Import Instagram archive to a Bluesky account
Update .env.dist and README with enhanced configuration and documentation
- Expand environment configuration with granular test modes for video and image imports
- Add LOG_LEVEL setting for configurable logging verbosity
- Completely rewrite README with comprehensive project overview
- Include detailed setup instructions, features, and usage guidelines
- Add sections on test modes, simulation, and platform limitations
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README.md
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# Instagram To Bluesky
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Import all post exported from Instagram to a Bluesky account.
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Import posts exported from Instagram to a Bluesky account.
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They use the official archive export file format from Instagram, this utility reads the archive from the local disk and using the official Bluesky Typescript SDK imports the posts into the configured Bluesky account.
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This utility reads an Instagram archive from your local disk and uses the official Bluesky TypeScript SDK to import posts into your configured Bluesky account.
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[**An example of an account used to import posts from Instagram**](https://bsky.app/profile/mm-instagram-arch.bsky.social)
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⚠️ We recommend creating a specific account to test the import and not using your main Bluesky account ⚠️
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## Features
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## Which posts are NOT imported
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- Imports photos and videos from Instagram posts
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- Preserves original post dates and captions
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- Supports importing up to 4 images per post (Bluesky limit)
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- Test modes for verifying video and image imports
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- Simulation mode to estimate import time
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- Configurable date ranges for selective imports
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- Stories and post with videos, because videos are not currently supported by Bluesky.
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## Prerequisites
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## Prerequisite
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- Node.js >= 20.12.0
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- Your Instagram archive in JSON format ([download your archive here](https://www.instagram.com/download/request))
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- A Bluesky account with an App Password
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- Nodejs >= 20.12x
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- The archive of your post from the Instagram (JSON format), unzipped in your local disk ([click here to download your personal archive](https://www.instagram.com/download/request))
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## Getting Started
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## Getting started
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1. Install dependencies: `npm install`
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2. Copy `.env.dist` to `.env` and configure:
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1. Install Typescript: `npm i -g typescript`
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2. Install Node.js: `npm i -g ts-node`
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3. In the project folder run: `npm i`
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3. Create an .env file in the project folder by setting the following variables:
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```shell
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# Your Bluesky username (e.g. "username.bsky.social")
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BLUESKY_USERNAME=username.bsky.social
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# App Password from Bluesky settings
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BLUESKY_PASSWORD=your-password
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# Path to your unzipped Instagram archive
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ARCHIVE_FOLDER=./transfer/instagram-username-2025-XX-XX-hash
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```shell
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# username into which you want to import the posts (e.g. "test.bsky.social")
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BLUESKY_USERNAME=test.bsky.social
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# account password created via App Password
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BLUESKY_PASSWORD=pwd123
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# Where your archive is located
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ARCHIVE_FOLDER=./transfer/place
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# Optional settings
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SIMULATE=1 # Set to 1 to simulate import without posting
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TEST_VIDEO_MODE=0 # Set to 1 to test video imports
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TEST_IMAGE_MODE=0 # Set to 1 to test image imports
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LOG_LEVEL=debug # Set logging verbosity (debug, info, warn, error)
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MIN_DATE=2020-01-01 # Only import posts after this date
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MAX_DATE=2025-01-01 # Only import posts before this date
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```
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**I highly recommend trying to simulate the import first and import a small range of posts, using the additional parameters documented below.**
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## Running the Import
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## Running the script
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You can run the script in two ways:
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You can run the script locally: `npm start` or `npm run start_log` to write an import.log file.
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- Standard output: `npm start`
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- With logging to file: `npm run start_log`
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### Optional environment parameters
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### Test Modes
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Additionally you can set these environment variables to customize behavior:
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The project includes two test modes to verify imports:
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- `SIMULATE` = if set to "1" simulates the import by counting the posts and indicating the estimated import time.
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- `MIN_DATE` = indicates the minimum date of posts to import, ISO format (e.g. '2011-01-01' or '2011-02-09T10:30:49.000Z').
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- `MAX_DATE` = indicates the maximum date of posts to import, ISO format (e.g. '2012-01-01' or '2014-04-09T12:36:49.328Z').
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- `LOG_LEVEL` = set to 'debug' for more verbose logging output or silet to mute logging (default is 'info')
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- `TEST_VIDEO_MODE`: Tests video import functionality
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- `TEST_IMAGE_MODE`: Tests image import functionality
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Enable these by setting the corresponding environment variable to 1. Note: You cannot enable both modes simultaneously.
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### Simulation Mode
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Set `SIMULATE=1` to run a dry-run that:
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- Counts posts that would be imported
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- Estimates import time
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- Validates media files
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- Does not create any posts
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This is recommended before running an actual import.
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## Limitations
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- Maximum 4 images per post (Bluesky platform limit)
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- Maximum video size of 100MB
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- Rate limiting enforced between posts
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- Stories, and likes can not be imported.
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## License
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