Integrations - Instagram

Learn how to connect your Instagram Professional account to Kipps.AI using Meta's official Graph API. Step-by-step setup, prerequisites, permissions, testing, troubleshooting, and FAQs for automating DMs, comments, and lead funnels.

This guide walks you through the complete setup process for connecting your Instagram Professional Account (Business or Creator) to Kipps.AI using Meta’s official Graph API.

Dedicated Feature Documentation: For detailed instructions on setting up Multi-Knowledge Base RAG, per-post Comment-to-DM funnels, button templates, and function calling, visit the dedicated Instagram Agent Guide.

Overview

The Instagram Integration allows Kipps.AI organizations to manage direct messages (DMs) and post comments seamlessly from a single platform. Powered by conversational AI grounded in your company's Knowledge Bases, your agent can answer customer inquiries 24/7, capture leads, and automate community engagement.

By connecting your Instagram account to Kipps.AI, you can:

Automate customer support and product inquiries over Instagram Direct Messages (DMs).
Send automated, private Comment-to-DM messages (with clickable buttons) whenever a user comments on your feed posts or reels.
Post instant, context-aware public replies to comments across your content.
Execute real-time tools and function calls (Google Calendar scheduling, Shopify inventory, API lookups).
Manage omnichannel conversations from a unified team inbox alongside WhatsApp and Web Chat.

Prerequisites

Before initiating the integration, verify that your account meets Meta's platform requirements:

Instagram Professional Account:
- Your account must be set to either a Business or Creator account. Personal Instagram accounts are not supported by Meta's Graph API.
- To convert: In the Instagram mobile app, navigate to Settings > Account type and tools > Switch to professional account.
Linked Facebook Business Page:
- Your Instagram Professional Account must be connected to a Facebook Page that you manage with Admin or Full Control permissions.
- To link: Open your Instagram profile in the mobile app, tap Edit profile, and select your Facebook Page under Public business information > Page.
Message Access Enabled in the Instagram App:
- In the Instagram mobile app, go to Settings and privacy > Messages and story replies > Message controls.
- Under Connected tools, toggle Allow access to messages to ON.

Step-by-Step Connection Process

Step 1: Open the Integrations Catalog

Log in to your Kipps.AI Dashboard.
From the main left navigation, click Integrations.
Locate the Instagram integration card.
Click Integrate (or Login with Facebook).

Step 2: Meta OAuth Authorization

A secure Meta authorization popup will open:

Log in with the Facebook account that has admin access to your linked Facebook Business Page.
If prompted, select Continue as [Your Name].
Select the Instagram Professional Account you wish to connect to Kipps.AI.
Select the Facebook Business Page linked to that Instagram account.

Step 3: Grant Required Permissions

Meta will request specific permissions required for Kipps.AI to interact with your account. Ensure all requested permissions remain checked:

Permission	Scope Key	Purpose
Instagram Profile & Posts	`instagram_basic`	Reads account username, profile picture, post thumbnails, and captions.
Manage Direct Messages	`instagram_manage_messages`	Receives incoming DMs and delivers automated or manual AI replies.
Manage Comments	`instagram_manage_comments`	Detects comments on posts/reels and posts public comment replies.
Show Managed Pages	`pages_show_list`	Lists Facebook Pages to identify the linked Instagram account.
Page Engagement	`pages_read_engagement`	Monitors incoming interactions and webhook events.

Click Save or Done to finalize permissions.

Step 4: Confirm Integration in Kipps.AI

Once authorized:

You will be redirected back to the Kipps.AI Integrations dashboard.
The Instagram card will update to show your account handle (@username), your profile picture, and an Active status indicator.
Webhook subscriptions are automatically registered with Meta to start capturing incoming interactions in real time.

Testing Your Instagram Connection

To ensure your integration is working smoothly before announcing automations to your audience:

Send a Test DM:
- Using a separate personal Instagram account, send a direct message (e.g., "Hi, what are your store hours?") to your connected business profile.
Verify in the Inbox:
- Open your Kipps.AI unified inbox to verify that the conversation thread appears immediately.
Verify Automated AI Reply:
- Check whether your configured AI Agent generates and sends a reply based on your attached Knowledge Base.
Test Comment Automation:
- Post a test comment on one of your recent posts to verify that your Comment-to-Comment and Comment-to-DM triggers fire as configured.

Managing & Disconnecting the Integration

Re-Authenticating Expired Tokens

Meta access tokens typically expire every 60 days, or when Facebook account security settings (such as passwords) change. If automated replies stop triggering:

Navigate to Integrations → Instagram (or Instagram Settings).
Click Reconnect to re-authenticate via Meta OAuth and refresh your token without losing message history or templates.

Removing the Account

If you need to disconnect your Instagram profile:

Locate the Instagram Card in Integrations.
Click Remove Account.
Confirm the action in the prompt. Kipps.AI will immediately unregister webhooks and disconnect the account.

Troubleshooting Guide

Issue	Root Cause	Solution
"No Instagram accounts found" during login	The Instagram account is still a personal profile or is not linked to a Facebook Page.	Convert to a Professional (Business/Creator) account in the Instagram app and link it to an admin-managed Facebook Page.
Bot not replying to incoming DMs	The Allow access to messages setting is disabled in the Instagram mobile app.	Open the Instagram app > Settings > Messages and story replies > Message controls > Connected tools and turn Allow access to messages ON.
Comment-to-DM not delivering	Commenter has private message restrictions, or the account reached Meta's messaging window limit.	Ensure permissions include `instagram_manage_messages` and verify that the commenter accepts message requests from business accounts.
Integration status shows disconnected	Meta access token expired or Facebook password was changed.	Click Reconnect on the Instagram integration card to grant fresh authorization.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I connect a personal Instagram profile to Kipps.AI?
No. Meta's official Graph API strictly requires an Instagram Professional Account (Business or Creator). You can switch your account type for free inside the Instagram mobile app settings under Account type and tools.

Does connecting Instagram affect my Instagram mobile app?
Not at all. You can continue using the official Instagram mobile app to post, view stories, and manually reply to messages. Kipps.AI acts as an additional management layer.

What is the 24-hour messaging window on Instagram?
Under Meta's messaging policies, businesses can send standard automated or manual messages to users within 24 hours of the user's last interaction (DM or comment).

Can team members reply manually to Instagram chats?
Yes. Through the Kipps.AI unified inbox, human agents can pause AI automation on any active conversation and type manual responses directly.