# Kite API — Expired Options Instrument Token not accessible for historical data download

**URL:** https://tradingqna.com/t/kite-api-expired-options-instrument-token-not-accessible-for-historical-data-download/194727
**Category:** General
**Created:** [June 5, 2026, 1:52am UTC](https://tradingqna.com/t/kite-api-expired-options-instrument-token-not-accessible-for-historical-data-download/194727 "2026-06-05T01:52:28Z")
**Posts on this page:** 3
**Page:** 1

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### Author: ![Mohan\_Kumar3](https://tradingqna.com/user_avatar/tradingqna.com/mohan_kumar3/32/80682_2.png) [@Mohan\_Kumar3](https://tradingqna.com/u/Mohan_Kumar3)
#### Post date: [June 5, 2026, 1:52am UTC](https://tradingqna.com/t/kite-api-expired-options-instrument-token-not-accessible-for-historical-data-download/194727/1 "2026-06-05T01:52:28Z")

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Hi team,

I’ve been trying to download historical intraday OHLCV data for expired options contracts via the Kite Connect API for backtesting purposes.

The core problem: `kite.instruments()` only returns tokens for **currently live contracts**. Once a contract expires, its `instrument_token` is no longer available — making it impossible to call `kite.historical_data()` for that contract retroactively.

This completely blocks options backtesting via the API. Every open-source project I found on GitHub hits the same wall — they all work only with live contracts.

Questions:

1. Is there any official way to retrieve instrument tokens for expired options contracts?
2. Is Zerodha planning to provide a historical instrument token archive or an expired options data endpoint?

Options trading is one of the most active segments on your platform — intraday historical data for expired contracts is essential for serious backtesting. Would love a clear roadmap or workaround from the team.

Thanks.

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<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![siva](https://tradingqna.com/user_avatar/tradingqna.com/siva/32/76200_2.png) [@siva](https://tradingqna.com/u/siva)
#### Post date: [June 5, 2026, 8:53am UTC](https://tradingqna.com/t/kite-api-expired-options-instrument-token-not-accessible-for-historical-data-download/194727/2 "2026-06-05T08:53:52Z")

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> [@Mohan\_Kumar3](#):
>
> 1. s Zerodha planning to provide a historical instrument token archive or an expired options data endpoint?

Yes, we will offer this in coming months.

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### Author: ![ramganesh](https://tradingqna.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/r/6de8d8/32.png) [@ramganesh](https://tradingqna.com/u/ramganesh)
#### Post date: [October 12, 2026, 1:16am UTC](https://tradingqna.com/t/kite-api-expired-options-instrument-token-not-accessible-for-historical-data-download/194727/3 "2026-10-12T01:16:15Z")

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any updates on this? approx timeline? when this feature available?