[QUESTION] Can't login (Checkpoint challenge required/Not possible to log in)

[a1ym]

Before submitting an issue, make sure you have:

• Updated to the lastest version
• Read the README
• Searched the bugtracker for similar issues including closed ones
• Reviewed the sample code in tests and examples

Which example file are you using?

follow_user_followers.py

---

Describe your Question/Issue:

I have looked at all the issues and "fixes" but nothing seems to work.
I tried:
resetting password and deleting the secret.txt file
enableing/disableing 2FA
temporarely disableing my account for 3 hours and logging in with the bot
all of these methods got me to the same issue. The other fixes I took a look at involved modifying the script which for me wasn't explained clear enough how to do it. Instead of linking the previous issues (all of which I've looked at), please share what could be done. Thank you!

---

Paste the output of python -V here: Python 3.8.0

Code you are using:

"""
    instabot example
    Workflow:
        Follow user's followers by username.
"""

import argparse
import os
import sys

sys.path.append(os.path.join(sys.path[0], "../"))
from instabot import Bot  # noqa: E402

parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(add_help=True)
parser.add_argument("-u", type=str, help="username")
parser.add_argument("-p", type=str, help="password")
parser.add_argument("-proxy", type=str, help="proxy")
parser.add_argument("users", type=str, nargs="+", help="users")
args = parser.parse_args()

bot = Bot()
bot.login(username=args.u, password=args.p, proxy=args.proxy, ask_for_code=True)

for username in args.users:
    bot.follow_followers(username)

Error/Debug Log:

#This is when the 2FA is enabled:
2020-02-13 23:54:07,543 - DEBUG - POST to endpoint: challenge/27616976567/xRUOIHorKe/ returned response: <Response [200]>
2020-02-13 23:54:07,543 - ERROR - Not possible to log in. Reset and try again
2020-02-13 23:54:07,544 - ERROR - Failed to login
2020-02-13 23:54:07,544 - INFO - Username or password is incorrect.


#When 2FA is disabled:
2020-02-13 23:48:04,231 - ERROR - Request returns 400 error!
2020-02-13 23:48:04,231 - INFO - Instagram's error message: challenge_required
2020-02-13 23:48:04,231 - INFO - Error type: checkpoint_challenge_required
2020-02-13 23:48:04,232 - INFO - Checkpoint challenge required...
2020-02-13 23:48:04,232 - INFO - Follow followers of: user
2020-02-13 23:48:04,232 - CRITICAL - Not logged in!

[bruvv]

Can you post the full log file that is in log directory ?

[a1ym]

@bruvv here you go:

2020-02-14 14:24:00,213 - instabot version: 0.107.0 (bot) - INFO - Instabot version: 0.107.0 Started
2020-02-14 14:24:07,386 - instabot version: 0.107.0 (api_login) - INFO - PRE-LOGIN FLOW!... 
2020-02-14 14:24:16,574 - instabot version: 0.107.0 (api) - ERROR - Request returns 400 error!
2020-02-14 14:24:16,574 - instabot version: 0.107.0 (api) - INFO - Instagram's error message: challenge_required
2020-02-14 14:24:16,574 - instabot version: 0.107.0 (api) - INFO - Error type: checkpoint_challenge_required
2020-02-14 14:24:16,574 - instabot version: 0.107.0 (api) - INFO - Checkpoint challenge required...
2020-02-14 14:24:16,574 - instabot version: 0.107.0 (bot_follow) - INFO - Follow followers of: user
2020-02-14 14:24:16,574 - instabot version: 0.107.0 (api) - CRITICAL - Not logged in!

@bruvv any ideas?

[kozyemoloko]

I have exactly the same problem. I also tried many fixes that are in the issue section and nothing works.
@bruvv seems like you can help?

[a1ym]

I just realised that I can log in when running "python instabot_py" line with the config. After I ran it, a .session file was created for my username. Perhaps there is a way to use the created .session file with the script i'm trying to run?

[bruvv]

@kozyemoloko do my best :)

@mamk02 what do you mean? What script do you run? can you copy paste the code between code markups?

