# Search reels

> Public reels Instagram ranks for a keyword, with plays, likes, comments and captions.

- **Request:** `GET https://api.lurkapi.com/v2/instagram/reels/search`
- **Auth:** `x-api-key` header ([get a free key](https://lurkapi.com/login?next=/dashboard))
- **Cost:** 1 credit per call. Validation errors, `401`/`402`/`429` rejections and `5xx` failures are free; `not_found` is charged ([how charging works](https://lurkapi.com/docs.md#credits)).
- **MCP tool:** `instagram_reels_search` on `https://api.lurkapi.com/mcp`
- **Freshness:** responses are cached for up to 10 minutes
- **Try it live:** https://lurkapi.com/docs/instagram/reels-search#try (no signup)
- **Platform:** [Instagram](https://lurkapi.com/docs/instagram.md) (instagram.com)
- **Web page:** https://lurkapi.com/docs/instagram/reels-search

## When to use this

Pass a keyword or phrase. Results are the reels on Instagram's public keyword page (instagram.com/popular/<keyword>/), in Instagram's ranking, not by date. Instagram sends its logged-out hashtag pages there too, so a hashtag's word (with or without #) returns the reels Instagram shows for that hashtag.

About 12 reels per page and around 40 to 50 in all; an unknown keyword returns an empty list. A count the author hides is null.

**Pagination.** Pass the response's `cursor` back as `cursor` with the same query; `has_more` is false on the last page.

## Parameters

All parameters go in the query string.

| Name | Type | Required | Default | Allowed values | Description | Example |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `query` | string | yes |  |  | A keyword or phrase, e.g. nike or funny dogs. A leading # is ignored, so a hashtag's word works too. | `nike` |
| `cursor` | string | no |  |  | Pass cursor from the previous page unchanged; omit for the first page. |  |

## Example request

Replace `YOUR_API_KEY` with your key, or set `LURKAPI_KEY` for the code. [Get a free key](https://lurkapi.com/login?next=/dashboard).

curl:

```bash
curl "https://api.lurkapi.com/v2/instagram/reels/search?query=nike" \
  -H "x-api-key: YOUR_API_KEY"
```

JavaScript:

```js
const params = new URLSearchParams({
  query: "nike",
});
const res = await fetch(`https://api.lurkapi.com/v2/instagram/reels/search?${params}`, {
  headers: { "x-api-key": process.env.LURKAPI_KEY },
});
const data = await res.json();
if (!data.success) throw new Error(`${data.code}: ${data.error}`);
console.log(data.reels);
```

Python:

```python
import os
import requests

res = requests.get(
    "https://api.lurkapi.com/v2/instagram/reels/search",
    params={
        "query": "nike",
    },
    headers={"x-api-key": os.environ["LURKAPI_KEY"]},
    timeout=60,
)
data = res.json()
if not data["success"]:
    raise RuntimeError(f"{data['code']}: {data['error']}")
print(data["reels"])
```

## Example response

A real response from this endpoint, captured from the live API and trimmed to a couple of items. Strings over 96 characters (mostly signed media URLs) are cut short and end in `…`.

200 OK (application/json):

```json
{
  "success": true,
  "credits_remaining": 999999,
  "credits_charged": 1,
  "query": "nike",
  "reels": [
    {
      "pk": "3999988656176912624",
      "code": "DeC0H1tBFjw",
      "url": "https://www.instagram.com/reel/DeC0H1tBFjw/",
      "caption": "Most NFL players go broke within three years of retirement. Gronkowski b…",
      "taken_at": 1791055806,
      "like_count": 15736,
      "comment_count": 81,
      "play_count": 1846559,
      "display_url": "https://scontent-iad3-1.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.82787-15/817867378_179076…",
      "video_url": "https://scontent-iad6-1.cdninstagram.com/o1/v/t2/f2/m86/AQMVoH7y0zI7p5VL…",
      "width": 1080,
      "height": 1920,
      "has_audio": true,
      "user": {
        "pk": "75202986782",
        "username": "cashepreneurs",
        "full_name": null,
        "profile_pic_url": "https://scontent-iad3-1.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.82787-19/543739635_178569…",
        "is_verified": false
      }
    },
    {
      "pk": "4008454019827433040",
      "code": "Deg47F-TP5Q",
      "url": "https://www.instagram.com/reel/Deg47F-TP5Q/",
      "caption": "Everyone tag @nike so they can see this 🙏\n-\n#cinematic #travel #filmmak…",
      "taken_at": 1792065018,
      "like_count": 132267,
      "comment_count": 2417,
      "play_count": 1982511,
      "display_url": "https://scontent-iad3-1.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.71878-15/848547585_253364…",
      "video_url": "https://scontent-iad3-1.cdninstagram.com/o1/v/t2/f2/m86/AQPEI9-6-YN5fF3G…",
      "width": 1080,
      "height": 1920,
      "has_audio": true,
      "user": {
        "pk": "80234280468",
        "username": "asahi.filmss",
        "full_name": null,
        "profile_pic_url": "https://scontent-iad3-2.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.82787-19/723852848_178773…",
        "is_verified": false
      }
    }
  ],
  "cursor": "AQHTb2hlN7GkKNdRvmrFMLmWdYpTW1-GXhwA6VNcU1ax_CLySlLDDqp0NSO9UEwhHkMN",
  "has_more": true
}
```

## Response fields

Every field of a successful response. `[]` marks a list: `a[].b` is the `b` of each item in `a`. **nullable** fields can be `null`; **optional** fields can be missing.

