diff --git a/yt_dlp/extractor/instagram.py b/yt_dlp/extractor/instagram.py
index 0e726423e0..1fcf97a196 100644
--- a/yt_dlp/extractor/instagram.py
+++ b/yt_dlp/extractor/instagram.py
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 # coding: utf-8
-from __future__ import unicode_literals
 
 import itertools
 import hashlib
@@ -9,7 +8,6 @@ import time
 
 from .common import InfoExtractor
 from ..compat import (
-    compat_str,
     compat_HTTPError,
 )
 from ..utils import (
@@ -19,9 +17,8 @@ from ..utils import (
     int_or_none,
     lowercase_escape,
     std_headers,
-    try_get,
+    traverse_obj,
     url_or_none,
-    variadic,
     urlencode_postdata,
 )
 
@@ -72,6 +69,58 @@ class InstagramBaseIE(InfoExtractor):
     def _real_initialize(self):
         self._login()
 
+    def _get_count(self, media, kind, *keys):
+        return traverse_obj(
+            media, (kind, 'count'), *((f'edge_media_{key}', 'count') for key in keys),
+            expected_type=int_or_none)
+
+    def _get_dimension(self, name, media, webpage=None):
+        return (
+            traverse_obj(media, ('dimensions', name), expected_type=int_or_none)
+            or int_or_none(self._html_search_meta(
+                (f'og:video:{name}', f'video:{name}'), webpage or '', default=None)))
+
+    def _extract_nodes(self, nodes, is_direct=False):
+        for idx, node in enumerate(nodes, start=1):
+            if node.get('__typename') != 'GraphVideo' and node.get('is_video') is not True:
+                continue
+
+            video_id = node.get('shortcode')
+
+            if is_direct:
+                info = {
+                    'id': video_id or node['id'],
+                    'url': node.get('video_url'),
+                    'width': self._get_dimension('width', node),
+                    'height': self._get_dimension('height', node),
+                    'http_headers': {
+                        'Referer': 'https://www.instagram.com/',
+                    }
+                }
+            elif not video_id:
+                continue
+            else:
+                info = {
+                    '_type': 'url',
+                    'ie_key': 'Instagram',
+                    'id': video_id,
+                    'url': f'https://instagram.com/p/{video_id}',
+                }
+
+            yield {
+                **info,
+                'title': node.get('title') or (f'Video {idx}' if is_direct else None),
+                'description': traverse_obj(
+                    node, ('edge_media_to_caption', 'edges', 0, 'node', 'text'), expected_type=str),
+                'thumbnail': traverse_obj(
+                    node, 'display_url', 'thumbnail_src', 'display_src', expected_type=url_or_none),
+                'duration': float_or_none(node.get('video_duration')),
+                'timestamp': int_or_none(node.get('taken_at_timestamp')),
+                'view_count': int_or_none(node.get('video_view_count')),
+                'comment_count': self._get_count(node, 'comments', 'preview_comment', 'to_comment', 'to_parent_comment'),
+                'like_count': self._get_count(node, 'likes', 'preview_like'),
+            }
+
 
 class InstagramIOSIE(InfoExtractor):
     IE_DESC = 'IOS instagram:// URL'
@@ -234,29 +283,22 @@ class InstagramIE(InstagramBaseIE):
             return mobj.group('link')
 
     def _real_extract(self, url):
-        mobj = self._match_valid_url(url)
-        video_id = mobj.group('id')
-        url = mobj.group('url')
-
+        video_id, url = self._match_valid_url(url).group('id', 'url')
         webpage, urlh = self._download_webpage_handle(url, video_id)
-        if 'www.instagram.com/accounts/login' in urlh.geturl().rstrip('/'):
+        if 'www.instagram.com/accounts/login' in urlh.geturl():
             self.raise_login_required('You need to log in to access this content')
 
