diff --git a/modules/paid_content/instagram_adapter.py b/modules/paid_content/instagram_adapter.py
index ef92e4c..c748916 100644
--- a/modules/paid_content/instagram_adapter.py
+++ b/modules/paid_content/instagram_adapter.py
@@ -526,8 +526,15 @@ class InstagramAdapter(LoggingMixin):
                 row = cursor.fetchone()
                 if not row or not row[0]:
                     return None
-                cookie_list = _json.loads(row[0])
-                if not isinstance(cookie_list, list):
+                cookie_data = _json.loads(row[0])
+                # Handle both formats: flat array or {"cookies": [...]}
+                if isinstance(cookie_data, dict):
+                    cookie_list = cookie_data.get('cookies', [])
+                elif isinstance(cookie_data, list):
+                    cookie_list = cookie_data
+                else:
+                    return None
+                if not cookie_list:
                     return None
                 # Must have sessionid
                 has_session = any(c.get('name') == 'sessionid' and c.get('value')
@@ -603,6 +610,7 @@ class InstagramAdapter(LoggingMixin):
 
                 data = resp.json()
                 nodes = data.get('items', [])
+                self._notify_cookie_ok()
                 if not nodes:
                     return []
 
@@ -688,6 +696,8 @@ class InstagramAdapter(LoggingMixin):
                     continue
 
                 consecutive_errors = 0
+                if page == 1:
+                    self._notify_cookie_ok()
                 data = resp.json()
                 items = data.get('items', [])
                 more = data.get('more_available', False)
@@ -743,6 +753,21 @@ class InstagramAdapter(LoggingMixin):
             self.log(f"Authenticated API failed: {e}", 'warning')
             return None
 
+    def _notify_cookie_ok(self):
+        """Mark instagram_browser cookies as OK after a successful API call."""
+        try:
+            if self.unified_db:
+                with self.unified_db.get_connection() as conn:
+                    cursor = conn.cursor()
+                    cursor.execute(
+                        "UPDATE scrapers SET last_test_status = 'ok', "
+                        "last_test_message = 'Authenticated API working' "
+                        "WHERE id = 'instagram_browser'"
+                    )
+                    conn.commit()
+        except Exception as e:
+            self.log(f"Failed to update scraper status: {e}", 'debug')
+
     def _notify_cookie_expired(self):
         """Mark instagram_browser cookies as failed and broadcast a health alert."""
         import json as _json