# How do I send a reminder if someone doesn't reply? Guide: https://instantdm.com/how-to/follow-up-if-no-reply Section: Multi-step flows Works on: Web app Plan: Trendsetter 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:** On a Button message, a Question step or a Followers only step, set the follow-up wait (up to 24 hours), then connect the 'If contact has not responded' dot to a DM Reply step with your reminder. It is sent only if they don't tap a Regular button or answer. Tapping a link (URL) button does not cancel the reminder. A **follow-up** is a reminder that goes only to people who didn't respond. It's different from a **Delay**, which makes everyone wait. ## Before you start - You need **Trendsetter and above** and a flow open in the editor. - Follow-ups work on three kinds of steps: a **DM Reply** step with a **Button** message, a **Question** step, and a **Followers only** step. ## Steps 1. Click the step that should get a reminder. 2. Set the wait: - **DM Reply** with a Button message: under **Follow Up**, type a number and pick **Seconds**, **Minutes** or **Hour**. - **Question:** under **Follow up if not answered**, type a number and pick a unit. - **Followers only:** under **Follow up after**. 3. Look at the card. You'll see a dot labelled "If no reply in 30 min" (or your wait), or "If contact has not responded". 4. Add a new **DM Reply** step and write the reminder, for example "Hi {{username|there}}, did you see the guide? Tap below to get it." 5. Drag from the follow-up dot to the reminder step. 6. Click **Set Live**. ## On the phone app You can't set reminders in the InstantDM app. Use the web app at app.instantdm.com on a computer. ## What your followers see - If they tap a **Regular** button, answer the question, or tap the "Started Following you" button in time, they never see the reminder. - If they don't, the reminder arrives after your wait. - Tapping a **URL** button (a link) sends nothing back, so they still get the reminder. > Reminders can't wait longer than 24 hours. Even if you choose days, InstantDM cuts the wait to 24 hours. ## Good to know - The default wait is 30 minutes. To stop a reminder, delete the line from the follow-up dot. Don't rely on a wait of 0: while the dot is connected, the reminder can still go out right away. - Link taps don't cancel reminders. Add a **Regular** button such as "Got it" or "I booked" next to your link so people can stop the reminder. - A **Text** message with smart replies shows **Follow Up** settings, but its card has no follow-up dot, so nothing is sent. Use a Button message or a Question instead. - Each dot leads to one reminder. For a second reminder, give the reminder step its own Button or Question with a follow-up. - An **AI Reply** step sends its own follow-ups. The AI decides when, at most 2 per conversation, each within 24 hours. There is no setting for them. - Reminders, like all flow messages, are normal DMs from your account. ## What you can't do - Wait more than 24 hours. - Run a multi-day sequence or broadcast to people who never replied. - Use a **Delay** step as a reminder. A Delay sends to everyone. ## How to turn it off Delete the line from the follow-up dot. Then click **Set Live** again. ## If it doesn't work - **The reminder never goes out** → nothing is connected to the follow-up dot, or the step is a Text message with smart replies. Connect the dot from a Button message or Question. - **People who clicked still got it** → they tapped a URL button. Add a **Regular** button. - **The reminder came a day early** → waits over 24 hours are cut to 24 hours. ## Questions people also ask **Can I send a reminder after 2 or 3 days?** No. The longest wait is 24 hours. If you pick days, it is cut to 24 hours. **Why did someone get the reminder after they clicked my link?** A URL button opens the link but sends nothing back to InstantDM, so it can't cancel the reminder. Add a Regular button such as 'Got it' next to the link. Tapping that cancels it. **Can I send a second reminder?** Yes. Put a Button message or a Question in the reminder step and give that step its own follow-up. ## Related guides - [What does each step in a flow do?](https://instantdm.com/how-to/flow-steps-explained.md) - [How do I ask questions in a flow and save the answers?](https://instantdm.com/how-to/ask-questions-in-a-flow.md) - [How do I see how many people clicked my link?](https://instantdm.com/how-to/track-link-clicks.md) - [How do I send different messages based on someone's answer or tag?](https://instantdm.com/how-to/different-messages-by-answer.md)