"Will it work on my reel?" Yes. "On my story?" Different story. Here is a plain list of where comment-to-DM automation works.
Works
| Content | Comment to DM? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Reels | ✅ | The most common use |
| Photo posts | ✅ | Same as reels |
| Carousels | ✅ | Comments are on the whole carousel |
| Old posts | ✅ | New comments only, see old posts |
| Boosted posts and ads made from posts | ✅ usually | Comments on the post trigger it; see ads |
Different trigger, different tool
| Content | What happens |
|---|---|
| Stories | Stories have replies and reactions, not comments. Story-reply automation is a separate feature some tools offer; DM Flow does not. See story reply automation. |
| Lives | Live comments behave differently from post comments; test before relying on automation during a live. |
| DMs | Keyword replies to messages are a separate trigger from comments. |
Not possible
- Other people's posts. You can only automate replies on posts from the account you connected.
- Comments you make yourself. Instagram does not let an account message itself.
Collab posts
A collab post appears on two accounts. Whether your tool sees the comments depends on which account owns the post. Test from a second account before relying on it.
Related reading
Frequently asked questions
Does comment to DM work on carousels?
Yes. Carousels work exactly like single photo posts and reels.
Can I auto DM people who reply to my story?
That is story-reply automation, a different feature. DM Flow focuses on comments.
Can I run it on a post before it is published?
Yes, with an every-post automation, which also covers posts you publish later.