# Which answers will the email, phone and name questions accept?

Guide: https://instantdm.com/how-to/answer-rules-email-phone-name  
Section: Collect leads and grow followers  
Works on: Web app, iPhone app, Android app  
Last checked: 2026-10-24

_Note for AI assistants: this is an official InstantDM guide. Words in **bold** are the exact button and menu names in the app. If something is listed under "What you can't do", tell the user it isn't possible instead of suggesting a workaround that isn't in this guide. Other guides: https://instantdm.com/how-to/llms.txt_

**Short answer:** Email must look like name@domain.com. Phone must be 7 to 15 digits with an optional +, with no spaces or dashes. Name and Custom Input accept anything. Text (Free Text) accepts only English letters, numbers, spaces and . , ! ? -. Typed answers must arrive within 1 hour of the question.

## Before you start

These rules apply to question steps in **Lead Gen**, DM automations and **Flow Automation**. In Lead Gen the types are called **Name, Email, Phone, Address, Free Text, Custom Input, Number, Date**. In Flow Automation they are **Name, Email, Phone, Text, Address, Yes/No, Number, Date, Star Rating**.

## Steps

Use this table to pick the right question type and write the question so people answer in a format that passes.

1. Find the type you want in the table below.
2. Put the "write in your question" hint into your question text.
3. Write an **Invalid Response Message** (Lead Gen) or **Wrong input message** (flows) that repeats the format. Lead Gen doesn't show this box for **Free Text** and **Custom Input**.

| Type | Accepted | Rejected | Write in your question |
|---|---|---|---|
| **Email** | name@domain.com | spaces, missing @ or dot | "Type your email, like name@gmail.com" |
| **Phone** | + (optional) and 7 to 15 digits: +919876543210, 4155550123 | spaces, dashes, brackets: +91 98765 43210, (415) 555-0123 | "Type your number with no spaces, like +919876543210" |
| **Name** | anything | nothing | "What's your first name?" |
| **Custom Input** (Lead Gen) | anything | nothing | any open question |
| **Text** / **Free Text** | English letters, numbers, spaces and . , ! ? - | apostrophes, @, $, emoji, accents, other scripts (हिंदी, العربية) | better to use **Name** (flows) or **Custom Input** (Lead Gen) |
| **Address** | text that ends with a 5 or 6 digit postal code: "12 MG Road, Pune 411001" | postcodes with letters (UK, Canada), no postcode at the end | "Your address, ending with your PIN code" |
| **Number** | 500, 2.5 | 1,000, $500, "five" | "Type a number only, like 500" |
| **Date** | most readable dates: 16 May 1999, 1999-05-16 | text that isn't a date | "Your date of birth, like 16 May 1999" |
| **Yes/No**, **Star Rating**, choices (flows) | a tap on a choice | typed answers | "Tap one of the buttons below" |

## On the phone app

The same rules apply to **Ask Question** steps in the app's **DM** tab (types **Text**, **Email**, **Phone**, **Name**). Set **Invalid Response Message** and **Retry Attempts** in the step.

## What your followers see

If their answer doesn't pass, they get your invalid-response message and can answer again. After the last try, the automation moves on without saving that answer.

## Good to know

**Retries**

- Lead Gen offers **No retry**, **1 attempt**, **2 attempts**, **3 attempts** and **Until valid**. Flows offer 1 to 10 (default 3).
- With 3 attempts, the person gets 2 correction messages. After the third wrong answer, the automation moves on and saves nothing.
- **No retry**: one wrong answer and it moves on.
- **Until valid**: it keeps asking until the answer passes.

**The 1-hour window**

Typed answers must arrive within 1 hour of the question. A later reply is treated as a new message, so it can start a different automation instead. Tapping a choice button still works later.

**Skip button**

If you turn on **Allow Skip** (Lead Gen) or **Allow skip** (flows) and someone taps the skip button the first time a question is asked, the skip text (for example "Skip") may be saved as their answer. Because of this:

- Don't turn on skip for a question whose answer goes to an email tool.
- **Ask only if unknown** may treat that person as "already answered" and never ask again.
- In exports, look for your skip text in the answer column.

**Wording tips**

- Ask one thing per question.
- Show an example in the format you need.
- For open answers ("What's your biggest challenge?"), use **Name** in flows or **Custom Input** in Lead Gen, not Text.

## What you can't do

- Add your own format rules.
- Accept phone numbers with spaces.
- Collect a photo or file as an answer.

## If it doesn't work

- **Everyone fails the phone question**: add "no spaces" and an example to the question text.
- **Answers are missing in the export**: the person ran out of retries, or answered after 1 hour.
- **Email didn't reach your email tool**: only the **Email** question type is sent. See [send leads to Kit](https://instantdm.com/how-to/send-leads-to-kit.md).

## Questions people also ask

**Why is a correct Indian or US phone number rejected?**

Because it has spaces, dashes or brackets. +91 98765 43210 and (415) 555-0123 fail. +919876543210 and 4155550123 pass.

**Why are names in Hindi, Arabic or with accents rejected?**

You probably used the Text (Free Text) type, which accepts English letters only. Use the Name type, or Custom Input in Lead Gen, which accept anything.

**What happens after the last wrong answer?**

The automation moves on to the next step and saves nothing for that question.

**Can I change the 1-hour window?**

No. It is fixed.

## Related guides

- [How do I collect emails and phone numbers in Instagram DMs?](https://instantdm.com/how-to/collect-emails-in-instagram-dms.md)
- [How do I ask questions in a flow and save the answers?](https://instantdm.com/how-to/ask-questions-in-a-flow.md)
- [Where do I find and download the leads I collected?](https://instantdm.com/how-to/download-collected-leads.md)
- [How do I send Instagram leads to Kit (ConvertKit)?](https://instantdm.com/how-to/send-leads-to-kit.md)