Use Threads Public Post, Reply & Profile Data Extractor with Python
Pull posts, replies, media, reposts, keyword search, hashtag search, or a post's reply thread from Threads, with real engagement counts, captions, media, and profile bios.
1. Choose the data you need
Review the published README for supported collection modes, examples, and limits. The recipe below uses the current published input definition.
2. Prepare a source-based input
This JSON contains published prefills and required-field defaults. Review every value for your task before running it; it is not a promise of successful collection.
{
"includeMediaUrls": false,
"includeProfileInfo": true,
"maxItems": 3,
"mode": "profile",
"postUrls": [
"https://www.threads.com/@zuck/post/DZpPDXbCeTt"
],
"searchQueries": [
"openai"
],
"sortBy": "top",
"tag": "ai",
"usernames": [
"zuck"
]
}
Download input.example.json and save your reviewed copy as input.json.
| Field | Type | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
mode | string | required | What to collect from Threads. |
usernames | array | optional | Threads usernames, with or without @, or full profile URLs. Used by mode=profile / profileReplies / profileMedia / profileReposts. |
searchQueries | array | optional | Keywords, phrases, or #hashtags. Used by mode=search and mode=profilesByKeyword. |
tag | string | optional | Hashtag or topic to search without the # sign, e.g. 'ai' or 'mma'. Used by mode=tag. |
postUrls | array | optional | Threads post links (threads.com or threads.net). Each returns the post and its reply thread. Used by mode=postReplies. |
sortBy | string | optional | Order for keyword search results: Top (relevance) or Recent (newest first). 'default' is accepted as an alias of Top. |
includeProfileInfo | boolean | optional | For profile modes, also output one profile record per username with bio, follower count, verification, links, and topics. |
postedAfter | string | optional | Optional lower date bound. Accepts ISO dates (2026-01-31) or relative windows such as 7d, 24h, or 2w. |
postedBefore | string | optional | Optional upper date bound. Accepts ISO dates or relative windows such as 7d, 24h, or 2w. |
includeMediaUrls | boolean | optional | Store photos and videos in the run's key-value store so their links keep working after Threads' signed CDN links expire. Turn off to keep the original links. |
maxItems | integer | optional | Maximum number of post, reply, or discovered-profile records to return. |
3. Start an Actor run
Set APIFY_TOKEN in your environment. Python 3.10 or newer is sufficient; this recipe uses no third-party packages.
Execution may incur charges. Review current pricing on Apify. The request asks for a 120-second timeout and a charge limit; these settings are subject to Apify’s pricing and do not guarantee an all-inclusive spending cap.
import json
import os
import urllib.request
# Save the schema-derived example as input.json; review and edit it first.
with open("input.json", encoding="utf-8") as stream:
actor_input = json.load(stream)
token = os.environ["APIFY_TOKEN"]
request = urllib.request.Request(
"https://api.apify.com/v2/acts/NDX2IJDj7DrmBJF2J/runs?timeout=120&maxTotalChargeUsd=0.50",
data=json.dumps(actor_input).encode("utf-8"),
headers={"Authorization": "Bearer " + token, "Content-Type": "application/json"},
method="POST",
)
# This starts a potentially billable run. Do not automatically retry this POST.
with urllib.request.urlopen(request, timeout=40) as response:
run = json.load(response)["data"]
print("Run ID:", run["id"])
print("Status:", run["status"])
# Inspect and download results in Apify Console once the run succeeds.
4. Inspect the actual results
Open the run in Apify Console and wait for a successful completion. Use the published output schema to locate results and the dataset schema to understand declared views. Missing or optional record fields must not be treated as guaranteed values.
Public Threads posts, replies, search results, and profile records collected without login.
Questions before you run
Which inputs are required?
The published required fields are mode
What does this guide verify?
The fields, prefills, and schema links are rendered from the published build. This is a usage recipe, not a paid live extraction test. Source availability and collection results can vary.
What if the run request times out?
Check Apify Console before retrying. The first request may already have created a run. Do not automatically repeat a run-creation POST.
Generated from source build d7qMXpvrFIJaCSAhs and its README and schemas. Source changes regenerate this guide; no third-party editorial claims are inferred.