| Field | Type | Description |
| --- | --- | --- |
| `success` | `true` | Always true here; errors have `success: false`. |
| `credits_remaining` | `number` | Your balance after this call. On anonymous playground calls: free tries left today. |
| `credits_charged` | `number` | Credits this call cost; 0 on free endpoints. On anonymous playground calls: tries used (1). |
| `query` | `string` | The keyword searched, lowercased and without a leading #. |
| `reels` | `object[]` | Reels in Instagram's ranking for this keyword. |
| `reels[].pk` | `string` | Numeric reel media id, represented as a string. |
| `reels[].code` | `string` | The reel's case-sensitive shortcode; pass it to the Post endpoint. |
| `reels[].url` | `string` | Canonical Instagram reel URL. |
| `reels[].caption` | `string`, nullable | Post caption as plain text, preserving line breaks; null when the post has no caption. |
| `reels[].taken_at` | `number`, nullable | Published at, Unix seconds; null when not shown or returned. A null count is not zero. |
| `reels[].like_count` | `number`, nullable | Like count; null when the author hides it; null when not shown or returned. A null count is not zero. |
| `reels[].comment_count` | `number`, nullable | Comment count; null when not shown or returned. A null count is not zero. |
| `reels[].play_count` | `number`, nullable | Play count, from Instagram's keyword grid; null when the grid didn't list this reel on the same page; null when not shown or returned. A null count is not zero. |
| `reels[].display_url` | `string`, nullable | Cover image URL; CDN links can expire; null when not returned. |
| `reels[].video_url` | `string`, nullable | Direct MP4 URL; CDN links can expire; null when not returned. |
| `reels[].width` | `number`, nullable | Video width in pixels; null when not shown or returned. A null count is not zero. |
| `reels[].height` | `number`, nullable | Video height in pixels; null when not shown or returned. A null count is not zero. |
| `reels[].has_audio` | `boolean`, nullable | Whether the reel has sound; null when not returned. |
| `reels[].user` | `object` | Reel author. |
| `reels[].user.pk` | `string` | The account's numeric Instagram id, represented as a string. |
| `reels[].user.username` | `string` | Instagram username, without @. |
| `reels[].user.full_name` | `string`, nullable | Display name; null when not returned. |
| `reels[].user.profile_pic_url` | `string`, nullable | Profile image URL; CDN links can expire; null when not returned. |
| `reels[].user.is_verified` | `boolean`, nullable | Whether Instagram shows a verified badge; null when not returned. |
| `cursor` | `string`, nullable | Opaque pagination cursor; pass it as cursor for the next page; null when not returned. |
| `has_more` | `boolean` | Whether Instagram reports another page. A false value ends pagination. |

## Pagination

Pass the response's `cursor` back as `cursor`, with the other parameters unchanged, for the next page. It's `null` on the last page. Each page costs 1 credit.

The first five pages, in JavaScript:

```js
let cursor = null;
for (let page = 1; page <= 5; page++) {
  const params = new URLSearchParams({ query: "nike" });
  if (cursor) params.set("cursor", cursor);
  const res = await fetch(`https://api.lurkapi.com/v2/instagram/reels/search?${params}`, {
    headers: { "x-api-key": process.env.LURKAPI_KEY },
  });
  const data = await res.json();
  if (!data.success) throw new Error(`${data.code}: ${data.error}`);
  console.log(data.reels);
  cursor = data.cursor;
  if (!cursor) break; // last page
}
```

## Caching and freshness

Responses are cached for up to 10 minutes, so a repeat call within that window can return the same data. It still costs 1 credit.

## Errors

Errors return `{ success: false, error, code, docs }` with the HTTP status below. Validation errors, `401`/`402`/`429` rejections and `5xx` failures are free; `not_found` is charged ([how charging works](https://lurkapi.com/docs.md#credits)). [All error codes](https://lurkapi.com/docs.md#errors).

| Status | Code | Meaning |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 401 | `missing_api_key` | No API key. Send it in the `x-api-key` header. |
| 401 | `invalid_api_key` | The key is unknown or was revoked. |
| 402 | `insufficient_credits` | Not enough credits for this call. Buy a pack or wait for tomorrow's top-up. |
| 403 | `account_suspended` | This account is suspended. Contact support@lurkapi.com. Never charged. |
| 405 | `method_not_allowed` | Endpoints take GET with query params. |
| 429 | `rate_limited` | Too many calls at once. Wait for the `retry-after` seconds, then retry. |
| 500 | `internal_error` | Something broke on our side. Retry; 5xx errors are free. |
| 502 | `upstream_error` | The platform didn't give a usable answer. Retry; 5xx errors are free. |
| 503 | `upstream_busy` | All our connections to the platform are busy. Retry in a few seconds; 5xx errors are free. |
| 504 | `upstream_timeout` | The platform took over 30 seconds to answer (90 for web pages). Retry; timeouts are free. |

## Use it in Claude

Once LurkAPI is [connected to Claude](https://lurkapi.com/docs.md#claude), this endpoint is the `instagram_reels_search` tool. Ask in plain English, for example:

Ask Claude:

```text
Use LurkAPI's instagram_reels_search with query "nike" and summarize what you find.
```

Claude calls `instagram_reels_search` with arguments like these, and each call costs 1 credit:

Tool arguments:

```json
{
  "query": "nike"
}
```

Tool results are compact to save tokens: no nulls or empty lists, one URL per image or video, transcripts as plain text unless you pass `timestamps=true`. A result over 45,000 characters comes in parts: its `_note` gives the `offset` for the rest, and later parts are free for 15 minutes. `trim=false` returns the full response.

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