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Before WilloSend can send automated DMs on your behalf, you need to authorize the connection between your Instagram account and the WilloSend dashboard. The entire process runs through Meta’s official OAuth flow, so you stay fully compliant with Instagram’s terms of service from day one.

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Prerequisites

WilloSend connects exclusively through the official Meta Business API. Make sure your account meets both requirements below before you start.
Personal Instagram accounts cannot connect to WilloSend. Meta restricts API access to Business and Creator accounts only. If your account is still personal, switch it first — the process takes about two minutes and is completely free.
Your account must be:
  • A Business or Creator account (not a personal account)
  • Linked to a Facebook Page
See Account Requirements for a full breakdown of what WilloSend needs and why.

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Switch to a Professional Account

If your account is currently personal, follow these steps inside the Instagram app:
1

Open your profile

Tap your profile picture in the bottom-right corner of the Instagram app to go to your profile page.
2

Open Settings

Tap the three horizontal lines (☰) in the top-right corner, then tap Settings and privacy.
3

Find Account type and tools

Scroll down and tap Account type and tools.
4

Switch to a professional account

Tap Switch to professional account and follow the prompts. Choose Creator if you are an individual influencer or content creator, or Business if you represent a brand or company. Both work perfectly with WilloSend.

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Link Your Instagram to a Facebook Page

Meta requires your Instagram account to be linked to a Facebook Page before any third-party tool can connect via the API. If you have already done this, skip ahead to the connection steps.
1

Go to Instagram Settings

From your profile, tap ☰ → Settings and privacy.
2

Open Account settings

Tap Account, then tap Linked accounts.
3

Connect Facebook

Tap Facebook and log in to the Facebook account that owns your Page. Select the specific Page you want to link and confirm.
If you do not yet have a Facebook Page, create one at facebook.com/pages/create. You can use any Page — it does not need to have followers or any published posts.

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Connect Your Account in WilloSend

Once your Instagram account is a Business or Creator account and is linked to a Facebook Page, you are ready to connect.
1

Open the WilloSend dashboard

Log in to your WilloSend account at app.willosend.com and navigate to Settings → Connected Accounts.
2

Click Connect Instagram

Click the Connect Instagram button. A secure popup window will appear — this is Meta’s own OAuth dialog, not a WilloSend screen.
3

Log in with Facebook

In the OAuth popup, log in with the Facebook account that owns the Page linked to your Instagram. If you are already logged in to Facebook in your browser, this step happens automatically.
4

Select your Facebook Page

From the list of Pages shown, select the Page that is linked to the Instagram account you want to automate. If you manage multiple Pages, take care to choose the correct one.
5

Grant the required permissions

Review and approve the two permissions WilloSend requests:
  • Read comments — allows WilloSend to detect when a follower comments your keyword on a post
  • Send messages — allows WilloSend to deliver the automated DM to that follower
Both permissions are required. If you decline either one, the automation cannot function.
6

Confirm the connection

After granting permissions, the OAuth window closes and you are returned to the WilloSend dashboard. You will see your Instagram handle listed under Connected Accounts with a green status indicator.

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What WilloSend Can and Cannot Do

WilloSend requests only the minimum permissions needed to run your automations. It can read comments on your posts and send DMs to users who trigger a keyword. It cannot post content, delete comments, access your inbox history, or modify your profile in any way.
WilloSend never receives or stores your Instagram password. The connection is managed entirely through a secure OAuth token issued by Meta — the same technology used by every official Meta partner app.

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Managing Multiple Instagram Accounts

If you manage Instagram accounts for multiple clients or brands, the Growth plan supports up to 3 connected Instagram accounts under a single WilloSend subscription. Each account is connected and managed independently — automations for one account never affect another.
To add a second or third account, return to Settings → Connected Accounts and click Connect Instagram again. Repeat the OAuth flow for each account. You can switch between accounts from the account selector at the top of the dashboard.

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Next Step

With your account connected, you are ready to build your first automation. Head to Create Your First Automation to set up a keyword trigger and write your DM.