# Why does the follow message keep coming after someone followed? Guide: https://instantdm.com/how-to/follow-message-keeps-coming Section: Fix a problem Works on: Web app, iPhone app, Android 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:** After following, the person must tap Started following you! 👍 in the follow card. InstantDM then asks Instagram again. If Instagram doesn't report the new follow yet, the same card comes back, so they can wait a moment and tap again. Each new comment is also checked again, and in flows a follow-up reminder can fire if they never tap the button. ## Before you start - The follow gate is the switch **Ask audience to follow you before sending link!** in the post's **Send Link or PDF** card (Legend Pro and above). In flows, it's the **Followers only** step (Trendsetter and above). In the phone app it's **Follow For Link**. - Test with a second Instagram account, not your own. ## Steps 1. Make sure the person **taps** **Started following you! 👍** after following. Following alone does not send the link. 2. If the card comes back, ask them to wait a moment and tap the button again. Instagram can take a little time to report a new follow. 3. Check that they followed **your** account. **Open Profile** on the card opens your profile. 4. If they commented again, that comment is checked from the start. A new comment gets a new card if Instagram still says they don't follow you. 5. In a flow, open the **Followers only** step and check **Follow up after**. If they don't tap the button in time, the reminder step runs, even if they already followed. Shorten or remove the reminder if it confuses people. 6. If it happens to many people who clearly follow you, reconnect your account. In the **Need Help?** window, **More options!** → **Followers only DM not working?** opens the Instagram connect page. If your account uses a Facebook Page connection, reconnect with **Connect Instagram via FB Page** instead. ## On the phone app The **Follow For Link** switch is in the post editor (Home → **Instagram** → **Posts** → tap the post → **Send Link or Images**). You can edit the **Title**, **Description**, **Open Profile button** and **I Followed You button** texts. Publish after any change. ## What your followers see 1. They comment and get the card "🔓 Follow to Unlock Exclusive Content" with **Open Profile** and **Started following you! 👍**. 2. They follow you and tap **Started following you! 👍**. 3. If Instagram now reports the follow, they get your link. If not, they get the same card again. ## Good to know - There is no limit on retries, and no different message for the second try. - If Instagram can't answer the follow check at all (for example when it is busy), the person is treated as a follower and gets the content. - In rare cases, an error from Instagram's check counts as "not following" even for a follower. Ask them to tap the button again a little later. - You can change the card's title, description and button texts. Tap the text in the gate card to edit it. ## What you can't do - Set a maximum number of retries. - Send a different message on the second try. - Use the follow gate on Facebook posts. - Check how long someone has followed you. ## If it doesn't work - No one gets the link, even followers: check the connection banner and **Global** switch, then see [why didn't my automation send a DM?](https://instantdm.com/how-to/automation-not-sending.md) - You want everyone to get the link: switch the follow gate off and click **Publish**. Non-followers may then get a public fallback reply instead of a DM. See [non-followers](https://instantdm.com/how-to/dms-to-non-followers.md). ## Questions people also ask **Is there a limit on how many times they can tap the button?** No. Each tap checks again. When Instagram reports that they follow you, they get your content. **Can I turn the follow card off for one post?** Yes. Open that post's Send Link or PDF card, switch off Ask audience to follow you before sending link!, and click Publish. **Does the follow gate work on Facebook?** No. The follow gate is Instagram only. On Facebook flows, the follow check always passes. ## Related guides - [How do I make people follow me before they get the link?](https://instantdm.com/how-to/make-people-follow-before-link.md) - [Do DMs reach people who don't follow me or have private accounts?](https://instantdm.com/how-to/dms-to-non-followers.md) - [How do I send a reminder if someone doesn't reply?](https://instantdm.com/how-to/follow-up-if-no-reply.md) - [Why didn't my automation send a DM?](https://instantdm.com/how-to/automation-not-sending.md)