-        (media, video_url, description, thumbnails, timestamp, uploader,
-         uploader_id, like_count, comment_count, comments, height,
-         width) = [None] * 12
-
         shared_data = self._parse_json(
             self._search_regex(
                 r'window\._sharedData\s*=\s*({.+?});',
                 webpage, 'shared data', default='{}'),
             video_id, fatal=False)
-        if shared_data:
-            media = try_get(
-                shared_data,
-                (lambda x: x['entry_data']['PostPage'][0]['graphql']['shortcode_media'],
-                 lambda x: x['entry_data']['PostPage'][0]['media']),
-                dict)
+        media = traverse_obj(
+            shared_data,
+            ('entry_data', 'PostPage', 0, 'graphql', 'shortcode_media'),
+            ('entry_data', 'PostPage', 0, 'media'),
+            expected_type=dict)
+
         # _sharedData.entry_data.PostPage is empty when authenticated (see
         # https://github.com/ytdl-org/youtube-dl/pull/22880)
         if not media:
@@ -265,125 +307,71 @@ class InstagramIE(InstagramBaseIE):
                     r'window\.__additionalDataLoaded\s*\(\s*[^,]+,\s*({.+?})\s*\)\s*;',
                     webpage, 'additional data', default='{}'),
                 video_id, fatal=False)
-            if additional_data:
-                media = try_get(
-                    additional_data, lambda x: x['graphql']['shortcode_media'],
-                    dict)
-        if media:
-            video_url = media.get('video_url')
-            height = int_or_none(self._html_search_meta(('og:video:height', 'video:height'), webpage)) or try_get(media, lambda x: x['dimensions']['height'])
-            width = int_or_none(self._html_search_meta(('og:video:width', 'video:width'), webpage)) or try_get(media, lambda x: x['dimensions']['width'])
-            description = try_get(
-                media, lambda x: x['edge_media_to_caption']['edges'][0]['node']['text'],
-                compat_str) or media.get('caption')
-            title = media.get('title')
-            display_resources = media.get('display_resources')
-            if not display_resources:
-                display_resources = [{'src': media.get('display_src')}, {'src': media.get('display_url')}]
-            duration = float_or_none(media.get('video_duration'))
-            timestamp = int_or_none(media.get('taken_at_timestamp') or media.get('date'))
-            uploader = try_get(media, lambda x: x['owner']['full_name'])
-            uploader_id = try_get(media, lambda x: x['owner']['username'])
+            media = traverse_obj(additional_data, ('graphql', 'shortcode_media'), expected_type=dict) or {}
 
