Instagram API and MCP

Build an Instagram publish request with account lookup, required media, and platform-specific options.

Instagram publishing requires an image or video. Use a connected Instagram account from account lookup. A caption alone is insufficient.

Fields

Field	Use
mediaType	Optional reel or story. Choose the format requested by the user.
collaborators	Optional array of Instagram usernames without @.
altText	Optional image description.
coverImageUrl	Optional public Reel cover URL.
shareToFeed	Optional boolean for also sharing a Reel to the main feed.
audioName	Optional name for the Reel's original audio.
trial	Optional trial Reel settings. Read the publish schema before setting graduationStrategy.
firstComment	Optional first comment after publishing. Stories do not support it.

For MCP, pass platform-specific fields alongside accountId, platform, text, and mediaUrls. For REST, platform-specific target fields belong inside post.target. Thread content belongs inside post.content.additionalPosts.

Media and formats

Use a single image, a video, or multiple media URLs for a carousel. For a Reel, check the export guidance and automatic-conversion limits. Videos longer than 120 seconds must already satisfy requirements if cropping or conversion would otherwise be needed.

Read Instagram media requirements and upload and conversion rules. Public media URLs go directly in mediaUrls. No upload step required.

MCP example

Call blotato_create_post with the following shape. Replace lookup IDs and example media URLs with returned IDs and your media. Adjust the example's settings to the user's request.

{
  "accountId": "ACCOUNT_ID_FROM_LOOKUP",
  "platform": "instagram",
  "text": "A caption for your Reel.",
  "mediaUrls": [
    "https://example.com/video.mp4"
  ],
  "mediaType": "reel"
}

REST example

Send this JSON to POST https://backend.blotato.com/v2/posts with your blotato-api-key header.

{
  "post": {
    "accountId": "ACCOUNT_ID_FROM_LOOKUP",
    "content": {
      "platform": "instagram",
      "text": "A caption for your Reel.",
      "mediaUrls": [
        "https://example.com/video.mp4"
      ]
    },
    "target": {
      "targetType": "instagram",
      "mediaType": "reel"
    }
  }
}

Verify the result

1. Save the returned postSubmissionId.

2. If processing continues, use blotato_get_post_status or GET /v2/posts/:postSubmissionId.

3. Report the returned status and public URL when supplied.

For scheduling, add scheduledTime or useNextFreeSlot as an MCP argument or a REST top-level sibling of post. See Scheduling and completion rules.

Limits and troubleshooting

shareToFeed affects Reels. It does not populate the comments inbox or change image posts. Comments, DMs, and analytics have their own sync behavior.

See Instagram account guide, platform help, and the Publish Post reference for options and examples.