# 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?

1. Open **Schedule** in your SuperProfile dashboard and connect your Instagram professional account with Instagram login.
2. Create a new photo, carousel or Reel and upload the media.
3. Write the caption with a clear keyword ask, for example: *Comment GUIDE and I'll send you the free checklist.*
4. Pick the date, time and time zone.
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. Click **Arm for this post**. The composer now shows **Auto-DM armed**: goes live when the post publishes.
8. 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](https://superprofile.bio/seo-img/instagram-scheduler-composer.webp)

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](https://superprofile.bio/auto-dm/use-cases/reply-without-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](https://superprofile.bio/mcp/instagram-scheduler), 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](https://superprofile.bio/seo-img/mcp-schedule-reel.webp)

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](https://superprofile.bio/products/instagram-scheduler) page and in [how to schedule Instagram posts](https://superprofile.bio/guides/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](https://help.instagram.com/439971288310029), as of October 2026). To arm a keyword DM on the post, use a tool that does both.

## More guides
- [Instagram DM automation: the complete guide](https://superprofile.bio/instagram-dm-automation)
- [How to start a paid Telegram channel in India](https://superprofile.bio/guides/paid-telegram-channel)
- [How to sell digital products online in India](https://superprofile.bio/guides/sell-digital-products-india)
- [How to sell online courses in India](https://superprofile.bio/guides/sell-courses-online-india)
- [How to schedule Instagram posts, Reels and Stories](https://superprofile.bio/guides/schedule-instagram-posts)
- [How to reply to brand collaboration DMs on Instagram](https://superprofile.bio/guides/reply-to-brand-collaboration-dms)
- [How to hide spam, links and abusive comments on Instagram automatically](https://superprofile.bio/guides/hide-spam-comments-instagram)
- [Instagram auto DM kya hai aur kaise lagaye](https://superprofile.bio/guides/auto-dm-kya-hai)
- [Fake brand collaboration scams on Instagram](https://superprofile.bio/guides/fake-brand-collaboration-scams)
- [Free Instagram auto DM tools compared](https://superprofile.bio/guides/free-instagram-auto-dm)
- [Influencer rate card for Indian creators](https://superprofile.bio/guides/influencer-rate-card-india)
- [Instagram auto DM not working: causes and fixes](https://superprofile.bio/guides/instagram-auto-dm-not-working)
- [Instagram auto reply to comments and DMs](https://superprofile.bio/guides/instagram-auto-reply)
- [Instagram Hidden Words list: spam words to copy](https://superprofile.bio/guides/instagram-hidden-words-list)
- [Instagram Hidden Words not working: causes and fixes](https://superprofile.bio/guides/instagram-hidden-words-not-working)
- [Everything you can sell on SuperProfile](https://superprofile.bio/products)
- [Run your store from Claude or ChatGPT](https://superprofile.bio/mcp)

Last updated 11 October 2026.

Source: https://superprofile.bio/guides/schedule-instagram-post-with-auto-dm