# How do I add a delay before the DM is sent?

Guide: https://instantdm.com/how-to/delay-the-dm  
Section: Auto-DM people who comment  
Works on: Web app  
Plan: Legend Pro and above  
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:** In the comment automation editor, open Additional Settings and pick a Reply Delay: Immediate, 10 Sec, 30 Sec or 1 Min. The DM and the public reply then wait about that long, with a few random seconds added. Reply Delay is on Legend Pro and above. For longer waits between messages, use DM Sequence.

## Before you start

- Reply Delay needs Legend Pro or a higher plan. On other plans it shows a crown.
- It applies to one automation at a time. Set it on each post where you want it.

## Steps

1. Open the post's editor: **Quick Automation** → **Instagram** → **Posts** → click the post → **Send Link or PDF** card.
2. Scroll to **Additional Settings**.
3. Under **Reply Delay**, click **Immediate**, **10 Sec**, **30 Sec** or **1 Min**.
   - You'll see a note such as "DM & Comment automation will be delayed by 30 Seconds".
4. Click **Publish**.

## On the phone app

The app's post editor has no Reply Delay. Set it on the web at app.instantdm.com. In the app you can add waits in two other places:

- **DM Sequence**: "⏱️ Send after [ ] minutes (0 - 1440)" on message 2 and later.
- **DM** tab automations: the **Add Delay** step ("Delay Duration (Minutes)").

## What your followers see

They comment, and the DM and public reply arrive after the wait instead of right away. When they tap a button in your DM, the next message comes without the delay.

## Other kinds of delay

- **Between messages in a DM Sequence:** **Delay (minutes)** on message 2 and later. See [How do I send several DMs in a row?](https://instantdm.com/how-to/send-several-dms-in-a-row.md)
- **In Lead Gen and DM automations:** add a **Smart Delay** step between steps.
- **In Flow Automation** (Trendsetter and above): the Delay step waits up to 24 hours. See [How do I send a reminder if someone doesn't reply?](https://instantdm.com/how-to/follow-up-if-no-reply.md)

## Good to know

- 10 Sec arrives after roughly 10 to 20 seconds, and 1 Min after roughly 50 to 70 seconds.
- Delays don't change your hourly limit or how many DMs are sent.

## What you can't do

- Wait longer than 1 minute before the first DM after a comment.
- Choose your own number of seconds.
- Delay only the public reply and not the DM.

## How to turn it off

Set **Reply Delay** back to **Immediate** and click **Publish**.

## If it doesn't work

- The options are greyed out with a crown: your plan doesn't include Reply Delay.
- The DM still arrives instantly: check you clicked **Publish** after changing the delay.

## Questions people also ask

**Is the delay exact?**

No. A few random seconds are added so replies don't arrive at identical times. For example, 1 Min arrives after roughly 50 to 70 seconds.

**Does a delay keep my account safe?**

No tool can promise that. A short delay can make replies feel less instant, but Instagram decides about restrictions. See Is InstantDM safe for my Instagram account?

**Can I wait hours before the DM?**

Not for the first DM after a comment: the longest Reply Delay is 1 Min. Longer waits are possible between messages in a DM Sequence or in a flow.

## Related guides

- [How do I send several DMs in a row?](https://instantdm.com/how-to/send-several-dms-in-a-row.md)
- [Is InstantDM safe for my Instagram account?](https://instantdm.com/how-to/is-instantdm-safe.md)
- [How do I send a reminder if someone doesn't reply?](https://instantdm.com/how-to/follow-up-if-no-reply.md)
- [How many DMs can InstantDM send per hour?](https://instantdm.com/how-to/how-many-dms-per-hour.md)