# What is Flow Automation and when do I need it? Guide: https://instantdm.com/how-to/what-is-flow-automation 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:** 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. A **flow** is a conversation you draw on a canvas. Each box is a step: send a message, ask a question, check something, wait, tag the person, or let AI reply. Lines between the boxes decide what happens next. ## Before you start - You need **Trendsetter and above**. On lower plans, **New Flow Automation** shows "Upgrade to unlock the Flow Editor" with **See plans** and **Not now**. New accounts can try it during their first-week trial. - Use a laptop or computer. On a narrow screen the flow list shows "Please open on a laptop or computer for the best experience." - Your Instagram account must be connected. For Facebook flows you also need a connected Facebook Page (see [connect your Facebook Page](https://instantdm.com/how-to/connect-facebook-page.md)). ## When to use a flow | You want to... | Use | |---|---| | Send the same link, text or PDF to everyone who comments | **Send Link & PDF** | | Ask for a name, email or phone in a straight line, no other apps | **Lead Gen** | | Ask questions and send different messages based on the answers | **Flow Automation** | | Remind people who don't reply | **Flow Automation** | | Let AI answer DMs with your own AI key | **Flow Automation** | | Send collected emails to Mailchimp, Kit or Klaviyo | **Flow Automation** | More detail: [Send Link, Lead Gen or Flow: which one should I pick?](https://instantdm.com/how-to/send-link-lead-gen-or-flow.md) ## Steps 1. Click **Flow Automation** in the left sidebar. You'll see the page **Flow Automations** with your flows split into **Live** and **Drafts**. 2. Click **New Flow Automation**. 3. In the window "Which platform is this automation for?", click **Instagram** or **Facebook**. 4. Choose how to start: - Type what you want into the box at the top and click **Build with AI** (see [build a flow with AI](https://instantdm.com/how-to/build-flow-with-ai.md)). - Click **Start from scratch** for an empty canvas. - Pick a template under **Or start from a template** and click **Use this template** (see [create a flow from a template](https://instantdm.com/how-to/create-flow-from-template.md)). 5. Click the **Trigger** card and choose what starts the flow: **Comment Reply**, **DM Reply** or **Story Reply**. 6. Add steps from the toolbar at the bottom and connect them. You'll see each step as a card on the canvas. 7. Click **Set Live** at the top right. Until you do, nothing is sent. See [turn a flow on](https://instantdm.com/how-to/set-flow-live.md). ## On the phone app In the InstantDM app you can open **Flows** on Home to see your flows, the people in each flow and their answers. You can't create, edit or publish flows in the app. Use the web app at app.instantdm.com on a computer. ## What your followers see - **Comment flows:** the person first gets one DM with your welcome text and a single button. Nothing else is sent until they tap that button. Then the rest of the flow runs. - **DM and story reply flows:** the first step is sent straight away, with no welcome button. - All messages come from your own Instagram account or Facebook Page. ## Good to know - Everything you change saves as a draft automatically. Drafts never reach your followers. - A flow has one **Trigger** card. You can't delete it, and you can't add a second one. - Waits and reminders inside a flow can't be longer than 24 hours. - Question answers are saved on the contact, so you can see them later in **Contacts** and reuse them in messages. - Folders, duplicates and sharing: see [organize and copy flows](https://instantdm.com/how-to/organize-and-copy-flows.md) and [share a flow](https://instantdm.com/how-to/share-a-flow.md). ## What you can't do - Build or edit flows in the phone app. - Send broadcasts or message people who never contacted you. - Wait more than 24 hours between steps. - Send video messages from a flow. ## How to turn it off Open **Flow Automation** and switch off the flow's row, then confirm **Yes, Unpublish**. Details in [turn a flow on or off](https://instantdm.com/how-to/set-flow-live.md). ## If it doesn't work - **"Upgrade to unlock the Flow Editor"** → your plan doesn't include flows. Click **See plans**, or see [which plan do I need](https://instantdm.com/how-to/which-plan-do-i-need.md). - **The flow is live but nobody gets a DM** → see [why didn't my automation send a DM?](https://instantdm.com/how-to/automation-not-sending.md) - **People got the first DM but nothing after** → in comment flows they must tap the welcome button first. Make the welcome text tell them to tap it. ## Questions people also ask **Do I need a flow to send one link when people comment?** No. For one message with a link or PDF, use Send Link & PDF. Use a flow when you need questions, branches, reminders, AI replies or a connection to your email tool. **Can I build a flow on my phone?** No. The InstantDM phone app only shows your flows and the people in them. You create and edit flows in the web app on a laptop or computer. **Can one flow start from comments, story replies and DMs at the same time?** Yes. Each flow has one Trigger card, and that card can listen to comments, story replies and DMs together. Story replies are Instagram only. **What happens if two flows use the same trigger word?** Only one of them runs: the one you published most recently. Use different words, or keep only one of those flows live. ## Related guides - [Send Link, Lead Gen or Flow: which one should I pick?](https://instantdm.com/how-to/send-link-lead-gen-or-flow.md) - [How do I create a flow from a template?](https://instantdm.com/how-to/create-flow-from-template.md) - [What does each step in a flow do?](https://instantdm.com/how-to/flow-steps-explained.md) - [What InstantDM plan should I choose?](https://instantdm.com/how-to/which-plan-do-i-need.md)