Instagram setup
Connect an Instagram professional account to Enscale for DMs, story mentions, and comment automation.
Connecting Instagram brings DMs into your inbox and unlocks comment automation — public replies, comment-to-DM flows, and moderation.
Before you start
You need:
- An Instagram professional account (Business or Creator). Personal accounts can't be connected.
- The Instagram account linked to a Facebook Page.
- Admin access to that Page.
- Messaging from third-party apps enabled in the Instagram app, under Settings → Messages and story replies → Message controls.
That last one is the usual reason a connection appears to succeed but no messages arrive.
Connect
Start the connection
In Enscale, go to Integrations and choose Instagram.
Authorise with Meta
Sign in with the Facebook account that manages the Page, and grant the requested permissions. Enscale needs messaging and comment access to read and reply.
Pick the account
Select the Instagram professional account to connect. If yours isn't listed, it's usually not linked to a Page you administer.
What Instagram gives you
Triggers
| Trigger | Fires when |
|---|---|
| Instagram Comment | Someone comments on your post. |
| Instagram DM Received | A customer sends a new DM. |
| Story Mention | Your account is mentioned in a story. |
| Instagram Ad Click | A customer DMs you after tapping an Instagram ad. |
Actions
| Action | What it does |
|---|---|
| Reply to Comment | Posts a public reply. |
| Send Instagram DM | Sends a private message. |
| Hide Comment | Hides it from public view. |
| Like Comment | Likes it. |
The classic pattern — reply publicly, then DM the details — is a Reply to Comment followed by a Send Instagram DM. See Instagram comment automation.
Limits worth knowing
- The 24-hour window applies. You can reply freely within 24 hours of the customer's last message. Outside it, Instagram restricts what you can send.
- You can only DM someone who has messaged you or commented. There's no broadcast equivalent on Instagram.
- Story mentions are only actionable while the story is live — 24 hours.
- Comment automation is rate-limited by Meta. Enscale paces replies to stay within limits; a viral post will see replies spread out rather than sent instantly.
Troubleshooting
| Problem | What to check |
|---|---|
| Account not listed when connecting | It must be a professional account linked to a Page you administer. |
| DMs don't arrive | Enable third-party messaging in the Instagram app's message controls. |
| Comment triggers don't fire | Reconnect the channel — comment permissions are separate from messaging and may not have been granted. |
| Replies fail outside 24 hours | Expected. Instagram restricts messaging outside the window. |
| Channel status shows Error | The Meta token expired or a permission was revoked. Reconnect. |