> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://aibotkit.gitbook.io/documentation/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://aibotkit.gitbook.io/documentation/channels-and-integrations/instagram.md).

# Instagram

Let your AI chatbot reply to Instagram DMs sent to your business profile. When customers send you a direct message, your bot answers using your trained knowledge base. You can see all conversations in your AI Bot Kit dashboard.

## What you need

* An **Instagram Professional account** (Creator or Business)
* That Instagram account must be connected to a **Facebook Page**
* A paid plan on AI Bot Kit (Basic, Essential, or Business)

## How to set it up

### Step 1 — Create a Meta App

1. Go to [developers.facebook.com/apps](https://developers.facebook.com/apps) and log in with the same Facebook account that owns your Page.
2. Click **Create App**.
3. Choose **Other** → then **Business**.
4. Give your app a name (for example: "My AI Bot").
5. You will land on the app dashboard.

### Step 2 — Add Instagram to your app

1. On the app dashboard, click **Add Product**.
2. Find **Instagram** and click **Set Up**.
3. Then Click **Instagram API Setup with Instagram Login** in sidebar menu.
4. Follow the prompts to connect your **Instagram Professional account**.
5. Make sure your Instagram account shows as **Connected**.

### Step 3 — Generate your Access Token and copy your App Secret

1. On the left menu, click **Instagram → API Setup with Instagram Login**.
2. Click **Generate Token**.
3. Select the Instagram account you want to use.
4. Grant the permissions when asked.
5. A long token will appear — copy it. This is your **Page Access Token**.
6. **Also on this same page**, look for the **App Secret** field at top right and copy that too. You need both values.

### Step 4 — Make your app live

Before your bot can reply to real customers, you must switch your app from **Development** to **Live**.

1. Go to **Settings → Basic**.
2. Fill in:
   * **Privacy Policy URL** — a link to your website's privacy policy
   * **App Icon** — upload a square logo
   * **Category** — choose something like "Business and Pages"
   * **Contact Email**
3. At the top of the page, toggle the switch from **In Development** to **Live**.
4. Confirm when prompted.

> **Note:** If you do not add a Privacy Policy URL, Meta will not let you go live.

### Step 5 — Connect to AI Bot Kit

1. Open your AI Bot Kit dashboard.
2. Go to your chatbot → **Integrations** → **Instagram**.
3. Paste the following:
   * **Page Access Token** — the long token you generated
   * **App Secret** — copied from the same API Setup page
   * **Verify Token** — type any random word or phrase you choose (for example: `my-botkit-token`). You will use this again in the next step, so write it down.
4. Click **Connect Instagram**.

### Step 6 — Set up the webhook in Meta

After connecting, AI Bot Kit will show you a **Webhook URL**. Copy it.

1. Go back to your Meta app dashboard.
2. On the left menu, click **Instagram → API Setup with Instagram Login**.
3. Find Second Step Below Generate Token **Webhook Steup**.
4. Paste the **Webhook URL** into the **Callback URL** field.
5. Paste the same **Verify Token** you typed in AI Bot Kit.
6. Click **Verify and Save**.

### Step 7 — Test it

Send a direct message to your Instagram account from another account. Your bot should reply automatically.

You can see the conversation in your AI Bot Kit dashboard under the **Conversations** tab.

## Tips

* **Test with your own account first.** Before your app is fully reviewed by Meta, only accounts listed as testers in your Meta app can send DMs to the bot. Add yourself as a tester under **Roles → Testers** in the Meta app dashboard.
* **The Verify Token is just a password you make up.** It only needs to match between AI Bot Kit and the Meta webhook settings.
* **One Instagram account per chatbot.** If you want the same bot on a different Instagram account, create a new chatbot.
* **Keep your App Secret safe.** Do not share it. AI Bot Kit stores it securely and uses it to confirm messages are really coming from Instagram.

## Limits

* Every bot reply counts toward your **Monthly AI Messages** quota.
* Meta only allows replies within **24 hours** of the customer's last message. After that, the bot cannot send new messages until the customer messages again.


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