# Instagram limited my account. What should I do?

Guide: https://instantdm.com/how-to/instagram-restricted-my-account  
Section: Instagram rules and safety  
Works on: Web app, iPhone app, Android app  
Plan: All plans  
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:** Turn your automations off yourself (Account Settings → Automation → Global → Off → Save), check Account Status in the Instagram app, and wait for Instagram to lift the limit. InstantDM can't remove a restriction, and it does not pause your automations by itself when one happens. When it's over, restart with a lower Automations / Hour.

## What it means

| What you see | What it means |
|---|---|
| Email "Instagram temporarily limited your account", and rows marked **Message rejected** in Automation Recovery | Instagram has stopped your account from sending DMs for a while. The email says this usually follows too many messages sent too fast. |
| Email "Instagram blocked link sharing in DMs" | Instagram is blocking links in your DMs. The email says this is usually temporary and linked to Community Standards. |
| **Instagram limit reached** on comments in a post's **All Comments** tab | Instagram asked your account to slow down. This is a rate limit, not a restriction. InstantDM waits for your **Rate Limit Retry** time and tries again by itself. |

## Steps

1. Turn your automations off. Click **Account Settings** → **Automation**, set **Global** to **Off**, and click **Save**. Do this even if an email says your automations were paused.
2. Open the Instagram app and check **Account Status**. Follow what Instagram tells you there.
3. Wait until Instagram lifts the limit. InstantDM can't shorten or remove it.
4. Before you restart, lower **Automations / Hour** in **Account Settings** → **Safety & Limits**, and click **Save**.
5. If links were blocked, send your link as a **Button** DM (Legend Pro and above) instead of plain text. The email notes that button links may still work.
6. Set **Global** back to **On** and click **Save**. This also turns **Comments** and **DMs** back on.
7. Resend only the DMs that matter from **Automation Recovery** → **Missed & Failed**. Each resend is a real message, and old ones can't be sent (7 days for comments, 24 hours for messages).

## On the phone app

- Pause: tap your profile photo → **Settings** → **Automation** → switch **Global Automation** off → **Save Changes**.
- Slow down: **Settings** → **Safety & Limits** → **Automations / Hour** → **Save Changes**.
- Resend: Home → **Automation Recovery** → **Missed & Failed**.

## Good to know

- InstantDM pauses by itself only for Instagram's "sending too fast" error, using your **Rate Limit Retry** time. It does not pause for a restriction.
- While **Global** is off, your automations, settings and plan stay as they are.
- Things that can help afterwards: a moderate hourly pace, several different public replies, and the **Welcome Message** or **Reply Delay** (Legend Pro and above). None of these is a guarantee.

## What you can't do

- Lift, shorten or appeal a restriction through InstantDM.
- Make InstantDM send through a restriction.
- Resend DMs after Instagram's 7-day (comments) or 24-hour (messages) window.

## If it doesn't work

- Everything still shows **Message rejected** after you restart: the restriction may still be active. Turn **Global** off again and check Account Status in Instagram.
- You see the red banner "Instagram conection expired! Automation Stopped.": that is a different problem. See [reconnect Instagram](https://instantdm.com/how-to/reconnect-instagram.md).
- Other warning emails: see [InstantDM's warning emails](https://instantdm.com/how-to/instantdm-emails-explained.md).

## Questions people also ask

**Does InstantDM pause my automations when Instagram limits my account?**

Not automatically. InstantDM only waits by itself when Instagram says your account is sending too fast. For a restriction, turn Global off yourself, even if an email suggests automations were paused.

**How long does a restriction last?**

Instagram decides. InstantDM can't see or change how long it lasts. Check Account Status in the Instagram app for what Instagram tells you.

**Can InstantDM promise my account won't be restricted?**

No. No tool can promise that. Instagram decides based on how your account is used. Moderate pacing and varied replies can help.

**Can I get a refund if Instagram restricts or bans my account?**

No. InstantDM's refund policy does not cover Instagram restrictions, suspensions or bans.

## Related guides

- [Is InstantDM safe for my Instagram account?](https://instantdm.com/how-to/is-instantdm-safe.md)
- [How many DMs can InstantDM send per hour?](https://instantdm.com/how-to/how-many-dms-per-hour.md)
- [What do the switches in Account Settings > Automation do?](https://instantdm.com/how-to/automation-settings.md)
- [What do InstantDM's warning emails mean?](https://instantdm.com/how-to/instantdm-emails-explained.md)