Connect Instagram
Bring DMs to your Instagram professional account into the inbox and let the AI agent reply.
Once connected, every DM to your agency's Instagram account lands in your inbox, and the AI agent replies on Instagram. Instagram is available on Growth and Pro (and during the free trial).
Instagram messages reach Flyby through the Facebook Page linked to your account. If you've finished Connect Messenger, most of the work is done: same app, same System user, same Page.
Want us to do it for you?
The Meta setup add-on covers Instagram too: a one-time 1,500 EGP / $49 on Starter and Growth, and included in Pro. Request it from Settings → Plan & billing.
How Instagram differs from Messenger
| Messenger | ||
|---|---|---|
| Field in Flyby | Your Page ID | The ID of the Page linked to Instagram |
| Finding the account | From the Page ID | Flyby finds the Instagram account from the Page automatically |
| Webhook object in Meta | Page | |
| Subscribed fields | 4 fields | messages and messaging_postbacks |
| Key permission for review | pages_messaging | instagram_manage_messages |
| "Seen" and "typing…" | Yes | No |
| Team replies after 24h | Up to 7 days with Human Agent approval | Up to 7 days with Human Agent approval |
Before you start
- An Instagram professional (Business) account, not a personal one.
- The account is linked to your agency's Facebook Page, and the Page is in your Business portfolio.
- In Flyby: you're the owner or a manager, on Growth or Pro.
Steps
Make the account professional and link it to the Page
In the Instagram app, switch the account to Professional → Business if it isn't already. Then link it to your Facebook Page (Page settings on Facebook → Linked accounts → Instagram, or from Meta Business Suite).
Allow access to messages
In the Instagram mobile app: Settings → Messages and story replies → Message controls → Connected tools, and turn on Allow access to messages.
Easy to forget
Without this switch, Meta won't deliver DMs to any app, even if everything else is right.
Prepare the app and System user
Use your Meta app (add the Messenger use case if it isn't there) and your Admin System user, with these assets under Assign assets:
- The app: Manage app.
- The Facebook Page linked to Instagram: Full control.
Generate a token for Instagram
Generate new token → your app → Token expiration: Never, with the permissions:
instagram_basicinstagram_manage_messagespages_manage_metadatapages_show_listpages_read_engagementbusiness_management(optional)
Add instagram_manage_comments too if you want comment replies (a DM and a public reply for comments on posts you pick). For DMs alone you don't need it.
Copy the token right away.
Connect in Flyby
- Open Settings → Channels & integrations and switch on Instagram Direct.
- Paste the token, the App secret (App settings → Basic), and the Facebook Page ID of the Page linked to Instagram.
- Click Connect.
Flyby finds your Instagram account on its own and subscribes the Page to messages. When it works, the badge turns Connected and your account shows as @yourhandle.
Paste the webhook in Meta
In your Meta app: Use cases → Customize → Webhooks, then pick Instagram in the Product list on the left (not "User" or "Page"). Paste the Callback URL and Verify token from Flyby, click Verify and save, and subscribe to messages and messaging_postbacks (plus comments for comment replies).
The orange note about "Instagram API with Instagram business login" is about a different connection method; you can ignore it.
The URL doesn't change
Disconnecting and reconnecting the channel in Flyby keeps the same Callback URL and Verify token, so you only paste them in Meta once.
Not the Messenger URL
Every channel has its own Callback URL and Verify token. Don't reuse the Messenger ones for Instagram.
Live mode and App Review
Switch the app to Live. While the permissions show "Ready for testing" (Standard Access), test from an account added under App roles → Roles → Instagram Testers.
With Standard Access ("Ready for testing"), Meta only delivers DMs from people who have a role on your app, or whose account is connected to your business. DMs from the public need Advanced Access for instagram_manage_messages. Meta now only lets you request it as a Tech Provider, which needs business verification (your company's official papers) and access verification. That choice can't be undone, so do it once you're ready to finish all the steps. If you want your team to reply for up to 7 days, request Human Agent too.
Until then, comments from anyone still arrive: see Comment replies.
Test the connection
- From another Instagram account, send a DM to your agency's account.
- In Flyby, Last event updates.
- Open Conversations: you'll see the Instagram conversation and the AI's reply.
Good to know
- Long replies are split into several messages automatically, because Instagram accepts shorter messages than WhatsApp and Messenger.
- Shared reels or posts, and story mentions show in the conversation as a short label (like "🎬 ريل" or "📣 إشارة في ستوري").
- Comments on your posts can get a DM and a public reply too: see Comment replies.