# InstantDM how-to guides > Step-by-step answers to "how do Iā€¦" questions about InstantDM, the tool that sends automatic Instagram and Facebook DMs when people comment, reply to a story or message you. Each guide is checked against the product and dated. Each link below is the plain-text version of one guide. Open the one that matches the question and follow its steps; words in **bold** are the exact button names in the app. Every guide in one large file (for assistants that can read long documents): https://instantdm.com/how-to/llms-full.txt ## Start here - [What is InstantDM and what can it do?](https://instantdm.com/how-to/what-is-instantdm.md) (also in the phone app): InstantDM is a web and phone app that sends automatic DMs from your own Instagram or Facebook account. When someone comments on your post, replies to your story or messages you a keyword, it sends them your link, file or questions. It only messages people who contacted you first. - [Is InstantDM safe for my Instagram account?](https://instantdm.com/how-to/is-instantdm-safe.md) (also in the phone app): InstantDM connects through Instagram's official login and sends DMs through Meta's official messaging tools, so you never give it your password. It only replies to people who contacted you and paces DMs per hour. No tool can promise Instagram will never limit an account, so keep volume sensible and follow Instagram's rules. - [Is InstantDM free? What does the free plan include?](https://instantdm.com/how-to/is-instantdm-free.md) (Plan: Free; also in the phone app): Yes. New accounts start on the Free plan with 500 credits, and 1 credit is 1 DM that Instagram accepts. For about your first week, paid features are unlocked in the web app with no card needed. After that you stay on Free: comment-to-DM with up to 3 trigger words keeps working until your credits run out. - [Do I need a professional Instagram account? How do I switch?](https://instantdm.com/how-to/switch-to-professional-account.md) (also in the phone app): Yes. InstantDM only works with a professional Instagram account, either Creator or Business. A personal account can't be connected. To switch, open the Instagram app, go to Settings and activity, then Account type and tools, and tap Switch to professional account. Switching is free and you don't need a Facebook Page. - [How do I connect my Instagram account to InstantDM?](https://instantdm.com/how-to/connect-instagram-account.md) (Plan: All plans; also in the phone app): Signing up with Continue With Instagram connects your account at the same time. To connect later, open Account Settings, then Safety & Limits, and click Connect (or Re-Connect) on the Instagram Account card. Log in on Instagram's own screen and allow every permission. You need a Creator or Business account. - [Should I connect with Instagram or with Facebook?](https://instantdm.com/how-to/instagram-login-or-facebook-login.md) (Plan: All plans; web app only): Use Instagram Login (Connect Instagram Directly) unless you need Facebook. It needs no Facebook Page and covers post, Reel, story and DM automations and scheduling. Use Facebook Login (Connect Instagram via FB Page) only if you want Facebook Page comments, Messenger or ad comment automations. You can only be connected one way at a time. - [How do I set up my first automation? (Start here)](https://instantdm.com/how-to/first-automation.md) (Plan: All plans; also in the phone app): Switch Instagram to a Creator or Business account, sign up at app.instantdm.com with Continue With Instagram, and finish the setup window. Then click New Automation, choose Comment to DM, pick a post, choose Send Link & PDF, add a trigger word and your message, and click Publish. Test it by asking a friend to comment the word. - [How do I test my automation before my followers see it?](https://instantdm.com/how-to/test-your-automation.md) (Plan: All plans; also in the phone app): Use a second Instagram account, such as a friend's or another account you own. Comment your trigger word on the post as a normal comment, not a reply, then check that account's DMs, including the Requests folder. In InstantDM, open the post's All Comments tab to see what happened to that comment. - [Send Link, Lead Gen or Flow: which one should I pick?](https://instantdm.com/how-to/send-link-lead-gen-or-flow.md) (Plan: All plans; web app only): Pick Send Link & PDF when everyone should get the same link or file. Pick Lead Gen when you want to ask for a name, email or phone number in the DM. Pick Flow Automation when you need different paths per answer, reminders, AI replies, or syncing to Mailchimp, Kit or Klaviyo. Send Link works on all plans, Lead Gen needs Legend Pro or above, Flow needs Trendsetter or above. - [Where did Instagram DM, Facebook DM, Team and API & MCP go?](https://instantdm.com/how-to/where-did-things-move.md) (web app only): In the new menu, Instagram DM and Facebook DM are now Quick Automation, with an Instagram tab and a Facebook tab. Flows have their own menu item, Flow Automation. API & MCP is a button at the top right of Home. Team is in Account Settings, on the Team tab. New automations start from the New Automation button on Home. - [What can I do in the InstantDM phone app?](https://instantdm.com/how-to/instantdm-phone-app.md) (also in the phone app): The InstantDM app for iPhone and Android can set up comment-to-DM on posts and Reels, story replies, all-posts automations, Instagram DM keyword replies, scheduling and resending missed DMs. It can't build flows, connect a Facebook Page, export contacts or manage your team. Search "InstantDM" on the App Store or Google Play. - [How do I log in to InstantDM?](https://instantdm.com/how-to/log-in-to-instantdm.md) (Plan: All plans; also in the phone app): Go to app.instantdm.com and click Continue With Instagram, or click Continue with Email and choose OTP Login (a 6-digit code sent to your email) or Password. If you signed up with Instagram, you have no password yet: use Instagram, use a code sent to the email you verified, or set one with Forgot password?. - [I'm moving from ManyChat. What's the same and what's different?](https://instantdm.com/how-to/switch-from-manychat.md) (Plan: