Troubleshooting¶
If something is not working (or you just want to confirm your setup before leaving it running), start with the built-in self-check:
It runs a read-only preflight (it sends no emails or webhooks) and prints a PASS / WARN / FAIL report covering optional dependencies, the config file and secrets, session validity (in Logged-in mode), Instagram connectivity, whether your target accounts resolve and whether email/webhook notifications are configured. Each failure includes a To fix: next step, and the command exits non-zero if any check fails, so it is also handy in scripts. It honours the same flags as a normal run, so instagram_monitor -u <your_user> <target> --doctor checks that exact setup. The setup wizard also offers to run it at the end.
For deeper issues, run the tool with the --debug flag. It shows full HTTP traffic and internal script logic. Create a new issue in Github if you cannot fix it yourself.
Choosing the Right Logging Level¶
- Default Mode: Clean and quiet. Logs changes (new posts, bio updates, etc.) and critical errors. Best for long-term production use.
- Verbose Mode (
--verbose): Adds per-check timing details (last check, next check schedule and interval) to plain text output. Handy for background or headless runs without a dashboard, where you want to confirm in the log that the loop is running. - Debug Mode (
--debug): For developers or fixing issues. Shows full HTTP traffic and internal script logic.
Note: Both Verbose and Debug modes can be toggled live via the Settings menu in the Web Dashboard.