How to schedule an Instagram post or Reel with Auto-DM

In SuperProfile you schedule the post, then add an Auto-DM to it from the same screen: the keyword automation is armed while the post waits and switches on the moment it publishes. You can attach an Auto-DM to a scheduled photo, carousel or Reel (not a Story) until 10 minutes before it goes live; the automation starts when the post publishes, and your Auto-DM plan limits apply.

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Why arm the Auto-DM before the post goes live?

You don't have to be online at posting time. If your Reel goes out at 7 am, the keyword reply is already waiting for the first comments.
No copy-paste of post links. A normal Auto-DM needs a published post to pick. Here the trigger is the scheduled post itself, so you set it up days ahead.
Caption and DM are written together. The call to action ("Comment GUIDE") and the message it triggers are planned in one place, so the keyword in the caption matches the one in the automation.

What do I need?

You need an Instagram professional account (creator or business), because Meta's publishing API works only with professional accounts.
Schedule is available on all SuperProfile paid plans, from Schedule in the dashboard; free creators see an upgrade prompt.
A photo, carousel or Reel. Stories can be scheduled, but can't carry an Auto-DM.
A post time at least 10 minutes away when you add the Auto-DM. Posts with video must be scheduled at least 15 minutes ahead.

How do I schedule a post with Auto-DM, step by step?

Open Schedule in your SuperProfile dashboard and connect your Instagram professional account with Instagram login.
Create a new photo, carousel or Reel and upload the media.
Write the caption with a clear keyword ask, for example: Comment GUIDE and I'll send you the free checklist.
Pick the date, time and time zone.
In the Auto-DM section, click + Add Auto-DM to this post. A new post is saved as a draft first so the automation has something to attach to.
The Auto-DM setup opens at the keyword step, with this scheduled post already chosen as the trigger. Add your keyword (GUIDE), then write the DM: text, buttons, an image or a link to your product.
Click Arm for this post. The composer now shows Auto-DM armed: goes live when the post publishes.
Schedule the post. When it publishes, the label changes to Auto-DM live.

New Reel in the scheduler with caption, first comment, a collaborator, share to feed, Auto-DM armed and the publish date and time — Sample data. The Reel's caption asks people to comment a keyword, and the Auto-DM is armed in the same composer, ready for the moment the Reel publishes.

What do the Auto-DM labels on a scheduled post mean?

Label	What it means	What to do
Auto-DM armed	Attached and waiting. Goes live when the post publishes.	Nothing. Edit it until 10 minutes before the post time.
Auto-DM live	The post published and the automation is running on it.	Watch the runs and clicks in Auto-DM.
Auto-DM paused by plan	The post published, but your Auto-DM plan doesn't let the automation run.	Upgrade in Auto-DM to turn it on.
Auto-DM off	The post was cancelled or didn't publish, so the automation never switched on.	Retry the post at a new time, then check the Auto-DM section of the post.
Auto-DM not attached	The automation couldn't be linked to the published post.	Attach it from Auto-DM to this post.

How do I write a caption and DM that work together?

One short keyword. GUIDE, LINK or PRICE is easier to type than a phrase. Put it in capitals in the caption and repeat it in the first line of on-screen text in a Reel.
Say what they get. "Comment GUIDE for the free 7-day plan" tells people why to comment.
Make the DM short with one button. The button can open your product, course or booking page on SuperProfile, where the buyer pays.
Use the extras when they fit. Auto-DM can ask people to follow you before the DM with the link is sent, post up to three rotating public comment replies, and send follow-ups after a delay, when the link was not clicked, when there is no reply, when the product was or was not bought, or when a lead form was not submitted.
Catch people who don't type the keyword. Comments like "pls send" or a typo don't match GUIDE. See replying without the exact keyword for how intent matching handles them.

Meta's messaging windows and rules apply to all messages, so people who restrict messages may not get the DM.

Can I do this for a Facebook Page post or from an AI assistant?

Yes to both. For Facebook Pages, you can attach an Auto-DM to a scheduled Facebook Page post (not a Story): people who comment get your message in Messenger once the post is live. From Claude, ChatGPT or another assistant connected to the SuperProfile MCP server, the attach_auto_dm_to_scheduled_post tool attaches or removes a comment-to-DM automation on a scheduled post. Ask, for example: "Schedule this Reel for Friday 7 pm and DM the checklist link to people who comment GUIDE."

An AI assistant scheduling an Instagram Reel through the SuperProfile MCP server — Sample data. An AI assistant connected to SuperProfile schedules a Reel; it can attach the Auto-DM in the same conversation.

Things to know

You can add, change or remove the Auto-DM until 10 minutes before the post goes live.
Note that a post that cannot be published within 2 hours of its time is marked failed instead of going out late, and you can retry it. An armed Auto-DM on a post that never publishes stays off.
Your Auto-DM plan limits apply to automations attached to scheduled posts, the same as any other.
Everything else about scheduling, from first comments to the grid preview, is on the Instagram scheduler page and in how to schedule Instagram posts.

Frequently asked questions

Can I add an Auto-DM to a scheduled Instagram post?

Yes. In SuperProfile you can attach an Auto-DM to a scheduled photo, carousel or Reel (not a Story) until 10 minutes before it goes live; the automation starts when the post publishes, and your Auto-DM plan limits apply.

Does the Auto-DM work on scheduled Stories?

No. Auto-DM can be attached to a scheduled photo, carousel or Reel, not a Story.

How late can I add the Auto-DM?

Until 10 minutes before the post's scheduled time. After that the Add button is disabled.

What happens if the scheduled post fails?

The Auto-DM never switches on and shows as off. Retry the post at a new time from Schedule.

Can I use the same Auto-DM on many scheduled posts?

Each scheduled post gets its own automation attached to it. Set up the keyword and message for each one.

Does Instagram's own scheduler do this?

Instagram's in-app scheduler lets a public account schedule posts, carousels and Reels up to 30 days ahead, with up to 25 a day, and its help page lists no DM automation for scheduled content (Instagram Help, as of October 2026). To arm a keyword DM on the post, use a tool that does both.

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Last updated 11 October 2026.