> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://help.blotato.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://help.blotato.com/platforms/instagram/faqs.md). # FAQs ## Can I read or reply to Instagram comments in Blotato? Yes. Blotato reads and posts comments on your published Instagram posts through the [Comments API](/api/comments.md) and the [MCP tools](/api/mcp/tools.md). You can list the comments on your published Instagram posts, including audience replies and your own, post a top-level comment, and reply to a top-level comment. Blotato does not support: * Replies to replies. You can reply to a top-level comment, but not to a reply. * Commenting on other people's posts. To respond to a comment from your audience, reply to it or post a new top-level comment on the same post. *** ## How do I add a first comment to my Instagram post? Blotato's **First Comment** field auto-posts a comment right after your Instagram post publishes. Many creators use it to put a link in the first comment instead of the caption. * **Web app:** Fill in the **First Comment** field in the Instagram post/schedule options. * **API/MCP:** Set `target.firstComment` in [Publish Post](/api/publish-post.md#instagram), or pass `firstComment` to the `blotato_create_post` MCP tool. First comments work on posts, carousels, and reels, up to 2200 characters. Stories are not supported. Replying to your audience's comments is different, and uses the [Comments API](/api/comments.md). *** ## Why don't older Instagram comments show up? Blotato does not backfill comments. It starts capturing comments once your account has comments enabled and you connect or reconnect your Instagram account. Comments left before then do not appear. Blotato also retains comments for up to 45 days. Comments older than 45 days may no longer appear. To grant the comment permission, reconnect your Instagram account in [Settings > Social Accounts](https://my.blotato.com/settings). See [Connect Instagram](/settings/social-accounts/instagram.md). *** ## Can I read or send Instagram DMs in Blotato? Yes. Blotato reads and sends direct messages on your Instagram account through the [Messages API](/api/messages.md) and the [MCP tools](/api/mcp/tools.md). You may reply to people who already have a conversation with you, or send a private reply to a comment on your posts. Instagram limits who you can message and when: * If they sent a direct message to you, you have 24 hours to respond to them. * If they posted a comment to one of your posts, you have up to 7 days to send a single private reply/direct message to them. You may not message them again after your private reply until they re-open your 24-hour messaging window. Blotato does not support cold outreach or messaging people who have not contacted you. To reply automatically when someone comments on your post or sends you a DM, set up a [DM automation](/features/dm-automations.md). Sending a message to a new person counts toward your plan's monthly active-contacts limit. See [Active Contacts](/settings/billing-and-credits.md#active-contacts). If you connected your account before messaging launched, reconnect it to grant the permission. See [Connect Instagram](/settings/social-accounts/instagram.md). *** ## Can Blotato auto-reply to Instagram comments and DMs? Yes. Set up a [DM automation](/features/dm-automations.md). When someone comments a keyword on your post or reel, or sends your account a keyword DM, Blotato answers with a direct message. A comment trigger answers with a private reply to the comment: one per comment, within 7 days. A message trigger answers within 24 hours of the person's last message. See [Instagram Limitations](/platforms/instagram/limitations.md#direct-messages-and-dm-automations). Blotato does not message people who never contacted you. *** ## Why don't the buttons show up in my DM automation message? Instagram shows DM buttons in the Instagram mobile app only. Someone reading your message on instagram.com in a desktop browser sees the text with no buttons under it. Instagram sets this behavior, not Blotato. To work around this, you can paste the same URL into the message text instead. Use a button or a plain-text URL, not both. A message carrying both leaves the URL unclickable on desktop, so a desktop reader ends up with no working link at all. * If your audience reads mostly on mobile, keep the link button. * If your audience reads mostly on desktop, remove the button and put the URL in the message text instead. See [DM Automations](/features/dm-automations.md#write-the-message). *** ## Why don't older Instagram messages show up? Blotato retains messages for up to 45 days. Messages older than 45 days may no longer appear. *** ## Why did my post fail with "Error posting to Instagram: An internal server error occurred"? This error comes from a brief temporary outage of Instagram's API, not from Blotato. It is rare, and there is nothing to fix on the Blotato side. Blotato automatically retries the post 2 times when this error happens. If the post still failed, the outage lasted longer than a few minutes. Wait a few hours, then retry the post from [Failed Posts](https://my.blotato.com/failed). *** ## Why does Instagram keep rejecting my posts? ("Instagram rejected your post") Repeated "Instagram rejected your post" errors mean your account is hitting Instagram's spam and bot-risk checks, not a Blotato problem. To show Instagram a real person runs the account: 1. Log into your Instagram account daily for the next week 2. Scroll the feed for about 10 minutes, like a normal user 3. Space out your posts instead of retrying in a rapid loop This helps tell Instagram you are not a bot, and the rejections clear as the account builds trust. --- # Agent Instructions This documentation is published with GitBook. GitBook is the documentation platform designed so that both humans and AI agents can read, navigate, and reason over technical content effectively. Learn more at gitbook.com. ## Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question. Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter, and the optional `goal` query parameter: ``` GET https://help.blotato.com/platforms/instagram/faqs.md?ask=&goal= ``` `ask` is the immediate question: it should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language. `goal` is optional and describes the broader end goal you are ultimately trying to accomplish on behalf of the user. GitBook uses it to tailor the answer towards what is most useful for that goal. The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation. Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.