-            def get_count(keys, kind):
-                for key in variadic(keys):
-                    count = int_or_none(try_get(
-                        media, (lambda x: x['edge_media_%s' % key]['count'],
-                                lambda x: x['%ss' % kind]['count'])))
-                    if count is not None:
-                        return count
-
-            like_count = get_count('preview_like', 'like')
-            comment_count = get_count(
-                ('preview_comment', 'to_comment', 'to_parent_comment'), 'comment')
-
-            thumbnails = [{
-                'url': thumbnail['src'],
-                'width': thumbnail.get('config_width'),
-                'height': thumbnail.get('config_height'),
-            } for thumbnail in display_resources if thumbnail.get('src')]
-
-            comments = []
-            for comment in try_get(media, lambda x: x['edge_media_to_parent_comment']['edges']):
-                comment_dict = comment.get('node', {})
-                comment_text = comment_dict.get('text')
-                if comment_text:
-                    comments.append({
-                        'author': try_get(comment_dict, lambda x: x['owner']['username']),
-                        'author_id': try_get(comment_dict, lambda x: x['owner']['id']),
-                        'id': comment_dict.get('id'),
-                        'text': comment_text,
-                        'timestamp': int_or_none(comment_dict.get('created_at')),
-                    })
-            if not video_url:
-                edges = try_get(
-                    media, lambda x: x['edge_sidecar_to_children']['edges'],
-                    list) or []
-                if edges:
-                    entries = []
-                    for edge_num, edge in enumerate(edges, start=1):
-                        node = try_get(edge, lambda x: x['node'], dict)
-                        if not node:
-                            continue
-                        node_video_url = url_or_none(node.get('video_url'))
-                        if not node_video_url:
-                            continue
-                        entries.append({
-                            'id': node.get('shortcode') or node['id'],
-                            'title': node.get('title') or 'Video %d' % edge_num,
-                            'url': node_video_url,
-                            'thumbnail': node.get('display_url'),
-                            'duration': float_or_none(node.get('video_duration')),
-                            'width': int_or_none(try_get(node, lambda x: x['dimensions']['width'])),
-                            'height': int_or_none(try_get(node, lambda x: x['dimensions']['height'])),
-                            'view_count': int_or_none(node.get('video_view_count')),
-                        })
-                    return self.playlist_result(
-                        entries, video_id,
-                        'Post by %s' % uploader_id if uploader_id else None,
-                        description)
-
-        if not video_url:
-            video_url = self._og_search_video_url(webpage, secure=False)
-
-        formats = [{
-            'url': video_url,
-            'width': width,
-            'height': height,
-        }]
-        dash = try_get(media, lambda x: x['dash_info']['video_dash_manifest'])
-        if dash:
-            formats.extend(self._parse_mpd_formats(self._parse_xml(dash, video_id), mpd_id='dash'))
-        self._sort_formats(formats)
-
-        if not uploader_id:
-            uploader_id = self._search_regex(
-                r'"owner"\s*:\s*{\s*"username"\s*:\s*"(.+?)"',
-                webpage, 'uploader id', fatal=False)
+        uploader_id = traverse_obj(media, ('owner', 'username')) or self._search_regex(
+            r'"owner"\s*:\s*{\s*"username"\s*:\s*"(.+?)"', webpage, 'uploader id', fatal=False)
 
+        description = (
+            traverse_obj(media, ('edge_media_to_caption', 'edges', 0, 'node', 'text'), expected_type=str)
+            or media.get('caption'))
         if not description:
             description = self._search_regex(
                 r'"caption"\s*:\s*"(.+?)"', webpage, 'description', default=None)
             if description is not None:
                 description = lowercase_escape(description)
 
-        if not thumbnails:
-            thumbnails = self._og_search_thumbnail(webpage)
+        video_url = media.get('video_url')
+        if not video_url:
+            nodes = traverse_obj(media, ('edge_sidecar_to_children', 'edges', ..., 'node'), expected_type=dict) or []
+            if nodes:
+                return self.playlist_result(
+                    self._extract_nodes(nodes, True), video_id,
+                    'Post by %s' % uploader_id if uploader_id else None, description)
+
+            video_url = self._og_search_video_url(webpage, secure=False)
+
+        formats = [{
+            'url': video_url,
+            'width': self._get_dimension('width', media, webpage),
+            'height': self._get_dimension('height', media, webpage),
+        }]
+        dash = traverse_obj(media, ('dash_info', 'video_dash_manifest'))
+        if dash:
+            formats.extend(self._parse_mpd_formats(self._parse_xml(dash, video_id), mpd_id='dash'))
+        self._sort_formats(formats)
+
+        comments = [{
+            'author': traverse_obj(comment_dict, ('node', 'owner', 'username')),
+            'author_id': traverse_obj(comment_dict, ('node', 'owner', 'id')),
+            'id': traverse_obj(comment_dict, ('node', 'id')),
+            'text': traverse_obj(comment_dict, ('node', 'text')),
+            'timestamp': traverse_obj(comment_dict, ('node', 'created_at'), expected_type=int_or_none),
+        } for comment_dict in traverse_obj(media, ('edge_media_to_parent_comment', 'edges'))]
+
+        display_resources = (
+            media.get('display_resources')
+            or [{'src': media.get(key)} for key in ('display_src', 'display_url')]
+            or [{'src': self._og_search_thumbnail(webpage)}])
+        thumbnails = [{
+            'url': thumbnail['src'],
+            'width': thumbnail.get('config_width'),
+            'height': thumbnail.get('config_height'),
+        } for thumbnail in display_resources if thumbnail.get('src')]
 
