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The Instagram AutoDM setup checklist

Six steps from a fresh professional account to your first automated DM — with a done-check on each step so you know you're safe to move on. The whole list runs about ten minutes.

  1. 1.0

    Switch Instagram to a professional account

    AutoDM sends DMs through Instagram's official messaging API, and Instagram reserves that channel for professional accounts. In the Instagram app: Settings and activity → Account type and tools → Switch to professional account. Choose Creator or Business — either works. It's free and your posts and followers stay untouched. Note: switching back to a personal account disables API messaging and pauses your automations.

    Done when:Your profile shows a category label and a Contact button.

  2. 2.0

    Connect the account in AutoDM

    Create your free AutoDM account, open Accounts, and connect Instagram. The hand-off happens on Instagram's own login screen — AutoDM receives an access token, never your password. The dashboard shows token health per account, so an expired token surfaces as a warning — check it if an automation goes quiet.

    Done when:The Accounts screen lists your username with a Healthy token badge.

    The AutoDM accounts screen showing a connected Instagram account with a Healthy token badge and a Refresh token action
    Accounts screen — connected, token healthy.

  3. 3.0

    Choose what fires the DM

    A simple setup is a single memorable keyword: LINK for drop pages, PRICE for catalogues, PLAN for coaching offers. Prefer no keyword at all? Any-comment mode covers every eligible commenter (opt-outs, repeat windows and rate limits still apply). You can also automate story replies — that trigger lives in the same wizard. Decide here whether the rule watches one specific post or your whole account.

    Done when:You can say it in one sentence: “When someone comments LINK on any post, DM them the link.”

  4. 4.0

    Arm the automation in the wizard

    New DM automation walks you through three steps. Content: pick Any post or reel or scope to one post. Trigger: set keywords with match type — whole-word matching keeps “LINK” from firing on “hyperlink”; any-comment needs no keywords at all. Story replies: open the Fires-on dropdown and pick Replies to my stories.

    Done when:The Trigger step shows your keyword chips (or any-comment selected) and the match type you chose.

    The AutoDM automation wizard's Trigger step with any-comment mode selected and the Fires-on dropdown available
    Trigger step — trigger, scope and match type in one screen.

  5. 5.0

    Write the DM and set repeat protection

    The message step personalizes itself: {{name}} and {{username}} fill in per follower. Keep the first sentence human — “Hey {{name}}! Here's the link you asked for” reads better than a paragraph of pitch. Set repeat protection (7 days is a good default) so the same person isn't messaged again inside your window, check the live preview bubble, and create the automation.

    Done when:The preview bubble reads like a message you'd send a friend, and the summary spells out exactly what you armed.

    The AutoDM wizard's Message step showing the message template with placeholders, repeat protection set to a 7-day window and a personalized preview bubble
    Message step — write once, personalized for everyone.

  6. 6.0

    Test it end to end

    Comment the keyword from a second account — or a friend's account — on the post you scoped. The DM should land shortly, personalized with that account's name — give it up to a minute before debugging. If nothing arrives, jump to troubleshooting below: most often it's the automation toggle, an expired token, or a suppression (opt-out / repeat window).

    Done when:The test DM arrives, personalized, shortly after the comment.

The test DM didn't arrive?

The most common causes, in order:

  • 1.

    The automation toggle is off

    Open DM Automations and check the switch on the rule. A paused rule matches nothing, silently.

  • 2.

    The token went stale

    Accounts screen → token badge. Anything other than Healthy: hit Refresh token, then re-test.

  • 3.

    The keyword didn't match the way you expected

    Whole-word matching ignores “LINKS” when your keyword is “LINK”. Switch match type to Contains while testing, then tighten it back.

  • 4.

    The account isn't professional (or the test came too fast)

    Instagram's API only reports comments on professional accounts — and give the test comment up to a minute. Step 1 exists for a reason.

Checklist complete. Where next?

Two directions from here, both covered in depth:

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