutes** old

## Parameters

All parameters go in the query string.

| Name | Type | Sent | Description |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `url` | string | one of | Link to the story. Send exactly one of url or id. |
| `id` | string | one of | Numeric id of the story. Send exactly one of url or id. |

## Example request

Put your own key in the header.

### cURL

```bash
curl "https://storiesfly.com/api/v1/story?id=4008637512964239886" \
  -H "X-Api-Key: sf_live_your_key"
```

### JavaScript

```javascript
const res = await fetch(
  "https://storiesfly.com/api/v1/story?id=4008637512964239886",
  { headers: { "X-Api-Key": process.env.STORIESFLY_KEY } }
);
const data = await res.json();
```

### Python

```python
import os
import requests

r = requests.get(
    "https://storiesfly.com/api/v1/story",
    params={"id": "4008637512964239886"},
    headers={"X-Api-Key": os.environ["STORIESFLY_KEY"]},
)
data = r.json()
```

## Example response

200 OK · X-Units-Charged: 1

```json
{
  "user": {
    "id": "286628010",
    "username": "brooklynandbailey"
  },
  "story": {
    "id": "4008637512964239886",
    "url": "https://www.instagram.com/stories/brooklynandbailey/4008637512964239886/",
    "taken_at": 1792086850,
    "taken_at_iso": "2026-10-15T17:54:10.000Z",
    "media_type": "video",
    "media_url": "https://scontent-iad6-1.cdninstagram.com/o1/v/t2/f2/m78/AQPH74NahzbMjNpeMfSF0lL2HOrUTana5q4EzP0NQZQHGeUJCeTuDuAvmgXOQa7K9UWTibUM1hngLk3u7IsLT4iSQQxNyL_rn0rbjwk…",
    "thumbnail_url": "https://scontent-iad6-1.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.71878-15/851828943_1070743629289559_5712408482754146592_n.jpg",
    "video_duration": 7.666
  }
}
```

A real answer, shortened: lists are cut to two items and long texts to 160 characters.

## Price and freshness

A call takes 1 request. Free requests are spent first, then your balance. The [pricing](https://storiesfly.com/developers/pricing) page has the rates.

Answers are kept for up to 3 minutes. Asking again inside that time returns the same answer and takes 1 request again.

## Errors

A failed call answers with an HTTP status and a body `{error, code}`. These are the codes this endpoint gives. [Errors and what is charged](https://storiesfly.com/developers/docs#errors) covers all of them.

| Status | Code | When |
| --- | --- | --- |
| `400` | `bad_request` | A parameter is missing or wrong, or not exactly one of `url` or `id` was sent. `fields` lists the names. Free. |
| `401` | `unauthorized` | The `X-Api-Key` header is missing or the key is wrong. Free. |
| `402` | `credits_exhausted` | The free requests and the balance are used up. Top up in the [dashboard](https://storiesfly.com/developers/dashboard). Free. |
| `403` | `telegram_required` | The account behind the key is not linked to Telegram. The answer has a `link_url` to do it. Free. |
| `404` | `not_found` | The story does not exist or has expired. Charged like an answer. |
| `429` | `rate_limited` | More requests in a second than your level allows. Wait for the `Retry-After` header. Free. |
| `500` | `internal_error` | A fault on our side. Retry shortly. Refunded. |
| `503` | `upstream_unavailable` | Our side failed or timed out. Retry shortly. Refunded. |

## Questions about this endpoint

### Should I send the link or the id?

Either one, and not both. A story link also names the account. The id is the number at the end of the link.

### What if the story has expired?

A story is up for 24 hours. After that the call answers `not_found`, which is charged like an answer.

### What does the answer hold?

The story with its media link, time and video length, and the account it belongs to, in the same fields as [user/stories](https://storiesfly.com/developers/docs/user-stories).

## Related endpoints

- [GET /v1/user/stories](https://storiesfly.com/developers/docs/user-stories): Stories live now, with the length of each video
- [GET /v1/highlight](https://storiesfly.com/developers/docs/highlight): Every story in a highlight, by link or id
- [GET /v1/resolve](https://storiesfly.com/developers/docs/resolve): Turn a post, reel or share link into data

## Links

- [This page on the site](https://storiesfly.com/developers/docs/story)
- [Instagram data API](https://storiesfly.com/developers): what the API is and what it returns
- [Pricing](https://storiesfly.com/developers/pricing): rates, examples and billing rules
- [Documentation](https://storiesfly.com/developers/docs): quick start, authentication, errors and every endpoint
- [OpenAPI file](https://storiesfly.com/openapi.json): the whole API in one file
- [API dashboard](https://storiesfly.com/developers/dashboard): get a key and top up
- [Changelog](https://storiesfly.com/developers/changelog): what changed and when