Canonical page: https://docs.teloring.com/docs/product/ring/instagram-dm Last modified: 2026-08-20T20:49:57.000Z # Instagram DM The **Instagram DM** inbox brings **direct messages** sent to your Instagram account into Teloring. Each Instagram conversation becomes a conversation in the shared inbox, and agents reply as your Instagram account — from the same place they handle every other channel. :::info Instagram DM is one of the four [Meta](./messenger.md#prerequisites) inboxes. It uses the Facebook Page that your Instagram account is linked to. For comments on your Instagram posts, use [Instagram Posts](./instagram-posts.md). ::: ## Prerequisites | You need | Why | | --- | --- | | Inbox permission | Connecting a Meta inbox needs **My Ring → Create**. See [Roles and Permissions](../roles/overview.md). | | A Facebook Page you admin | Instagram connects through its linked Facebook Page. | | An Instagram **Business or Creator** account **linked to that Page** | Instagram data only appears when the account is a linked business/creator account. | | A Facebook login | You authorize Teloring during setup. | ## Connect the Instagram DM inbox Open **My Ring**, click the **Instagram DM** icon, and choose **Add**. The Meta setup opens with a three-step bar: **Connect → Select Pages → Done**. 1. **Connect** — click **Continue with Facebook**, sign in, and grant the requested permissions. The connection **never expires**. 2. **Select Your Pages** — choose the Facebook Page whose linked Instagram account you want. For Instagram inboxes, the card shows a rich **Instagram profile** — profile picture, name, `@username`, bio, and Followers / Following / Posts stats — so you can confirm it's the right account. The chip confirms you're connecting the **Instagram DM** inbox. 3. **Done** — **Pages Connected!** confirms it's live. Click **Go to My Ring**.  ## What it handles - **Private Instagram Direct messages** to your linked account. - **Incoming**: text and attachments (image, video, audio, file). - **Story replies**: when someone replies to your story, Teloring saves the story image (Instagram's own link expires quickly) and shows it as context on the conversation. - **Read receipts**: outgoing messages show when they're read. - **Replies**: send text or a single attachment. ### The 24-hour messaging window Instagram, like Messenger, only lets you send free-form replies within **24 hours** of the customer's last message, extendable to **7 days** by a human agent for follow-up. After that, you cannot message the person until they message you again. ## The edit page Same layout as the other Meta inboxes, with Instagram extras: | Element | What it shows / does | | --- | --- | | **Profile header** | The Page name and status, plus an Instagram line (📸 @username). | | **Instagram profile card** | Profile picture, `@username`, bio, and Followers / Following / Posts, with a **Refresh Instagram Profile** button. | | **Inbox Type** | Instagram DM. | | **Channel Name** | Editable. | | **Connection info / Token Health** | *Business Portfolio — never expires.* | | **Reconnect / Disconnect / Danger Zone** | Manage or remove the inbox; conversations are kept. | ## How Instagram DMs become conversations 1. Someone sends your account a direct message. 2. Teloring matches them to a contact or creates one. 3. It opens or reuses their conversation on this inbox and stores the message, media, and any story context. 4. Real-time updates, [Studio](../studio.md) triggers, and AI Copilot fire. Agents reply as your Instagram account from [Conversations](../../getting-started/conversations.md).