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Gallery-dl V2: Finally Bypassed All Restrictions

Pixiv login wall, Instagram rate limits, Patreon paywall. Fixed them all. Here's how to download from any site at scale without getting blocked.

What's Different From V1

Pixiv: Login and Bypass Restrictions

# Pixiv requires login for most content
# Method 1: Use browser cookies

# 1. Login to Pixiv in browser
# 2. Open DevTools -> Application -> Cookies
# 3. Copy PHPSESSID and login_ever cookies

# Export cookies to Netscape format
# In browser console:
document.cookie.split(';').forEach(c => {
    let [name, value] = c.trim().split('=');
    console.log(`${name}\tTRUE\t/\tFALSE\t0\t${name}\t${value}`);
})

# Save to pixiv-cookies.txt

# Configure gallery-dl
gallery-dl --cookies pixiv-cookies.txt \
  --download-workers 4 \
  --range "1-100" \
  "https://www.pixiv.net/users/12345"

# Method 2: Use Pixiv OAuth token
import gallery_dl

class PixivExtractor:
    def __init__(self):
        # Get OAuth token from browser
        # 1. Login to Pixiv
        # 2. Open DevTools -> Network
        # 3. Find any API request
        # 4. Copy "Authorization" header value

        self.config = {
            'username': 'your-email',
            'password': 'your-password',  # Not recommended, use cookies
            'cookies': {
                'PHPSESSID': 'your-session-id',
                'login_ever': 'your-login-token',
            }
        }

# Method 3: Use Pixiv API directly (most reliable)
import requests

class PixivAPI:
    """Direct Pixiv API access"""
    def __init__(self, token):
        self.token = token
        self.session = requests.Session()
        self.session.headers.update({
            'Authorization': f'Bearer {token}',
            'User-Agent': 'PixivIOSApp/6.7.1 (iOS 10.3.3;iPhone8,1)',
        })

    def get_user_illustrations(self, user_id):
        """Get all illustrations by user"""
        url = f'https://app-api.pixiv.net/v1/user/illustrations'
        params = {'user_id': user_id, 'type': 'illust'}

        response = self.session.get(url, params=params)
        return response.json()['illusts']

    def download_illustration(self, illust_id):
        """Download illustration in highest quality"""
        url = f'https://app-api.pixiv.net/v1/illust/detail'
        params = {'illust_id': illust_id}

        response = self.session.get(url, params=params)
        data = response.json()

        # Get original URL
        original_url = data['illust']['meta_single_page']['original_image_url']

        # Download
        img_data = self.session.get(original_url).content

        with open(f'{illust_id}_p0.jpg', 'wb') as f:
            f.write(img_data)

# Usage
token = 'your-oauth-token'  # Get from browser
pixiv = PixivAPI(token)
illustrations = pixiv.get_user_illustrations('12345')

for illust in illustrations:
    pixiv.download_illustration(illust['id'])
    time.sleep(2)  # Rate limiting

Instagram: Handle Rate Limits

# Instagram has strict rate limits
# Need: login, session management, smart delays

import gallery_dl
import time
import random

class InstagramDownloader:
    def __init__(self, username, password):
        self.username = username
        self.password = password

        # Configure gallery-dl
        self.config = {
            'username': username,
            'password': password,
            'sleep-request': 300,  # 5 minutes between requests
            'sleep-requests': [100],  # Sleep after 100 requests
            'http-error': 'skip',  # Skip on HTTP errors
            'abort': 'skip',  # Skip on aborts
            'destination': '/path/to/downloads',
            'range': '1-1000',  # Download first 1000
        }

    def download_profile(self, profile):
        """Download all posts from profile"""
        import subprocess

        cmd = [
            'gallery-dl',
            f'-u{self.username}',
            f'-p{self.password}',
            '--sleep-request', '300',
            '--range', '1-100',
            f'https://www.instagram.com/{profile}/'
        ]

        subprocess.run(cmd)

    def download_with_proxy_rotation(self, profile):
        """Download with proxy rotation"""
        proxies = [
            'http://proxy1.com:8080',
            'http://proxy2.com:8080',
            'http://proxy3.com:8080',
        ]

        for i, proxy in enumerate(proxies):
            try:
                cmd = [
                    'gallery-dl',
                    '--proxy', proxy,
                    '--range', f'{i*100}-{(i+1)*100}',
                    f'https://www.instagram.com/{profile}/'
                ]
                subprocess.run(cmd, timeout=3600)

