Instagram (Personal) — Beta #

In Settings → Channels this is the card labelled Instagram (Personal). Connect your personal or creator Instagram account so the platform can see who follows you, spot new followers automatically, and let an AI Agent chat with people in your Instagram Direct inbox. You connect by logging in with your Instagram username and password — the same way you’d add Instagram on a new phone.

This is different from “Instagram DMs”. The standard Instagram DMs channel uses Instagram’s official Business API — great for replying to people who message your business, but it cannot see your follower list and cannot message someone first outside a 24-hour window. This Instagram (Personal) channel connects your own account directly, which is what makes follower tracking and reaching out to new followers possible.

What Is the Instagram (Personal) Integration? #

It links your own Instagram account to the platform using Instagram’s normal login. There’s no Facebook Page, no Business API setup, and nothing to buy — you log in with the account you already use, and your follower list plus your 1-to-1 Direct messages become available inside the app.

This is ideal for creators and businesses that grow on Instagram and want to turn new followers into conversations — automatically welcoming them and letting an AI Agent handle the chat — on top of the account they already run.

Important — read before connecting. This is an unofficial integration that automates a personal Instagram account. Instagram’s rules discourage automation and bulk or unsolicited messaging, and accounts that break those rules can be temporarily restricted or permanently banned. Only use this channel to message people who already follow you or have messaged you, keep volumes low, and let the AI reply at a natural pace. Do not use it for cold mass outreach. The risk to your account is real and is yours — start slow and stay conservative.

Instagram (Personal) vs. Instagram DMs (Official) #

You can run both at the same time — they’re kept completely separate and never mix up your contacts.

Setting Up Instagram (Personal) #

Step 1: Open the Connect Flow #

1. In the left sidebar, click Settings near the bottom.
2. In the Settings left rail, under Channels, click Channels.
3. Find the Instagram (Personal) card and click Connect. The button only becomes clickable once this beta is enabled for your account.

Step 2: Log In #

1. Enter the username and password of the Instagram account you want to connect.
2. Click Connect.

Your password is used only to complete the secure login and is never stored in readable form. The connection is kept encrypted.

Step 3: Two-Factor Code (If You Have It On) #

If your account uses two-factor authentication, the app asks for your two-factor code (from your authenticator app or SMS). Enter it and click Verify code.

Step 4: Verification Code (If Instagram Asks) #

Instagram sometimes asks you to confirm it’s really you by sending a code to your email or phone. If that happens, the app shows a code box — enter the code Instagram sent and click Verify code.

Once verified, the screen shows your account as Connected, along with your current follower count. Your Instagram Direct conversations are now accessible through the platform, and an AI Agent assigned to this channel can respond to incoming messages.

Tracking Followers & Welcoming New Ones #

This is the part the official Instagram channel can’t do.

How follower tracking works #

• After you connect, the platform takes a baseline snapshot of your current followers. (Your existing followers are never auto-messaged — only people who follow you after you connect count as “new”.)
• On a regular schedule, it checks for new followers and adds them to your account.
• Press the Refresh action on the connected screen any time to update the count and check for new followers immediately.

Reach out to new followers (optional, off by default) #

Welcoming new followers isn’t set up on the connection screen. It’s configured on the AI Agent (or Broadcast/campaign) handling this channel instead. A new follower is treated as an incoming trigger — an event that tells the Agent to start a conversation — and the Agent responds with a custom opening DM. The “Reach out to new followers” option lives on the Agent that handles this channel — check the Agent and its Entry Point configuration for it. See AI Agents and Moving from Campaigns to Broadcasts & Agents.

Built-in safety limit. To protect your account, only a limited number of new-follower DMs are sent per day, paced naturally. This cap is deliberate — do not try to work around it. Leaving the reach-out option off and only replying to people who DM you first is the safest way to use the channel.

Session Management #

Checking Connection Status #

Your connection status is shown on the Instagram (Personal) card on the Channels page:

Reconnecting #

If your session drops, open Settings → Channels → Channels, find the Instagram (Personal) card, and use its manage/connect action. If Instagram needs to re-verify you, you’ll be asked to log in or enter a code again.

Disconnecting #

Open the Instagram (Personal) card and click Disconnect. This signs the platform out of your Instagram account, stops follower tracking and DM replies, and cleans up the session. You can reconnect any time.

Staying Safe on Instagram #

Because this automates a personal account, protecting it from bans is your responsibility. The platform paces the AI and outbound sends to look natural, but follow these practices:

• Message warm/existing audiences only. Reply to people who messaged you first, or welcome people who just chose to follow you. Avoid messaging strangers in bulk — that is the fastest way to get flagged.
• Keep volumes low, especially on a newly connected account. Ramp up slowly over days, not all at once.
• Avoid sending links to people who don’t know you — link-heavy messages to strangers are a common ban trigger.
• Let the AI reply at a natural pace. The built-in delays are there to keep things human-like — don’t try to defeat them.
• Use your real, established account, not a brand-new throwaway. New accounts that suddenly automate are flagged quickly.

Warning. If Instagram flags the account, sending stops and you may be asked to re-verify. Repeated or aggressive automation can get the account permanently banned. When in doubt, send less.

Media Messages #

Incoming photos, videos, and voice notes are pulled into the chat so the AI can understand them (voice notes are transcribed automatically). Outbound AI replies are text only in this version. Long replies are automatically trimmed to Instagram’s Direct message limit.

Limitations #

• Personal 1-to-1 Direct chats only. Group threads, Story replies, and comment automation are not handled by this channel (comment automation lives in the official Instagram DMs channel).
• Text-only sending. The AI replies with text; sending media out is planned for a later update.
• Unofficial integration. It relies on Instagram’s app login and is not endorsed by Instagram; changes on their side can affect it.
• Account risk. Excessive or unsolicited automation can get the account restricted or banned — follow the safety guidance above.
• Beta. This channel is rolling out to selected accounts first.

Troubleshooting #

“Incorrect password” or login fails #

• Double-check the username and password by logging into the Instagram app directly.
• If you just changed your password, use the new one.

Asked for a code unexpectedly #

• A two-factor prompt means your account has 2FA on — enter the code from your authenticator app or SMS.
• A verification prompt means Instagram wants to confirm it’s you — enter the code it sent to your email or phone.

New followers aren’t being welcomed #

• Confirm the reach-out option is on for this channel and the conversation flow handling it is live.
• Remember the baseline rule: only people who follow you after you connected are eligible — and there’s a daily safety cap.
• Press Refresh on the connected card to force an immediate check.

Messages not being sent #

• Verify the status shows Connected on the Channels page.
• If the account was recently flagged, reduce volume and stick to people who messaged you first.

Account logged out / asked to re-verify #

• Instagram ended the session or wants to confirm it’s you. Go to Settings → Channels → Channels, reconnect, and complete any code prompt.

Best Practices #

• Connect an established account that already has real followers and activity — not a brand-new account.
• Leave outreach to new followers off at first, get comfortable replying to inbound DMs, then enable it conservatively.
• Welcome new followers, don’t cold-DM strangers. Someone who just followed you is a warm contact; a random stranger is not.
• Keep your account healthy — normal usage and conservative pacing dramatically reduce ban risk.