All plans; web app only): Most ManyChat Instagram features have an InstantDM match: comment growth tools are Comment to DM, keywords are DM Automation, and flows are Flow Automation with tags, conditions, delays and AI. There is no importer, so you rebuild each automation. Turn off ManyChat's automation for the same posts and keywords first, or people may get two replies. - [What do the words in InstantDM mean?](https://instantdm.com/how-to/instantdm-glossary.md) (also in the phone app): This glossary explains InstantDM's words in plain language, from A to Z. For example, a trigger word is the word people comment to get your DM, a credit is one DM that Instagram accepted, and a flow is a multi-step chat with buttons and questions. Each entry links to the guide that covers it. ## Auto-DM people who comment - [How do I send a DM when someone comments on my post or Reel?](https://instantdm.com/how-to/send-dm-when-someone-comments.md) (Plan: All plans; also in the phone app): On Home, click New Automation, choose Comment to DM, pick your post under Existing posts, then choose Send Link & PDF. Add a trigger word such as LINK, write your DM with the link and click Publish. Everyone whose comment contains that word gets the DM. This works on all plans. - [How do trigger words work?](https://instantdm.com/how-to/how-trigger-words-work.md) (Plan: All plans; also in the phone app): A trigger word is the word people comment to get your DM, like LINK. Capital letters and accents don't matter, and a word in the comment only has to start with your trigger word: LINK matches 'links' but not 'blink'. Emoji triggers match anywhere. The Free plan allows 3 trigger words per automation. - [How do I DM everyone who comments, without a keyword?](https://instantdm.com/how-to/dm-everyone-who-comments.md) (Plan: Legend Pro and above; also in the phone app): In the post's automation editor, choose All comments in the Trigger box instead of Specific Comments, then write your DM and click Publish. Every new top-level comment on that post then gets the DM. All comments is available on Legend Pro and above. On the Free plan, use a trigger word instead. - [How do I reply publicly to comments without looking like spam?](https://instantdm.com/how-to/public-comment-replies.md) (Plan: All plans; also in the phone app): In the comment automation editor, keep Reply with comment! on and add several lines with Reply Comment. InstantDM picks one line at random for each matching comment. The Free plan allows 3 lines. The Also Include AI Comment Reply box adds a set of ready-made lines; it does not write replies with AI. - [What is the Welcome Message and should I turn it on?](https://instantdm.com/how-to/welcome-message.md) (Plan: Legend Pro and above; also in the phone app): The Welcome Message is a first DM with one button, such as 'Get my content'. The person taps it, then gets your link or file. The tap opens a normal chat, so more messages can follow. Turn it on if you send buttons, files or several messages. It is on Legend Pro and above. - [How do I send a PDF, buttons or product cards in the DM?](https://instantdm.com/how-to/send-pdf-buttons-or-products.md) (Plan: Legend Pro and above; also in the phone app): In the comment automation editor, go to Send a DM!, keep Single Message and choose Button, Products or PDF instead of Text/Link. A button card holds up to 3 link buttons, Products holds up to 10 cards with 3 links each, and PDF sends your file. These options are on Legend Pro and above. - [How do I send several DMs in a row?](https://instantdm.com/how-to/send-several-dms-in-a-row.md) (Plan: Legend Pro and above; also in the phone app): In the comment automation editor, turn on the Welcome Message, then under Send a DM! choose DM Sequence. Add up to 10 messages with + Add Message and set a delay in minutes for message 2 onward. After the person taps the welcome button, the messages arrive in order. DM Sequence is on Legend Pro and above. - [How do I automate all my posts, including future ones?](https://instantdm.com/how-to/automate-all-posts.md) (Plan: Legend Pro and above; also in the phone app): Click New Automation, choose Comment to DM, then All posts, and pick what to send. Comments on every post, including posts you upload later, then get this automation. A post with its own automation keeps it. All-posts automations are on Legend Pro and above. - [How do I set up an automation before I post? (caption code)](https://instantdm.com/how-to/automate-next-post.md) (Plan: Legend Pro and above; also in the phone app): Click New Automation, choose Comment to DM, then Next post, and build the DM as usual. InstantDM gives you a caption code such as SUMMERDROP. Paste the code anywhere in your caption when you upload. When the first comment arrives, the automation attaches to that post. Next post is on Legend Pro and above. - [How do I put one automation on many posts at once?](https://instantdm.com/how-to/one-automation-many-posts.md) (web app only): Click New Automation, choose Comment to DM, keep Existing posts and pick 2 or more posts. Choose what to send, name the group and click Publish Setup, which opens the editor. Set it up once and click Publish: every post in the group gets the same automation. Manage groups in Quick Automation, Group Automation tab. - [How do I add a delay before the DM is sent?](https://instantdm.com/how-to/delay-the-dm.md) (Plan: Legend Pro and above; web app only): 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. - [How do I see how many people clicked my link?](https://instantdm.com/how-to/track-link-clicks.md) (Plan: Trendsetter and above (link-open analytics); also in the phone app): Turn on Track link clicks under your DM text or on each button, then publish. InstantDM swaps your link for a short tracking link. You then see Link Opened next to each person in the post's All Comments tab, and total clicks, unique clickers and top posts in Insights, Link Clicks tab. - [How do I save an automation and reuse it on other posts?](https://instantdm.com/how-to/save-and-reuse-automation.md) (Plan: Legend Pro and above; also in the phone app): After you publish from a post's page, type a name under Save to