Overview
This guide shows you how to connect Instagram Messenger with DialogShift so your chatbot can automatically respond to Instagram direct messages.Prerequisites
Instagram chatbots only work with specific settings and connections:A professional Instagram business account is mandatory. Personal Instagram accounts are not supported.
What you need:
- An Instagram Business account (not a personal account)
- A Facebook page linked to the Instagram account
- Admin rights on both Instagram and the Facebook page
Step 1: Set up Instagram Business Account
Check Account Type
1
Check current account type
- Open Instagram on your smartphone
- Go to “Settings”
- Look for the “Business” section
If you see the “Business” section in settings, you already have a business account.
2
Switch to Business Account
- Go to “Settings” >> “Account”
- Tap “Switch to professional account”
- Choose an appropriate category for your business
- Select “Business”
- Complete your profile with business information
Why a Business Account?
Technical Background
Technical Background
Meta (the parent company of Instagram and Facebook) uses the same messenger infrastructure for both platforms. To integrate chatbots in Instagram, business accounts with extended API access are required.
Step 2: Connect Instagram to Facebook Page
Create Connection
1
Prepare Facebook Page
Make sure you have a Facebook page for your hotel and possess admin rights.
2
Link Instagram
- Go to your Facebook page
- Navigate to page settings
- Select “Instagram” in the menu
- Click “Connect Account”
- Log in with your Instagram business account
- Confirm the connection
Step 3: Enable Message Access
Instagram Message Settings
1
Allow message access
- Open Instagram
- Go to “Settings”
- Select “Privacy”
- Select “Messages”
- Enable “Allow access to messages”
This setting allows external apps like DialogShift to access and respond to Instagram messages.
Step 4: DialogShift Integration
Set up Integration
1
Open DialogShift App
Go to “Settings” >> “Integrations” in the DialogShift Live Chat app.
2
Facebook/Instagram Login
- Click “Login” or “Renew Login”
- Log in with your Facebook account (that has admin rights)
- Select both the Facebook page and the Instagram account
- Enable all requested permissions
3
Save Integration
- Back in DialogShift, select the Facebook page
- Select the linked Instagram account
- Click “Save”
Advanced Configuration
Instagram-Specific Settings
- Chatbot Modes
- Story Interactions
- Fully Automatic: Chatbot answers all messages
- Hybrid: Combination of chatbot and live chat
- Live Chat Only: All messages go directly to human agents
Troubleshooting
Common Issues
Instagram account cannot be linked
Instagram account cannot be linked
Possible causes:
- Not a business account (personal accounts are not supported)
- Missing admin rights on the Facebook page
- Instagram account already linked to another Facebook page
Chatbot doesn't respond on Instagram
Chatbot doesn't respond on Instagram
Check the following points:
- Message access enabled in Instagram settings
- DialogShift integration properly set up
- Chatbot enabled for Instagram channel
Login issues during integration
Login issues during integration
Solutions:
- Clear browser cache and cookies
- Use a different browser
- Renew Facebook login in separate tab
- Disable VPN if active
Instagram Specifics
What works differently than other channels:
Instagram has special restrictions compared to other messaging channels.
- Story Features: Limited chatbot support for story interactions
- Media Handling: More complex processing of images and videos
- User Initiation: Chatbots can only respond to user-initiated conversations
Support and Further Help
Documentation and Guides
- Set up Instagram Business Account (Official)
- Facebook-Instagram Connection (Official)
DialogShift Support
- Email: [email protected]
- Live chat in the DialogShift app
- Support documentation