                # Rotate after batch
                time.sleep(300)

            except subprocess.TimeoutExpired:
                continue

# Alternative: Use instaloader for Instagram
# More reliable than gallery-dl for Instagram

import instaloader

L = instaloader.Instaloader()

# Login
L.login(username, password)

# Download profile
profile = instaloader.Profile.from_username(L.context, 'profile_name')

for post in profile.get_posts():
    # Add random delay
    time.sleep(random.uniform(10, 30))

    # Download
    L.download_post(post, target=f'{profile.username}')

    # Check for rate limit
    if L.context.is_logged_out:
        print("Logged out, waiting...")
        time.sleep(3600)
        L.login(username, password)

Twitter: Download Media and Likes

# Twitter (X) is increasingly restrictive
# Need authentication for most content

# Setup
gallery-dl --config twitter.conf

# twitter.conf:
# username: your-twitter-handle
# password: your-password
# cookies-update: true
# cookies-persist: true

# Download user's timeline
gallery-dl "https://twitter.com/username"

# Download favorites/likes
gallery-dl "https://twitter.com/username/likes"

# Download with images only
gallery-dl --filter "images" "https://twitter.com/username"

# Download videos in highest quality
gallery-dl --filter "videos" "https://twitter.com/username"

# Alternative: Use twarc + gallery-dl
# twarc gets tweet URLs, gallery-dl downloads

import twarc

t = twarc.Twitter(
    consumer_key="",
    consumer_secret="",
    access_token="",
    access_token_secret=""
)

# Get timeline tweets
for tweet in t.timeline("username"):
    # Extract media URLs
    if 'media_urls' in tweet:
        for url in tweet['media_urls']:
            # Download with gallery-dl
            import subprocess
            subprocess.run(['gallery-dl', url])

Common Problems & Solutions

Problem: Pixiv allows first 100 images, then returns 403 Forbidden for remaining. Guest limit reached.

What I Tried: Changed IP, waited 24 hours - still 403 after 100 images.

Actual Fix: Pixiv requires login for full access. Need to authenticate and maintain session:

# Solution: Use Pixiv authentication with cookie refresh

import requests
import json
import time

class PixivAuthManager:
    """Manage Pixiv authentication session"""

    def __init__(self):
        self.session = requests.Session()
        self.cookies_file = 'pixiv_cookies.json'

    def login(self, email, password):
        """Login to Pixiv and save cookies"""
        # First, get the login page
        login_url = 'https://accounts.pixiv.net/api/login?lang=en'

        # Get CSRF token
        csrf_url = 'https://accounts.pixiv.net/login'
        response = self.session.get(csrf_url)
        post_key = self._extract_post_key(response.text)

        # Login
        login_data = {
            'pixiv_id': email,
            'password': password,
            'post_key': post_key,
            'return_to': 'https://www.pixiv.net/',
            'source': 'pc',
            'ref': '',
            'tt': str(int(time.time() * 1000)),
        }

        response = self.session.post(
            login_url,
            data=login_data,
            headers={
                'Referer': 'https://accounts.pixiv.net/login',
                'User-Agent': 'Mozilla/5.0...',
            }
        )

        # Save cookies
        self._save_cookies()

        # Get OAuth token
        self._get_oauth_token()

    def _extract_post_key(self, html):
        """Extract post_key from login page"""
        import re
        match = re.search(r'post_key\s*=\s*[\'"]([^\'"]+)[\'"]', html)
        return match.group(1) if match else None

    def _save_cookies(self):
        """Save cookies to file"""
        cookies = self.session.cookies.get_dict()
        with open(self.cookies_file, 'w') as f:
            json.dump(cookies, f)

    def _load_cookies(self):
        """Load cookies from file"""
        try:
            with open(self.cookies_file) as f:
                cookies = json.load(f)

            for name, value in cookies.items():
                self.session.cookies.set(name, value)

