How to set up auto reply on Instagram

Instagram gives you three built-in ways to reply automatically, and all of them are tucked inside the business settings where nobody thinks to look. Here's each one, in order, plus what it can and can't do. You'll need a Business or Creator account; if you're still on a personal profile, switching over takes about thirty seconds and it's the first step below.

First, switch to a Business or Creator account

Open Settings and privacy, then Account type and tools, then Switch to professional account. Pick Business (or Creator, either unlocks the reply tools). Nothing else about your profile changes. This is what turns on Saved Replies and away messages, so it has to happen first.

Option 1: Set an away message for after hours

The away message auto-replies to anyone who DMs you while you're marked as away. Good for "we're closed, back tomorrow".

Go to Settings and privacy, then Business tools and controls.
Tap Saved replies, then look for Away message (availability may depend on your account and region).
Turn it on, set your away hours, and write the message.
Save.

One catch: the away message sends once, to anyone, and it's the same text for everyone. It tells people you're gone. It doesn't answer their question. Give it a next step so the lead doesn't go cold, a booking link works well. There are ready-to-paste versions in the after-hours templates.

Option 2: Set up Saved Replies (quick replies)

Saved Replies are canned messages you drop into any DM in one tap. Instagram's official name is Saved Replies; most people call them quick replies. This is the one that saves you the most typing.

Go to Settings and privacy, then Business tools and controls, then Saved replies.
Tap New.
Write a shortcut word, like "price", and paste the message it should fill in.
Save, then repeat for the questions you answer most: price, availability, deposit, location.
In any DM, type your shortcut or tap the Saved Replies icon, pick the reply, and send.

Not sure what to write? Steal ours: quick reply messages and Saved Replies examples cover the questions that come in every day.

Option 3: Auto-reply to story mentions

If people tag you in their stories, you can thank them automatically. This one lives in Meta Business Suite rather than the app: open the Inbox, find Automations, and set an Instagram story reply. Handy for engagement, not for booking.

What Instagram's auto-replies can't do

Set all three up and you've still only got canned text. The gap shows up fast:

The away message and Saved Replies say the same thing to everyone. They don't read the question.
Saved Replies still need you to tap send. Nothing goes out while you're with a client or asleep.
None of them answer a follow-up. "How much?" gets a price; "ok and do you have Saturday?" gets silence until you're back.

For a lot of businesses that's fine. For one where the DM is a sales conversation, price, availability, booking, the canned reply is where the lead stalls.

How to have every DM answered for real

This is where an AI reply picks up. Christine connects to your Instagram, reads each message, and answers it off your real price list, in your voice, in seconds, day or night. No flow to build, no tap to send.

You paste in your services, prices, hours, and address once. When someone asks "how much for a full set with removal, anything Saturday after 4?", she answers both parts and moves the booking forward inside the DM. When a question falls outside what you approved, she hands it to you. There's a pause switch for when you'd rather take the chat yourself.

Setup is about three minutes, and the first seven days are free. After that it's $29/mo, less than one no-show. See how it works on Instagram.