[a1ym]

I meant that I use the follow_user_followers.py from the examples folder: https://github.com/instagrambot/instabot/blob/master/examples/follow_user_followers.py
I also posted the code above in the first comment.

[bruvv]

can you than eleborate this sentence?

I just realised that I can log in when running "python instabot_py" line with the config.

[a1ym]

So I only get the error when I type in the cmd "python follow_user_followers.py user". However when I type in cmd "python instabot_py" (with the instabot.config.yml where i specified the username, password and other details), the bot logs in without any errors.

[kozyemoloko]

@bruvv thank you!

@mamk02 I also tried what you did (running “python instabot_py”) and it worked for me. But just like you said, it still cannot log in when running one of the example scripts. Someone suggested to try using a VPN; which I tried and was unsuccessful.

[a1ym]

@bruvv sorry I meant the other git. https://github.com/instabot-py/instabot.py this one works for me. I didn't realise that these projects are not related to each other.

[prundianudaniel]

any news? Have the same issue...

[a1ym]

Nope, couldn't find any solution yet :(

[nizarganteng]

yeah i have the same issue... ,I have tried to give suggestions, the suggestions is "I think you need to use the script saving cookies, so when I accept the login challenge, this challenge in the next login is not show again" ,like this script https://github.com/instabot-py/instabot.py he use that method (saving cookies)

[alimehdipk]

I started using this bot yesterday. I had no issue until today when I tried with another account. to my understanding, you are not saving the cookies. as @nizarganteng mentioned you have to save the cookies. I tried duplicating the cookies and updated the detail of the cookies from my chrome's login cookies. and Viola! it worked.

[alicnakar]

how do we save cookies ?

[a1ym]

Thanks for the suggestion. But i don't really know how to do that. Could you please explain how it could be done? Thank you!

[alimehdipk]

you have to create a cookie.json file even in the case of unsuccessful login save all the info needed in that file. just like you are creating in a successful login.

[alicnakar]

ımm sorry, with which codes can I create :(

[nizarganteng]

@bruvv maybe you can learn this script https://github.com/instabot-py/instabot.py he script is include save cookies ,but the problem that script in me is "Trying to comment" (not succes comment)

[alicnakar]

you have to create a cookie.json file even in the case of unsuccessful login save all the info needed in that file. just like you are creating in a successful login.

I export instagram cookies from chrome. How do i use this. teach me teacher :)

[soulpawa]

I was able to jump checkpoint challenge using the correct python

before I was using
python like_hashtag.py #god and I was getting the error, as soon as I changed to:
python3.7 like_hashtag.py #god the challenge error just gone.

[nizarganteng]

I was able to jump checkpoint challenge using the correct python

before I was using
python like_hashtag.py #god and I was getting the error, as soon as I changed to:
python3.7 like_hashtag.py #god the challenge error just gone.

i try use Python 3.7.6 still get Error type: checkpoint_challenge_required

[a1ym]

i try use Python 3.7.6 still get Error type: checkpoint_challenge_required

same... i guess using the cookies is the only way to solve this problem but i still couldnt figure out how to do that.

[returnWOW]

instabot api saved cookie like this(path in config, named xxx_uuid_and_cookie.json,'xxx' should replace by your ins username),you should modify some value like phone_id or uuid by random，and replace some cookie value by success login by browser(like csrftoken......). modified and save the session file in config path, first login with the session file should show error logout,but finally should be success.This is the way from my tested.Sorry for my bad English.

The session json：
{"uuids": {"phone_id": "5c7ee0b5-d418-4c81-b262-01604e720930", "uuid": "4e8eb26e-aa37-49d1-b15d-304a55e9aa39", "client_session_id": "6aad754e-0112-4e9c-8219-64ffd8dd42e7", "advertising_id": "3f0397c6-5505-1123-ba15-5cc3a88cce06", "device_id": "android-3f8a0210d66a528e"}, "cookie": {"csrftoken": "xxx", "ds_user": "user_namexxx", "ds_user_id": "xxx", "ig_direct_region_hint": "ATN", "igfl": "user_namexxx", "is_starred_enabled": "yes", "mid": "xxx", "rur": "VLL", "sessionid": "xxx", "shbid": "8030", "shbts": "1584716107.9241214", "urlgen": "xxx", "timing_value": {"last_login": 1584284362.348525, "last_experiments": 1584284361.195544}, "device_settings": {"app_version": "117.0.0.28.123", "android_version": "28", "android_release": "9.0", "dpi": "420dpi", "resolution": "1080x1920", "manufacturer": "OnePlus", "device": "ONEPLUS A3003", "model": "OnePlus3", "cpu": "qcom", "version_code": "180322800"}, "user_agent": "Instagram 117.0.0.28.123 Android (28/9.0; 420dpi; 1080x1920; OnePlus; ONEPLUS A3003; OnePlus3; qcom; en_US; 180322800)"}