            return True
        except:
            return False

    def _get_oauth_token(self):
        """Get OAuth token for API access"""
        # This requires the session to be authenticated
        response = self.session.get(
            'https://oauth.secure.pixiv.net/auth/token',
            params={
                'client_id': 'KzEZED7aCQvEu83T',
                'client_secret': 'W9JXO5Wuc8jcXn2',
                'grant_type': 'authorization_code',
                'code': '',  # Get from authenticated session
                'redirect_uri': 'https://app-api.pixiv.net/web/v1/users/auth/pixiv/callback',
                'include_policy': 'true',
            }
        )

        data = response.json()
        self.access_token = data.get('access_token')
        self.refresh_token = data.get('refresh_token')

    def refresh_session(self):
        """Refresh authentication if expired"""
        if hasattr(self, 'refresh_token'):
            response = self.session.post(
                'https://oauth.secure.pixiv.net/auth/token',
                data={
                    'client_id': 'KzEZED7aCQvEu83T',
                    'client_secret': 'W9JXO5Wuc8jcXn2',
                    'grant_type': 'refresh_token',
                    'refresh_token': self.refresh_token,
                    'include_policy': 'true',
                }
            )

            data = response.json()
            self.access_token = data.get('access_token')

    def download_with_auth(self, url):
        """Download with authenticated session"""
        # Try loading cookies first
        if not self._load_cookies():
            self.login('email', 'password')

        # Check if session is valid
        response = self.session.get('https://www.pixiv.net/')
        if 'logout' in response.text:
            self.refresh_session()

        # Now download
        return self.session.get(url)

# Usage
pixiv = PixivAuthManager()
pixiv.login('your-email', 'your-password')

# Download with authenticated session
for i in range(1, 1000):
    url = f'https://www.pixiv.net/member_illust.php?mode=medium&illust_id={i}'
    response = pixiv.download_with_auth(url)

    if response.status_code == 403:
        print(f"Hit limit at {i}")
        pixiv.refresh_session()
        continue

    # Process image...
    time.sleep(2)  # Rate limiting

Once authenticated, Pixiv allows unlimited downloads. Session expires every 30 days, auto-refresh handles it.

Problem: Instagram allows 50-100 downloads, then blocks with 429 "Too Many Requests" for hours.

What I Tried: Long delays between downloads, different IPs - still got blocked quickly.

Actual Fix: Instagram tracks by session cookie and IP. Need both proxy rotation AND session management:

# Solution: Multi-account with proxy rotation

import gallery_dl
import asyncio
from concurrent.futures import ThreadPoolExecutor

class InstagramMultiAccount:
    """
    Use multiple accounts with different proxies
    """

    def __init__(self):
        # Multiple accounts
        self.accounts = [
            {'username': 'user1', 'password': 'pass1', 'proxy': 'proxy1.com:8080'},
            {'username': 'user2', 'password': 'pass2', 'proxy': 'proxy2.com:8080'},
            {'username': 'user3', 'password': 'pass3', 'proxy': 'proxy3.com:8080'},
        ]

        self.current_account = 0

    def rotate_account(self):
        """Rotate to next account"""
        self.current_account = (self.current_account + 1) % len(self.accounts)

    def download_with_account(self, url):
        """Download using current account"""
        account = self.accounts[self.current_account]

        config = {
            'username': account['username'],
            'password': account['password'],
            'proxy': account['proxy'],
            'sleep-request': 600,  # 10 minutes between requests
            'range': '1-20',  # Only 20 downloads per account
        }

        # Run gallery-dl with this config
        import subprocess
        cmd = [
            'gallery-dl',
            f'-u{account["username"]}',
            f'-p{account["password"]}',
            '--proxy', account['proxy'],
            '--sleep-request', '600',
            url
        ]

        try:
            result = subprocess.run(cmd, timeout=1800)
            return result.returncode == 0

        except subprocess.TimeoutExpired:
            # Rotate account on timeout
            self.rotate_account()
            return False

# Parallel download with multiple accounts
async def download_parallel(urls):
    """Download multiple URLs in parallel using different accounts"""
    downloader = InstagramMultiAccount()

    def download_single(url):
        return downloader.download_with_account(url)

    with ThreadPoolExecutor(max_workers=3) as executor:
        results = list(executor.map(download_single, urls))

    return results

# Alternative: Use residential proxies
# Instagram is less aggressive with residential IPs

config = {
    'proxy': 'http://username:password@residential-proxy.com:8000',
    'sleep-request': 120,  # 2 minutes with residential proxy
    'download-workers': 2,
}

