> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.xpressbot.org/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Instagram Steps

> Every Instagram send, ask, and comment step in the Automation builder — what they do and when to use them.

## What is this?

These steps let an automation talk to people on **Instagram** — in direct messages and in the comments on your posts, reels, and Lives. They only appear when you build an Instagram automation.

Steps for **logic, sequences, integrations, AI, and actions** work on Instagram too — see the [Builder Steps overview](/workspace/automation/steps/overview).

\[SCREENSHOT: automation-steps-instagram-palette — The builder palette showing the Instagram send, ask, and comment steps]

## What can I do here?

| Step                                       | What it does                              |
| ------------------------------------------ | ----------------------------------------- |
| [IG Text](#ig-text)                        | Sends a text message                      |
| [IG Media](#ig-media)                      | Sends an image, video, audio, or file     |
| [IG Quick Replies](#ig-quick-replies)      | Sends tappable quick-reply chips          |
| [IG Buttons](#ig-buttons)                  | Sends a message with 1–3 buttons          |
| [IG Generic](#ig-generic)                  | Sends cards or a carousel                 |
| [IG Product Search](#ig-product-search)    | Sends catalog products as cards           |
| [IG Reaction](#ig-reaction)                | Reacts to the customer's message          |
| [IG Follow Check](#ig-follow-check)        | Checks if the person follows your account |
| [IG Comment Reply](#comment-steps)         | Replies publicly to a comment             |
| [IG Private Reply](#comment-steps)         | Sends a private message to a commenter    |
| [IG Moderate Comment](#comment-steps)      | Hides, unhides, or deletes a comment      |
| [IG Ask Text / Number / Email](#ask-steps) | Asks a question and saves the answer      |

## How to use it

### IG Text

Sends a text message. Use it for greetings, answers, and confirmations.

### IG Media

Sends an image, video, audio clip, or file. Use it for photos, short videos, or brochures.

### IG Quick Replies

**What it does:** sends a prompt with quick-reply choices the customer taps. **When to use it:** short choices like *Yes / No* or *Prices / Support*.

* **Prompt Text** (required).
* **Quick Reply Type** — **Text** (up to 13 options, each with a title of up to 20 characters), or a built-in chip for the customer's **Phone Number** or **Email**.
* **Save Selected Value To Field** (optional) — stores what they tapped, or their phone or email.

### IG Buttons

Sends a message with **1 to 3 reply buttons**. Each button (title up to 20 characters) gets its own path, like WhatsApp buttons.

### IG Generic

Sends **1 to 10 cards**, like a carousel. Each card has a **Title**, an optional **Subtitle**, and a button that opens a **Web URL** or triggers a **Postback** path. Use it to show several products or options.

### IG Product Search

Searches your catalog and sends matching products as cards (up to 10 per message). Feed it a search phrase from an Ask step.

### IG Reaction

**Reacts** to the latest message the customer sent (choose an emoji), or **unreacts** to remove your reaction. A small, friendly way to acknowledge a message.

### IG Follow Check

**What it does:** checks whether the person follows your Instagram account and follows **Followed** or **Not Followed**.
**When to use it:** giveaways and gated content — "Follow us to get the code."

*Typical setup:* on **Not Followed**, ask them to follow and send a button like "I've followed", and connect that button back to the check so it runs again.

### Comment steps

These three only appear when the trigger is an Instagram **comment** trigger (a comment on a post or reel, or during a Live). They act on the comment that started the automation.

* **IG Comment Reply** — sends a **public** reply under the comment. Add **1 to 10 reply variants**; the platform rotates through them so replies don't all look identical.
* **IG Private Reply** — sends a **private message** to the person who commented. Add 1 to 10 variants and a button, such as **Open DM**.
* **IG Moderate Comment** — **Hide Comment**, **Unhide Comment**, or **Delete Comment**. The keyword filter is set in the trigger.

A common pattern: comment triggers on the word "price" → **IG Comment Reply** ("Check your DMs!") → **IG Private Reply** with the details.

### Ask steps

**IG Ask Text**, **IG Ask Number**, and **IG Ask Email** ask a question, wait for the answer, check it, and save it to a custom field, with **Submitted** and **Not Submitted** paths. See [Ask Questions](/workspace/automation/steps/ask-questions) for the settings they share.

## Troubleshooting / Technical Notes

* **The comment steps aren't in the palette.** They only appear with an Instagram comment trigger.
* **Messages aren't sent after a long time.** Instagram only allows replies for a limited window after the customer's last message. See [Conversation View](/workspace/inbox/conversation-view).
* **A button does nothing.** Connect a path for each button.
* **Follow Check keeps saying Not Followed.** Make sure your flow loops back to the check after the customer taps "I've followed".

## Related docs

* [Builder Steps overview](/workspace/automation/steps/overview)
* [Instagram overview](/workspace/instagram/overview)
* [Instagram User Interaction](/workspace/instagram/instagram-user-interaction)
* [Select a Trigger](/workspace/automation/select-a-trigger)