Library and click Save to Library. To reuse it, open another post's editor and use Copy Automation, From Library, or go to Quick Automation, Saved Libraries tab, pick the setup and click Use this. Copying is on Legend Pro and above. - [How do I turn off, edit or delete an automation?](https://instantdm.com/how-to/turn-off-or-edit-automation.md) (Plan: All plans; also in the phone app): For a post, open Quick Automation, Instagram, Posts, click the post and switch off the Send Link or PDF card (or the Lead Gen switch), then click Disable. Click the card instead to edit it, then Publish. Post automations can't be deleted, only switched off. DM automations and flows are switched off from their own lists. - [A post has more than one automation. Which one runs?](https://instantdm.com/how-to/which-automation-runs.md) (Plan: All plans; also in the phone app): A post's own automation comes first. If its trigger words don't match the comment, or it is switched off, your all-posts automation answers instead. On one post, Send Link or PDF and Lead Gen can both look switched on, but only the one you saved last runs. Each comment gets one automation, not several. - [Can I automate a collab post?](https://instantdm.com/how-to/automate-collab-post.md) (Plan: Separate purchase (Collab Post Add-ons); web app only): Yes, on Instagram. Collab posts you're tagged in are under Quick Automation, Instagram tab, Collabs. Each post must be unlocked with Collab Post Add-ons, a separate purchase from your plan, and the post owner must approve your access. Then you set it up like any comment-to-DM automation. ## Story replies and DM keywords - [How do I auto-reply when someone replies to my Instagram story?](https://instantdm.com/how-to/auto-reply-story-replies.md) (Plan: Legend Pro and above; also in the phone app): Click New Automation, choose Story to DM, then pick Current stories or All stories and choose what to send. When someone replies to that story with a text message, InstantDM sends your DM in the same chat. Stickers, photos and reactions do not trigger it. It works on Legend Pro and above. - [How do I auto-reply when someone DMs me a keyword on Instagram?](https://instantdm.com/how-to/dm-keyword-auto-reply.md) (Plan: Legend Pro and above; also in the phone app): Click New Automation, choose DM Automation, pick Instagram DMs, then choose Lead Gen. Under ENTRY POINT pick Custom Keywords, add your words, add a Text Message step with your reply, and click Save, then Publish & Activate. It works on Legend Pro and above. - [How do I auto-reply to everyone who messages me on Instagram?](https://instantdm.com/how-to/auto-reply-every-message.md) (Plan: Legend Pro and above; also in the phone app): Create a DM Automation for Instagram DMs with Lead Gen, and under ENTRY POINT choose Any Message. Then pick First time only (once per person, ever) or Once a day (at most once every 24 hours). You can have only one Any Message automation per account. It works on Legend Pro and above. - [How do I auto-reply when someone shares my post to my DMs?](https://instantdm.com/how-to/reply-when-post-shared-to-dm.md) (Plan: Legend Pro and above; also in the phone app): Open the post's Send Link or PDF automation, open Advanced Settings and turn on Automate Post sent to your DM, then click Publish. When someone sends that post into a chat with your account, they get the same DM. It does not see shares between other people. Legend Pro and above, Instagram Login only. - [Can InstantDM reply when someone mentions me in their story?](https://instantdm.com/how-to/story-mentions.md) (web app only): No. InstantDM has no trigger for story mentions, so it can't send an automatic thank-you when someone tags you in their story. It can auto-reply when people reply to your own stories, with Story to DM. Answer mentions yourself in the Instagram app. - [How do I stop automations from interrupting when I'm chatting with someone?](https://instantdm.com/how-to/stop-automation-while-chatting.md) (Plan: All plans; also in the phone app): Go to Account Settings, open the Automation tab and set Prevent In-Chat Trigger to Yes, then Save. If your account sent a message in that chat within the Active window (default 10 minutes), new DM keyword and Any Message triggers, and story replies handled by Lead Gen or a flow, are skipped. It does not affect comments. - [Can an automation reply only once per person?](https://instantdm.com/how-to/reply-only-once-per-person.md) (Plan: Legend Pro and above; also in the phone app): Only partly. The Any Message DM trigger has First time only, which replies once per person, ever, and Once a day. Comment, story-reply and keyword automations answer every matching message, so someone who comments twice gets the DM twice. In a flow you can use a tag to skip people who already got it. ## Collect leads and grow followers - [How do I make people follow me before they get the link?](https://instantdm.com/how-to/make-people-follow-before-link.md) (Plan: Legend Pro and above; also in the phone app): In the post's Send Link or PDF automation, turn on Ask audience to follow you before sending link! and click Publish. People who already follow you get the link. Others get a Follow to Unlock card with Open Profile and Started following you! šŸ‘ buttons, and get the link after they follow and tap. Legend Pro and above, Instagram only. - [How do I collect emails and phone numbers in Instagram DMs?](https://instantdm.com/how-to/collect-emails-in-instagram-dms.md) (Plan: Legend Pro and above; also in the phone app): Create a New Automation, pick the posts, stories or inbox, and choose Lead Gen. Add Capture Email, Capture Phone or Capture Name steps, then click Save and Publish & Activate. Answers appear in the post's Lead Gen Contacts tab and in Contacts. Lead Gen is on Legend Pro and above and does not sync to email tools; use a Flow for that. - [Which answers will the email, phone and name questions accept?](https://instantdm.com/how-to/answer-rules-email-phone-name.md) (also in the phone app): Email must look like name@domain.com. Phone must be 7 to 15 digits with an optional +, with no spaces or dashes. Name and Custom Input accept anything. Text (Free Text) accepts only English letters, numbers, spaces and . , ! ? -. Typed answers must arrive within 1 hour of the question. - [Where do I find and download the leads I collected?](https://instantdm.com/how-to/download-collected-leads.md) (Plan: Legend Pro and above; web app only): For Lead Gen on a post, open the post and use the Lead Gen Contacts tab, then Download CSV. For flows and Lead Gen, open Contacts and click Export. For a Send Link post, open All Comments, then View Summary and Download CSV. Downloads are on the web only, and a flow filter limits the export to the 200 most recent people. - [How do I send Instagram leads to Mailchimp?](https://instantdm.com/how-to/send-leads-to-mailchimp.md) (Plan: Trendsetter and above; web app only): Add your Mailchimp API Key and Server Prefix in Account Settings, Integrations, and click Save. Then, in a Flow Automation with an Email question, open Integrations, switch on Mailchimp, choose On every answer and click Set Live. New leads join your audience as subscribed. Trendsetter and above. - [How do I send Instagram leads to Kit (ConvertKit)?](https://instantdm.com/how-to/send-leads-to-kit.md) (Plan: Trendsetter and above; web app only): Add your Kit API Key (V3) and API Secret (V3) in Account Settings, Integrations, and click Save. Then, in a Flow Automation that asks an Email question, open Integrations, switch on Kit (ConvertKit), choose On every answer and click Set Live. Kit gets the email and first name. Trendsetter and above. - [How do I send Instagram leads to Klaviyo?](https://instantdm.com/how-to/send-leads-to-klaviyo.md) (Plan: Trendsetter and above; web app only): Add your Klaviyo Private API Key (pk_...) and an optional List ID in Account Settings, Integrations, and click Save. Then, in a Flow Automation with an Email question, open Integrations, switch on Klaviyo, choose On every answer and click Set Live. Klaviyo gets the email, name, phone and Instagram username. Trendsetter and above. - [How do I book calls from Instagram comments?](https://instantdm.com/how-to/book-calls-from-instagram.md) (Plan: Trendsetter and above; web app only): Build a Flow Automation: a Comment Reply trigger on your Reel, Name and Email questions, then a button message with your calendar link and an I booked it button, plus a reminder if they don't tap. Send emails to Kit or Mailchimp with On every answer. InstantDM can't see whether someone actually booked. Trendsetter and above. ## Multi-step flows - [What is Flow Automation and when do I need it?](https://instantdm.com/how-to/what-is-flow-automation.md) (Plan: Trendsetter and above; web app only): Flow Automation is InstantDM's drawing board for DM conversations with more than one step. You connect steps such as messages, questions, conditions and AI replies, and each person's taps and answers decide what they get next. You build flows in the web app on a computer, on Trendsetter and above. - [How do I create a flow from a template?](https://instantdm.com/how-to/create-flow-from-template.md) (Plan: Trendsetter and above; web app only): Open Flow Automation, click New Flow Automation, pick Instagram or Facebook, choose a template and click Use this template. Before Set Live, replace every sample link, price and text. For comment templates, also write your welcome message title and add at least one public comment reply, or Set Live will refuse. - [How do I build a flow by describing it to AI?](https://instantdm.com/how-to/build-flow-with-ai.md) (Plan: Trendsetter and above; web app only): Type what you want into the Build with AI box on Home, or click the AI button inside the flow editor, and the builder adds and connects the steps for you. It can't pick your posts or stories and it never publishes. Check every step, pick your posts in the Trigger card, then click Set Live. Trendsetter and above. - [What does each step in a flow do?](https://instantdm.com/how-to/flow-steps-explained.md) (Plan: Trendsetter and above; web app only): A flow is built from steps: DM Reply sends messages, Question steps ask and save answers, AI Reply lets AI chat, Followers only checks if they follow you, Tag Contact, Condition, Delay, Randomizer, Set Field and HTTP Request handle logic and data, and Trigger Flow starts another flow. Add them from the toolbar at the bottom of the editor or the + button. - [How do I ask questions in a flow and save the answers?](https://instantdm.com/how-to/ask-questions-in-a-flow.md) (Plan: Trendsetter and above; web app only): Add a Question step (Ask a Question, Collect Email, or + then Question), write your question, and optionally name the answer under Save answer as. The flow waits for the reply, checks its format, and saves it on the contact. Typed answers must arrive within 1 hour. Phone numbers must be digits only, with no spaces or dashes. - [How do I send a reminder if someone doesn't reply?](https://instantdm.com/how-to/follow-up-if-no-reply.md) (Plan: Trendsetter and above; web app only): 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. - [How do I put someone's name or answer into a message?](https://instantdm.com/how-to/use-names-and-answers-in-messages.md) (Plan: Trendsetter and above; web app only): In any flow text box that says 'type {{ for variables', type {{ and pick a variable, such as {{username}} or {{email}}. Add a fallback after a pipe, like {{username|there}}, so the message still reads well when the value is unknown. On Facebook, {{username}} gives the person's display name. - [How do I send different messages based on someone's answer or tag?](https://instantdm.com/how-to/different-messages-by-answer.md) (Plan: Trendsetter and above; web app only): Use a Condition step: add a rule such as 'Custom field goal equals weight loss' or 'Tag has tag vip', then connect the True and False dots to different messages. For simple choices, give each Regular button or smart reply its own next step. A Randomizer step splits people at random for A/B tests. - [How do I turn a flow on, and what do the Set Live errors mean?](https://instantdm.com/how-to/set-flow-live.md) (Plan: Trendsetter and above; web app only): Click Set Live at the top right of the flow editor. InstantDM checks the