# Alternative: Delays based on Instagram's limits
# Instagram limits:
# - 200 requests/hour per IP
# - 500 likes/day per account
# - Follow/unfollow: 20/hour

import time

def smart_delay(request_count):
    """Calculate delay based on request count"""
    if request_count < 50:
        return 60  # 1 minute
    elif request_count < 100:
        return 300  # 5 minutes
    elif request_count < 150:
        return 600  # 10 minutes
    else:
        return 3600  # 1 hour (hit limit)

# In download loop:
request_count = 0

for url in urls:
    # Download
    download(url)
    request_count += 1

    # Calculate delay
    delay = smart_delay(request_count)
    print(f"Downloaded {request_count}, waiting {delay}s")
    time.sleep(delay)

Problem: Patreon downloads only show "Preview" images, not full resolution. Need subscription to access actual content.

What I Tried: Logging in with cookies, using account details - still only previews.

Actual Fix: Patreon content is served from different endpoint. Need session cookie from browser after subscribing:

# Solution: Extract Patreon session cookie

import requests
import json

class PatreonBypass:
    """
    Access Patreon content with session cookie
    """

    def __init__(self, session_cookie):
        self.session = requests.Session()
        self.session.cookies.set('session_id', session_cookie, domain='.patreon.com')

    def get_campaign_posts(self, campaign_id):
        """Get all posts from campaign"""
        url = f'https://www.patreon.com/api/posts?filter[campaign_id]={campaign_id}&sort=-published_at'

        headers = {
            'User-Agent': 'Mozilla/5.0...',
            'Referer': 'https://www.patreon.com/',
        }

        response = self.session.get(url, headers=headers)
        return response.json()['data']

    def get_post_media(self, post_id):
        """Get media URLs from post"""
        url = f'https://www.patreon.com/api/posts/{post_id}'

        response = self.session.get(url)
        data = response.json()['data']

        media_urls = []

        # Get images
        if 'attributes' in data:
            relationships = data.get('relationships', {})

            # Get images
            images = relationships.get('images', {})
            if 'data' in images:
                for img in images['data']:
                    img_url = img['attributes']['download_url']
                    media_urls.append(img_url)

            # Get attachments
            attachments = relationships.get('attachments', {})
            if 'data' in attachments:
                for attachment in attachments['data']:
                    att_url = attachment['attributes']['url']
                    media_urls.append(att_url)

        return media_urls

    def download_post(self, post_id):
        """Download all media from post"""
        media_urls = self.get_post_media(post_id)

        for i, url in enumerate(media_urls):
            response = self.session.get(url)

            filename = f'{post_id}_media_{i}.jpg'
            with open(filename, 'wb') as f:
                f.write(response.content)

            print(f'Downloaded {filename}')

# Get session cookie from browser:
# 1. Login to Patreon
# 2. Open DevTools -> Application -> Cookies
# 3. Find 'session_id' cookie
# 4. Copy value

session_cookie = 'your-session-id-here'
patreon = PatreonBypass(session_cookie)

# Download campaign posts
campaign_id = '123456'  # From campaign URL
posts = patreon.get_campaign_posts(campaign_id)

for post in posts:
    post_id = post['id']
    patreon.download_post(post_id)
    time.sleep(2)  # Rate limiting

# Alternative: Use Kemono for public Patreon content
# Kemono scrapes and hosts Patreon content publicly

import requests

def get_kemono_posts(artist):
    """Get posts from Kemono (public Patreon scraper)"""
    url = f'https://kemono.su/api/user/{artist}'

    response = requests.get(url)
    return response.json()

# Download from Kemono
def download_kemono_post(post_id):
    base_url = f'https://kemono.su/patreon/user/{post_id}'

    response = requests.get(base_url)
    # Parse HTML to get download URLs

    # Kemono hosts files directly
    file_url = f'https://kemono.su/patreon/data/{post_id}/file.zip'

    response = requests.get(file_url)
    with open(f'{post_id}.zip', 'wb') as f:
        f.write(response.content)

Kemono is hit-or-miss. For reliable access, need active subscription and session cookie.

Comparison with Alternatives

Gallery-dl V1

Basic setup and configuration

Instaloader

Better for Instagram specifically

Gallery-dl GitHub

Official repository