[leon-wbr]

I can't find the file you're referring to, @returnWOW. Any help?

[returnWOW]

I can't find the file you're referring to, @returnWOW. Any help?

You can copy my above commented json string, to replace your account cookie on json key "cookie" area, after, Save the file in code path called "./config", right now you can try to using your account name to login. waiting few minutes and see login success. Sorry foy my bad English.

[leon-wbr]

I don't understand how this file is supposed to be loaded, do I need to add anything to my configuration? @returnWOW

[returnWOW]

I don't understand how this file is supposed to be loaded, do I need to add anything to my configuration? @returnWOW

from api, login succeed, after ,this file auto maintained (generate)by api, but you can first make it by your self, so in this way can jump through login check challenging

[leon-wbr]

Getting a KeyError for timing_value now @returnWOW, any ideas?

[leon-wbr]

Well, the cookie just logs out the device I got it from, giving back 403.

Edit: Nevermind. It detects the cookie as broken and tries logging in again, which promptly works. Interesting! How to:

• Log into instagram using your browser, use the inspector to get cookie parameters (use Google if you don't know how to do this)
• Create a file in the config subdirectory called {username}_uuid_and_cookie.json with this content:

{
  "uuids": {
    "phone_id": "5c7ee0b6-d420-4c83-b252-01503e701340",
    "uuid": "4e3eb35e-aa39-39d1-b16d-204a45e4aa73",
    "client_session_id": "6abc534e-0213-5e3c-2159-64eef3dd42e7",
    "advertising_id": "3f0397c6-5505-1123-ba15-5dd3a8acce06",
    "device_id": "android-3f8a1301e66b623e"},
    "cookie": {
      "csrftoken": "xxx",
      "ds_user": "xxx (your username)",
      "ds_user_id": "xxx",
      "ig_direct_region_hint": "FRC",
      "ig_did": "xxx",
      "igfl": "xxx (your username)",
      "is_starred_enabled": "yes",
      "mid": "xxx",
      "rur": "xxx",
      "sessionid": "xxx",
      "shbid": "xxx",
      "shbts": "xxx",
      "urlgen": "xxx"
    },
    "timing_value": {
      "last_login": 1584284362.348525,
      "last_experiments": 1584284361.195544
    },
    "device_settings": {
      "app_version": "117.0.0.28.123",
      "android_version": "28",
      "android_release": "9.0",
      "dpi": "420dpi",
      "resolution": "1080x1920",
      "manufacturer": "Huawei",
      "device": "Mate 10 Pro",
      "model": "Mate 10 Pro",
      "cpu": "qcom",
      "version_code": "180322800"
    },
    "user_agent": "Instagram 117.0.0.28.123 Android (28/9.0; 420dpi; 1080x1920; Huawei; HUAWEI MATE 10 PRO; Mate10Pro; qcom; de_DE; 180322800)"
}

• In the file, you need to replace the xxx values with the values from your cookie.
• Upon starting your script, it will detect the cookie as broken and try logging in again, which will now work.

Not guaranteed to work, but did for me.

[leon-wbr]

This should be marked as an actual issue since the bug is somewhat consistently reproducible.

If someone is willing to try out a proper fix, I'm thinking it'd probably be possible to avoid the checkpoint by using a usual browser user agent. After any successful login, we could switch the cookie over to use a mobile user agent again to gain all functions.

[bruvv]

That will be great if we can develop that. Does that mean we should include selenium ?

[a1ym]

@leon-wbr wow thank you so much! It's finally working for me! :D