name, the trigger, the first step and your AI key, then shows 'Changes Published.' If it lists errors, fix each one and click Set Live again. After any later edit, click Set Live again. To turn a flow off, switch off its row in Flow Automation. - [How do I organize, duplicate or copy a flow to Facebook?](https://instantdm.com/how-to/organize-and-copy-flows.md) (Plan: Trendsetter and above; web app only): In Flow Automation, click New Folder to make folders, then drag flows onto them or tick flows and use Move to folder. To copy a flow, open the ā‹® menu on its row, click Duplicate and choose To Instagram, To Facebook or Both platforms. The copy is a draft. A copy to the other platform needs its posts picked again. Then click Set Live. - [How do I share a flow or import one someone shared?](https://instantdm.com/how-to/share-a-flow.md) (Plan: Trendsetter and above; web app only): Open the flow, click the ā‹® menu at the top right and choose Share. A link is copied, and anyone with that link can import a copy of the flow. To import, open a link you were sent and click Copy as New Automation (or Login to Copy). The copy is a draft: pick your own posts and click Set Live. ## AI replies - [How do I make AI reply to my Instagram DMs?](https://instantdm.com/how-to/ai-reply-to-dms.md) (Plan: Trendsetter and above; web app only): Add an AI Reply step to a Flow Automation, pick an AI provider and model, write instructions about your business, and click Set Live. It runs on your own API key from OpenAI, Anthropic, Google Gemini or DeepSeek, which you pay for. Needs Trendsetter and above. Once someone reaches the AI step, the AI keeps the chat and steps after it never run. - [Which AI key do I need, and where do I add it?](https://instantdm.com/how-to/add-ai-key.md) (Plan: Trendsetter and above; web app only): Get an API key from OpenAI, Anthropic, Google (Gemini) or DeepSeek, then open Account Settings, go to the AI Configuration tab, paste it into that provider's card and click Save. Check Status only tests the key, it doesn't save it. You pay the AI provider for usage. The key is used by the AI Reply step in flows, on Trendsetter and above. - [How do I control what the AI says?](https://instantdm.com/how-to/control-what-ai-says.md) (Plan: Trendsetter and above; web app only): Open the AI Reply step in your flow. Under Prompt, choose Guided (five fields: business, offer, tone, call to action, qualification) or Custom (one box for your own instructions). Put every price, link and policy in there, because the AI only knows what you write. Use Output format, Reply behavior and Max tokens to control buttons and length. - [How do I take over a chat from the AI?](https://instantdm.com/how-to/take-over-from-ai.md) (Plan: Trendsetter and above; web app only): Open Contacts and switch that person to Human in the Human takeover column. The AI stays silent for them while you reply in the Instagram app. Switch back to hand them to the AI again. Replying from Instagram alone does not pause the AI. The AI Reply step's Human takeover switch lets the AI hand chats to you by itself. - [What is DM Insights?](https://instantdm.com/how-to/dm-insights.md) (Plan: All plans; also in the phone app): DM Insights reads each new Instagram DM and story reply and tags the sender with an intent, such as purchase, collaboration, booking or complaint, plus a priority. Find it in the DM Insights panel on Home or in Quick Automation under the chat-bubble tab. It works on every plan, needs no AI key and no setup. ## Ads and Facebook - [How do I auto-reply to comments on my Instagram ads and boosted posts?](https://instantdm.com/how-to/auto-reply-ad-comments.md) (Plan: Trendsetter and above; web app only): Connect your account with Facebook Login, then open New Automation, choose Comment to DM, switch to Ads, pick your ad account and ads, and set the reply. It works for ads that run on Instagram, including boosted posts and ads made only in Ads Manager. - [Why can't I see my ads in InstantDM?](https://instantdm.com/how-to/ads-not-showing.md) (Plan: Trendsetter and above; web app only): InstantDM can only list your ads when your account is connected with Facebook Login and your Facebook profile has access to the ad account. Also check that you picked the right ad account and that the ad runs on Instagram, not only on Facebook. - [Can InstantDM handle click-to-message ads or Facebook ad comments?](https://instantdm.com/how-to/click-to-message-ads.md) (web app only): No to both, today. InstantDM automates comments on ads that run on Instagram, including boosted posts and dark posts. It does not handle click-to-message (Send message) ads, and it does not answer comments on the Facebook placement of an ad. - [How do I connect my Facebook Page?](https://instantdm.com/how-to/connect-facebook-page.md) (web app only): Open Account Settings, go to Safety & Limits, and click Connect on the Facebook Page card. Log in to Facebook, allow every permission, and pick the Page that is linked to the same Instagram account you connected in InstantDM. - [How do I send a Messenger DM when someone comments on my Facebook post?](https://instantdm.com/how-to/facebook-comments-to-messenger.md) (Plan: Legend Pro and above; also in the phone app): Connect your Facebook Page, then open New Automation, choose Comment to DM, pick the Facebook pill and your Page posts, and set the trigger words, public reply and DM. People who comment get your reply under their comment and a private message in Messenger. - [How do I auto-reply to Messenger keywords?](https://instantdm.com/how-to/messenger-keyword-replies.md) (Plan: Legend Pro and above; web app only): Open New Automation, choose DM Automation, then Facebook Messenger. Pick Lead Gen, add your keywords and a Text Message step, and publish. Then check that Facebook DM automation shows Active in Account Settings, and click Verify & activate if it doesn't. - [What works differently on Facebook?](https://instantdm.com/how-to/facebook-vs-instagram.md) (web app only): On Facebook you can automate Page post comments (with a Messenger DM) and Messenger keyword replies. Stories, Live, collabs, the follow-first option, ad comments, scheduling