Account Setup & Connection
Connect your Instagram account to InstantDM via Facebook OAuth. Step-by-step setup, permissions, and troubleshooting.
Prerequisites
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Instagram account type | Must be a Business or Creator account. Personal accounts do not have API access. |
| Facebook account | You need a Facebook account to complete the OAuth flow (Instagram's API routes through Facebook). |
| Facebook Page (optional) | Only required if you want to automate Facebook posts or Messenger. Not needed for Instagram-only DM automation. |
💡 How to switch to a Business or Creator account: Open Instagram → Settings → Account → Switch to Professional Account → Choose Business or Creator. This is free and takes 30 seconds.
Step-by-Step: Connecting Instagram via Facebook OAuth
- Sign up or log in at app.instantdm.com. You can create an account with your email or sign in if you already have one.
- Navigate to the Instagram Connect page. Go to the sidebar → Settings → Instagram Connect.
- Click "Connect Instagram." This opens Facebook's OAuth authorization screen in a new window.
- Log in to Facebook (if not already logged in). Use the Facebook account that is linked to your Instagram Business or Creator account.
- Grant permissions. Facebook will ask you to approve four permissions for InstantDM.
- Select your Instagram account. If your Facebook account is linked to multiple Instagram accounts, select the one you want to connect.
- Redirect back to InstantDM. After authorization, InstantDM will display your connected Instagram account with your profile picture and username.
Permissions Explained
| Permission | What It Does |
|---|---|
business_basic | Reads your account info (username, profile picture, follower count) and manages page roles |
business_content_publish | Allows InstantDM to send messages on your behalf |
business_manage_comments | Lets InstantDM read and respond to comments on your posts |
business_manage_messages | Lets InstantDM read and manage your DM conversations |
⚠️ Important: Grant all four permissions. If you skip any, certain features will not work. For example, skipping business_manage_comments means comment-to-DM automation will fail.
Auto-Select Behavior
If your Facebook account has only one Page with a connected Instagram account, InstantDM will auto-select that account for you. You'll skip the selection step and land directly on the dashboard.
Troubleshooting Connection Issues
"My Instagram account is not listed"
- Confirm your Instagram account is a Business or Creator account (not Personal).
- Make sure the Instagram account is linked to a Facebook Page. Go to Facebook → Your Page → Settings → Instagram → Connect Account.
- If you have many Facebook Pages, check each one — only Pages with a linked Instagram will appear.
- Try logging out of Facebook completely, then re-doing the OAuth flow.
"Connection mismatch" error
This happens when the connected account's token no longer matches your active Instagram session. Go to Settings → Instagram Connect, click Disconnect, verify the correct account is linked in Facebook settings, then reconnect.
"Permissions not granted" error
Go to Facebook → Settings → Business Integrations, find InstantDM, click View and Edit, and make sure all four permissions are toggled ON. Then return to InstantDM and reconnect.
"Token expired" error
Meta tokens can expire if you change your Facebook password, revoke app access, or if the token hasn't been refreshed. Simply disconnect and reconnect your account in InstantDM to get a fresh token.
How to Disconnect and Reconnect
- Go to Settings → Instagram Connect.
- Click the Disconnect button next to your connected account.
- Your automations will pause immediately — no messages will be sent until you reconnect.
- To reconnect, click Connect Instagram and follow the OAuth flow again.
- After reconnecting, your existing automations will resume automatically.
Connecting a Facebook Page (Optional)
| Use Case | Facebook Page Required? |
|---|---|
| Instagram DM automation | No |
| Instagram comment-to-DM automation | No |
| Instagram Story reply automation | No |
| Facebook post comment automation | Yes |
| Facebook Messenger automation | Yes |
Frequently Asked Questions
What type of Instagram account do I need for InstantDM?
You need an Instagram Business or Creator account. Personal accounts do not have API access. Switching is free and takes 30 seconds in Instagram Settings → Account → Switch to Professional Account.
Do I need a Facebook Page to use InstantDM?
A Facebook Page is only required for Facebook post or Messenger automation. For Instagram-only DM automation, you do not need a Facebook Page.
What permissions does InstantDM need?
InstantDM requires four permissions: business_basic, business_content_publish, business_manage_comments, and business_manage_messages. All four are needed for full functionality.
Next: Multiple Accounts →