Connecting Instagram is a one-time job that happens outside the flow builder. Afterwards, any flow in the workspace can use the account.
Before you start
You need:
- An Instagram Business or Creator account — personal accounts can't use Instagram's messaging API.
- A Facebook Page linked to that Instagram account, since Meta's permissions are granted through the Page.
- Admin rights on both, on the account you'll log in with.
Once connected, the account appears in the Instagram trigger dropdown.
Connecting an Instagram Business account
- Open Credentials from the left menu.
- Switch to the Connected Accounts tab.
- Press Add Platform and choose Instagram.
- Complete the login popup: you sign in with your Instagram Business account — not with Facebook — then choose the account and approve the permissions.
- The account appears under Messaging Channels with an Active status.
Flowera handles the webhook subscription for you — there's nothing to configure in the Meta Developer Portal.
Permissions Flowera requests
| Permission | Why |
|---|---|
| Read and send messages | Receive DMs and reply to them |
| Read and manage comments | React to comments, reply, hide, or delete |
| Basic account information | Show the account's name and picture, and match incoming events to the right connection |
Flowera asks for what the channel's actions need and nothing beyond it. You can review — and revoke — the grant at any time from Instagram's own settings; Edit Access on the account card takes you straight there.
Managing connected accounts
Each connected account card shows:
| Field | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Status | Active, Disabled, or Reconnect Required |
| Token Expiry | When the current access token stops working |
| Stats | Follower and post counts, and when the account was last synced |
Actions available: Refresh (extends token validity by 60 days), Edit Access (opens Instagram's permission settings), and Disconnect.
Disconnecting stops every flow that uses the account. The flows themselves aren't deleted — they simply have no account to run against until you reconnect.
Token refresh and expiry
Instagram tokens are time-limited. Flowera tracks the expiry and shows it on the card; pressing Refresh extends it for another 60 days.
When a token lapses, the status turns to Reconnect Required and sends start failing with an "access token has expired" error. Reconnecting fixes it, and no flow needs editing — nodes reference the connection, not the token inside it.
Check the expiry date before a campaign, not after. A token that lapses mid-campaign fails silently from the customer's point of view — they simply never get an answer.
Troubleshooting
| Symptom | Likely cause |
|---|---|
| The account doesn't appear in the trigger dropdown | Connection didn't finish, or you're in a different workspace |
| "Access token has expired" | Token lapsed — press Refresh, or reconnect |
| Comments arrive but DMs don't (or vice versa) | The Start node isn't subscribed to that event type |
| The flow answers its own messages | Echo events — see Instagram channel |
| Nothing arrives at all | Confirm the account is Active, and that a flow is actually subscribed to it |
Related
- Instagram channel — what the channel can do
- Instagram trigger — in-flow setup
- Instagram tool — sending and moderating