and post-shared-to-DM replies work on Instagram only, and a Flow runs on one platform at a time. ## Contacts and results - [How do I see who got my DM and what happened to each comment?](https://instantdm.com/how-to/see-who-got-my-dm.md) (also in the phone app): Open the post in Quick Automation and go to the All Comments tab. Each comment shows status tags such as Sent, Replied and Link Opened, or the reason it failed. Click View Summary to see totals and download a CSV. - [How do I see, search and export my contacts?](https://instantdm.com/how-to/contacts-page.md) (Plan: Legend Pro and above; web app only): Click Contacts in the sidebar and pick Instagram or Facebook. The page lists people from flows and Lead Gen, not people who only got a Send Link DM. Use Filter by tag or Filter by flow, and click Export to download a CSV with tags and answers. - [How do I tag contacts?](https://instantdm.com/how-to/tag-contacts.md) (Plan: Legend Pro and above; web app only): On the Contacts page, click the tag icon in a contact's Tags column, pick tags or create a new one, and click Save. To tag people automatically, add a Tag Contact step to a flow, Lead Gen or DM automation. You can then filter and export by tag. - [How do I stop automations for a specific person?](https://instantdm.com/how-to/exclude-someone-from-automation.md) (Plan: Legend Pro and above; also in the phone app): Add the person to Whitelist Contacts in Account Settings, on the Automation tab, or click Exclude from automation on their contact in Contacts. Whitelisted people get no automations at all: no DMs, no public replies, no flows and no follow-ups. - [What do the numbers in Insights mean?](https://instantdm.com/how-to/insights-explained.md) (also in the phone app): Insights shows what your automations did in the last 7, 14 or 30 days: DMs sent, link clicks, conversations and AI activity. Two things to know: days and hours are counted in UTC, not your local time, and Automation Health counts comments that didn't match your trigger word as Failed. - [How do I see who went through a flow and what they answered?](https://instantdm.com/how-to/flow-results.md) (Plan: Trendsetter and above; also in the phone app): Go to Flow Automation, find the flow and click its View contacts icon. A panel lists everyone who started the flow, newest first. Click a person to see their saved answers and tags. The download icon exports the list, but only the 200 most recent people. ## Scheduling, integrations and API - [How do I schedule a post, Reel, carousel or story?](https://instantdm.com/how-to/schedule-posts.md) (Plan: Legend Pro and above; also in the phone app): Open Later in the sidebar and click New Schedule. Pick Image, Carousel, Reel or Story, set the time, upload your media, write the caption and click Schedule. Use JPEG images, and finish any edits at least 10 minutes before the post time. - [How do I schedule a post with comment-to-DM already set up?](https://instantdm.com/how-to/schedule-post-with-auto-dm.md) (Plan: Legend Pro and above; also in the phone app): Schedule the post in Later, then click Setup Automation in the popup that appears. Set your trigger words, public reply and DM, and publish the automation. When the post goes live, the automation moves onto it straight away, so the first comments are answered. - [How do I connect InstantDM to Claude or another AI assistant? (MCP)](https://instantdm.com/how-to/connect-ai-assistant.md) (Plan: Trendsetter and above; web app only): Click API & MCP on Home, open MCP, generate a key and copy the Connection URL. In Claude, go to Settings, Connectors, Add custom connector, paste the URL and save. It's on Trendsetter and above, and new accounts can use it in their first week. - [How do I send InstantDM data to Make, Zapier or my own app?](https://instantdm.com/how-to/webhooks-and-api.md) (Plan: Trendsetter and above; web app only): Click API & MCP on Home and open Webhooks. Switch on Enable Webhook, paste the webhook URL from Make, Zapier or your app, tick the events you want, and click Save Configuration. Each event is sent once, with no retry. Available on Trendsetter and above. - [How do I send answers from a flow to another app?](https://instantdm.com/how-to/send-flow-data-to-another-app.md) (Plan: Trendsetter and above; web app only): Two ways. Switch on Webhook in the flow's Integrations and tick Question Answered or Flow Completed in API & MCP, Webhooks. Or add an HTTP Request step where you want the data sent, and choose the URL and fields yourself. Both are on Trendsetter and above. ## Instagram rules and safety - [What are Instagram's rules for automatic DMs?](https://instantdm.com/how-to/instagram-dm-rules.md) (Plan: All plans; also in the phone app): Instagram sets these rules, not InstantDM, and every tool must follow them. You can only message people who contact you first. A comment allows one private DM, within 7 days. After the person messages you or taps a button, you can keep chatting for 24 hours. Instagram decides if your DM lands in their main inbox or in Message Requests. - [Do DMs reach people who don't follow me or have private accounts?](https://instantdm.com/how-to/dms-to-non-followers.md) (Plan: All plans; also in the phone app): Instagram decides, not InstantDM. InstantDM tries to DM everyone who comments, whether they follow you or not, and it does not check for private accounts. If Instagram refuses the DM because the person doesn't follow you, InstantDM posts a public reply under their comment asking them to follow. Instagram also decides if your DM lands in the main inbox or Message Requests. - [How many DMs can InstantDM send per hour?](https://instantdm.com/how-to/how-many-dms-per-hour.md) (Plan: All plans; also in the phone app): It depends on your plan. Free and Legend Pro answer up to 800 comments per hour, Trendsetter up to 2,000, and Trendsetter Pro and the Multi plans have no hourly limit. You can set a lower pace in Account Settings ā†’ Safety & Limits ā†’ Automations / Hour. This pace applies to comment automations only. - [What should I do when a post goes viral?](https://instantdm.com/how-to/post-going-viral.md) (also in the phone app): Check your hourly pace