         return {
             'id': video_id,
             'formats': formats,
-            'ext': 'mp4',
-            'title': title or 'Video by %s' % uploader_id,
+            'title': media.get('title') or 'Video by %s' % uploader_id,
             'description': description,
-            'duration': duration,
-            'thumbnails': thumbnails,
-            'timestamp': timestamp,
+            'duration': float_or_none(media.get('video_duration')),
+            'timestamp': traverse_obj(media, 'taken_at_timestamp', 'date', expected_type=int_or_none),
             'uploader_id': uploader_id,
-            'uploader': uploader,
-            'like_count': like_count,
-            'comment_count': comment_count,
+            'uploader': traverse_obj(media, ('owner', 'full_name')),
+            'like_count': self._get_count(media, 'likes', 'preview_like'),
+            'comment_count': self._get_count(media, 'comments', 'preview_comment', 'to_comment', 'to_parent_comment'),
             'comments': comments,
+            'thumbnails': thumbnails,
             'http_headers': {
                 'Referer': 'https://www.instagram.com/',
             }
@@ -402,10 +390,6 @@ class InstagramPlaylistBaseIE(InstagramBaseIE):
 
     def _extract_graphql(self, data, url):
         # Parses GraphQL queries containing videos and generates a playlist.
-        def get_count(suffix):
-            return int_or_none(try_get(
-                node, lambda x: x['edge_media_' + suffix]['count']))
-
         uploader_id = self._match_id(url)
         csrf_token = data['config']['csrf_token']
         rhx_gis = data.get('rhx_gis') or '3c7ca9dcefcf966d11dacf1f151335e8'
@@ -454,55 +438,14 @@ class InstagramPlaylistBaseIE(InstagramBaseIE):
                             continue
                     raise
 
-            edges = media.get('edges')
-            if not edges or not isinstance(edges, list):
+            nodes = traverse_obj(media, ('edges', ..., 'node'), expected_type=dict) or []
+            if not nodes:
                 break
+            yield from self._extract_nodes(nodes)
 
-            for edge in edges:
-                node = edge.get('node')
-                if not node or not isinstance(node, dict):
-                    continue
-                if node.get('__typename') != 'GraphVideo' and node.get('is_video') is not True:
-                    continue
-                video_id = node.get('shortcode')
-                if not video_id:
-                    continue
-
-                info = self.url_result(
-                    'https://instagram.com/p/%s/' % video_id,
-                    ie=InstagramIE.ie_key(), video_id=video_id)
-
-                description = try_get(
-                    node, lambda x: x['edge_media_to_caption']['edges'][0]['node']['text'],
-                    compat_str)
-                thumbnail = node.get('thumbnail_src') or node.get('display_src')
-                timestamp = int_or_none(node.get('taken_at_timestamp'))
-
-                comment_count = get_count('to_comment')
-                like_count = get_count('preview_like')
-                view_count = int_or_none(node.get('video_view_count'))
-
-                info.update({
-                    'description': description,
-                    'thumbnail': thumbnail,
-                    'timestamp': timestamp,
-                    'comment_count': comment_count,
-                    'like_count': like_count,
-                    'view_count': view_count,
-                })
-
-                yield info
-
-            page_info = media.get('page_info')
-            if not page_info or not isinstance(page_info, dict):
-                break
-
-            has_next_page = page_info.get('has_next_page')
-            if not has_next_page:
-                break
-
-            cursor = page_info.get('end_cursor')
-            if not cursor or not isinstance(cursor, compat_str):
+            has_next_page = traverse_obj(media, ('page_info', 'has_next_page'))
+            cursor = traverse_obj(media, ('page_info', 'end_cursor'), expected_type=str)
+            if not has_next_page or not cursor:
                 break
 
     def _real_extract(self, url):