in Safety & Limits, then watch the post's All Comments tab. On Trendsetter and the Multi plans, extra comments wait in a queue, and Comment Limit / Hour can pause public replies while DMs continue. Afterwards, use Re-run missed comments or Comment Pooling (Trendsetter and above) and Resend in Automation Recovery. - [What do the Safety & Limits settings do?](https://instantdm.com/how-to/safety-and-limits-settings.md) (Plan: All plans; also in the phone app): Safety & Limits is a tab in Account Settings. It holds your Instagram and Facebook Page connections (connect, reconnect, disconnect) and three speed controls: Automations / Hour sets your hourly pace for comment automations, Comment Limit / Hour pauses public replies on busy posts, and Rate Limit Retry sets how long InstantDM waits when Instagram says your account is sending too fast. - [What do the switches in Account Settings > Automation do?](https://instantdm.com/how-to/automation-settings.md) (Plan: All plans; also in the phone app): The Automation tab in Account Settings has three parts. Automation Controls turns automations on or off for the account: Global stops everything, while Comments and DMs only affect Send Link & PDF automations. Prevent In-Chat Trigger keeps DM and story-reply automations quiet while you chat with someone. Whitelist Contacts lists people who never get any automation. - [Instagram limited my account. What should I do?](https://instantdm.com/how-to/instagram-restricted-my-account.md) (Plan: All plans; also in the phone app): Turn your automations off yourself (Account Settings ā†’ Automation ā†’ Global ā†’ Off ā†’ 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. ## Fix a problem - [Why didn't my automation send a DM?](https://instantdm.com/how-to/automation-not-sending.md) (Plan: All plans; also in the phone app): Check these first: the red 'Instagram conection expired' banner (reconnect), your credits, the Global and DMs switches in Account Settings ā†’ Automation, whether the comment contained your trigger word, and whether it was a reply inside a thread. Then read the comment's tag in the post's All Comments tab and the reason in Automation Recovery ā†’ Missed & Failed. - [How do I resend DMs that failed or were missed?](https://instantdm.com/how-to/resend-missed-dms.md) (Plan: All plans; also in the phone app): Open Automation Recovery ā†’ Missed & Failed, fix the cause first, then click Resend on a row, or tick several rows and click Resend selected. Each item can be resent up to 3 times, 10 minutes apart, up to 200 at once. Comments can be resent for about 7 days and messages for about 24 hours. Each resend uses a credit. - [How do I make InstantDM answer comments it missed on a post?](https://instantdm.com/how-to/rerun-missed-comments.md) (Plan: Trendsetter and above; also in the phone app): Open the post in InstantDM and click Re-run missed comments, then Continue. InstantDM reads the post's comments in batches of 50 and runs your automation for the ones it never handled, skipping comments already answered. It works on Trendsetter and above (not during the free first week), on one specific post or Reel at a time. - [InstantDM asks me to reconnect. How do I fix it?](https://instantdm.com/how-to/reconnect-instagram.md) (Plan: All plans; also in the phone app): Click the button on the red banner: Connect Instagram Directly for the Instagram banner, or Connect Instagram via FB Page for the Facebook banner. Log in to the same Instagram account and approve every permission. Your automations are kept. Then resend DMs that failed while you were disconnected from Automation Recovery ā†’ Missed & Failed. - [Why can't I connect my Instagram account?](https://instantdm.com/how-to/cant-connect-instagram.md) (Plan: All plans; also in the phone app): The most common reasons are: the Instagram is a personal account (switch to Creator or Business), it is already linked to another InstantDM login (use Disconnect & Connect Here), your Facebook Page is linked to a different Instagram, or the account is connected through a Facebook Page so connecting Instagram directly is refused. Each has its own fix below. - [Why did someone get my DM twice?](https://instantdm.com/how-to/dm-sent-twice.md) (Plan: All plans; also in the phone app): Most often the person commented twice. Each new matching comment gets its own DM and public reply, by design. Other causes: they commented on two posts, they both commented and messaged you a keyword, or your setup sends a button first and the link second. Rarely, Instagram reports the same event twice and the DM goes out twice. - [Why didn't my next-post automation start on my new post?](https://instantdm.com/how-to/next-post-did-not-attach.md) (Plan: Legend Pro and above; also in the phone app): A next-post automation attaches when the first comment arrives on the new post, not when you publish. InstantDM reads the caption and looks for your caption code as a whole word. If the code is missing, misspelled or stuck to other letters, the post is left alone. Add the code to the caption, and it can attach when the next comment comes in. - [Why does the follow message keep coming after someone followed?](https://instantdm.com/how-to/follow-message-keeps-coming.md) (Plan: Legend Pro and above; also in the phone app): After following, the person must tap Started following you! šŸ‘ 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. - [What do InstantDM's warning emails mean?](https://instantdm.com/how-to/instantdm-emails-explained.md) (Plan: All plans; web app only): InstantDM may email you when something stops your DMs: an expired Instagram connection, DMs turned off, missing permissions, an account limit, blocked links, another app controlling your chats, or credits running out. Each email names the problem. Fix the cause, then resend missed DMs from Automation Recovery. Billing reminders and login codes also come by email. ## Multiple accounts and teams - [What is the difference between accounts, workspaces and team members in InstantDM?](https://instantdm.com/how-to/accounts-workspaces-team.md) (web app only): Each InstantDM account holds one Instagram account. Your main account can own extra client accounts (sub-accounts), each with its own connection, automations, plan and credits. Your workspace is the shared space your team members join, and every team member gets full access to all of it. - [How do I add and switch between Instagram accounts in InstantDM?](https://instantdm.com/how-to/add-another-instagram-account.md) (also in the phone app): Click your profile card at the bottom of the sidebar to open Switch Account. Expand your main account and click Create sub-account, then connect that account's Instagram. Each account has its own connection, plan and credits unless you are on a multi-account plan. Click any row to switch. - [How do I connect a client's Instagram account without their password?](https://instantdm.com/how-to/connect-client-account-with-link.md) (web app only): Create the client account, then send the client a connection link: in Switch Account click the share icon on the unconnected account, or click Share Login Link on the connect screen. The client opens it and connects their own Instagram or Facebook Page. The link expires in 7 days. Treat it like a password. - [How do I invite a team member to InstantDM?](https://instantdm.com/how-to/invite-team-member.md) (web app only): Go to Account Settings, open the Team tab and click Open Team settings. Create your workspace the first time, then on the Members tab invite the person by email. They accept from the invitation email within 72 hours. Every member gets the Admin role, with full access to your main account and all client accounts. Web only. - [How do I reuse an automation or flow on another InstantDM account?](https://instantdm.com/how-to/copy-automation-to-another-account.md) (Plan: Legend Pro and above (flows: Trendsetter and above); web app only): Save a Send Link & PDF or Lead Gen automation to the Library. Library items are shared across your connected accounts, so switch account and apply it from Quick Automation, Saved Libraries. Flows are not in the Library: use the flow's Share link, switch account and import the copy. Automation Groups belong to one account. - [What plan do I need to run several Instagram accounts on InstantDM?](https://instantdm.com/how-to/plans-for-agencies.md) (Plan: Multi Starter and Multi Pro; web app only): Multi Starter covers 3 accounts for $15 a month (ā‚¹1,299) and Multi Pro covers 10 accounts for $99 a month (ā‚¹7,999), on one bill. Buy it from My Plan, Multi Account, with your main login on the web. For more than 10 accounts, email hey@instantdm.com. Without a multi-account plan, each account needs its own plan. ## Plans and billing - [How do credits work in InstantDM?](https://instantdm.com/how-to/how-credits-work.md) (Plan: All plans; also in the phone app): One credit is one automated DM that Instagram or Facebook accepts. Public comment replies and failed DMs don't use credits. New accounts start on Free with 500 credits. Legend Pro, Trendsetter and Trendsetter Pro have unlimited DMs, paced per hour. At zero credits, nothing is sent until you upgrade or renew. - [What InstantDM plan should I choose?](https://instantdm.com/how-to/which-plan-do-i-need.md) (also in the phone app): Most creators and shops need Legend Pro ($12 or ā‚¹999 a month): unlimited DMs up to 800 per hour, story and DM keyword replies, follow gate and lead capture. Choose Trendsetter ($29.99 or ā‚¹1,999) for Flow Automation, AI replies, ad comments and the API. Trendsetter Pro removes the hourly limit. Several accounts need a Multi plan. - [How do I upgrade or change my InstantDM plan?](https://instantdm.com/how-to/upgrade-or-change-plan.md) (also in the phone app): Click My Plan, choose One Account or Multi Account, pick Stripe (USD) or Razorpay (INR) under Payment Gateway, then click Buy Yearly or Buy Monthly on the plan you want. To downgrade or switch billing period, buy the new plan the same way. Your old subscription is stopped automatically once the new payment goes through on the same gateway. - [How do I cancel my InstantDM subscription?](https://instantdm.com/how-to/cancel-subscription.md) (also in the phone app): If you paid on the website, open My Plan, go to Current Subscription and click Cancel Subscription, pick a reason and confirm. If you paid in the iPhone or Android app, cancel in the App Store or Google Play. You keep your plan until the period ends. Then the account moves to Free with 0 credits. - [Can I get a refund from InstantDM?](https://instantdm.com/how-to/refunds.md) (also in the phone app): Usually no. InstantDM payments are non-refundable and there are no partial refunds for unused days. Exceptions may be considered for a duplicate charge, a billing error on InstantDM's side or a long outage caused by InstantDM, if you email hey@instantdm.com within 7 days of the charge. App Store and Google Play purchases follow Apple's and Google's rules. - [Where do I download my InstantDM invoices?](https://instantdm.com/how-to/download-invoices.md) (web app only): Click My Plan, scroll to Current Subscription and click Invoices. Each paid invoice has View and Download; Download opens the print window, where you choose Save as PDF. To add your company name, address and GST or tax ID, click Billing Details and Save. Invoices are on the web app only. - [How do I manage an InstantDM subscription I bought in the iPhone or Android app?](https://instantdm.com/how-to/subscription-from-app-store.md) (also in the phone app): In the app, Starter is Legend Pro and Brand is Trendsetter. Apple or Google bill these plans, so you check the price in the store's payment sheet, restore them with Restore Purchases, and cancel them in the App Store or Google Play subscription settings. Deleting the app does not cancel. The plan applies to your InstantDM account on the web too. - [How do I delete my InstantDM account?](https://instantdm.com/how-to/delete-instantdm-account.md) (also in the phone app): There is no delete button on the website. In the InstantDM phone app, go to Settings, Privacy, Delete Account to send a deletion request, or email hey@instantdm.com from your login email. Cancel your subscription first: deleting does not cancel it. To stop all automations right away, disconnect Instagram on the web.