# Instagram Flows Section: Flows Description: Use flows on Instagram: the triggers, actions and conditions you can use, how to check which nodes work on Instagram, and the Instagram templates. Verified against Tidio panel 12.304.0 Last updated: 2026-11-09 Source: https://help.tidio.com/articles/instagram-flows/ Instagram has over 1 billion active users, which offers an incredible opportunity for business owners. Tidio's integration with Instagram enables you to leverage flows to generate leads, drive sales, and relieve your agents from repetitive inquiries. **In this article, you'll learn:** - [Why you should use Instagram flows]() - [How the flows on Instagram work]() - [How to check which nodes work on Instagram]() - [How the visual flow editor works]() - [How to use templates]() - [Answers to Frequently Asked Questions]() [Video]() Silent walkthrough. Filtering Sales Flows by Instagram, building a flow from the Instagram - Story Reply trigger, choosing reactions and the trigger limitation, adding a thank-you chat message and activating the flow ## Why should you use Instagram flows? By integrating Tidio with Instagram, you unlock several advantages for your business: #### Free agents time to answer repetitive questions Set up flows to handle communication with your Instagram audience for you. #### Generate more sales and leads Getting more leads through interaction with flows increases your chances of converting at least some of them into paying customers. #### Answer customers' questions when agents are offline Relax in your free time and let the flows do the work for you. #### Easy to implement Implementing flows is straightforward, whether using ready-to-use templates or building custom flows using Tidio's flow editor. Integrate Tidio with Instagram if you haven't done that yet\! ## How do Instagram flows work? Flows, in general, are software that engages in conversations with users, often simulating human-like interactions. Here's how flows function within Tidio: - Flows can be triggered on chosen events (we call them [triggers in Tidio]()) - Flows can conduct defined [actions]() throughout the flow's workflow - Flows can consist of [conditions](), giving you more personalization options. ![Three Instagram conversations demonstrate automated product recommendations, delivery information, quick replies, and an email request for a product availability notification.]() ## Checking which nodes work on Instagram Not every node works on every channel. The quickest way to check is right in the flow editor: open the **Triggers**, **Conditions** or **Actions** menu, and hover over the question mark icon next to a node. Below its **Description**, you'll see **Works on** followed by the icons of the channels the node supports: ![The Actions menu in the flow editor with the cursor on the question mark next to Send a chat message; the tooltip shows Description, the node's description and Works on with the chat, Messenger, Instagram and WhatsApp icons]() You'll find the same **Works on** icons in the **How it works** section at the top of a node's settings, once you've added it to your flow. The lists below give you an overview of the nodes you can use on Instagram - if you're ever unsure, the **Works on** icons are the place to check. ## Available triggers for Instagram flows Below, you can see a list of available [triggers]() that can start a flow on Instagram: #### Visitor says This [Visitor says]() trigger helps you define example phrases sent by visitors on which flow should be started. Tidio's algorithm will match visitor text with example phrases and trigger the correct flow. If the trigger isn't included in your plan, you'll see **This trigger isn't available on your plan.** when you add it. #### Instagram - Story Reply This trigger will start the flow when someone replies to your Instagram story. You can select the emojis/reactions that will trigger the flow - all eight quick reactions are selected by default, and you can also select **Text** to start the flow when someone replies with a text message. Use the **Trigger limitation** list to decide how often the flow can start for the same person: - **send once per 24 hours** (the default) - **send only once for a unique follower** - **unlimited (send on each reaction)** #### Agent starts the Flow This trigger's not triggered automatically. The agent needs to start it manually from the conversation panel during the chat with the visitor. #### Agent doesn't take the conversation / Agent doesn't respond during the conversation This trigger can start a flow based on the defined minutes when the agent hasn't sent a message. #### #### Agent marks conversation as solved Triggers the flow after the agent [solves]() the conversation with a visitor. ## Available actions for Instagram flows Below, you can see a list of available action nodes that can be used inside the flows on Instagram: #### Send a chat message A standard text message will be sent to the visitor. #### Ask a question The flow will ask the customer a question and validate the answer (e.g., proper email address, valid phone number). #### Decision (Quick Replies) Flows send customer text information and display possible answers as bubble buttons (quick replies). #### Decision (Buttons) Flows send customer text information and display possible answers as rectangular buttons. #### Decision (Card Messages) Flows send the customer - text & image & link and display possible answers as rectangular buttons. #### #### Send an email A predefined email message will be sent to the customer. as well as other actions that are usually not visible for the Instagram users/website visitors: #### Delay Allows you to delay sending the following flow action. #### Send notification Your agents will get a notification with the message you type in the node - as a chat message when they're online, or by email when they're offline (if email notifications are turned on in **Settings \> Notifications**). The conversation itself doesn't move anywhere. To hand the conversation over to your team, see the **Assign to an agent** action in [Flow editor: Actions](). #### Update contact property New information will be assigned to a given user in Tidio. #### Add a tag A tag will be added to the user contact. #### Remove a tag A tag will be removed from the customer's contact. #### Send to Zapier Information about the customer can be sent to Zapier. #### Flow ended message Add this node at the end of your flow to let your users start another flow. You can customize the message it shows in the [Flows launcher](). #### Subscribe for Mailing The customer's email will be tagged as subscribed to the mailing list. ## Available conditions for Instagram flows #### Based on variable Flows can consider information assigned before to the customer in Tidio - a contact property, or a session variable saved earlier in the conversation. #### Day Flows can take a different path depending on the day of the week. #### Mailing subscriber Can check whether the customer is tagged as a subscriber in Tidio. ## Using the visual flow editor Using the flow creator is very easy and includes the drag-and-drop system with three possible steps to: - Add [triggers]() - Add [actions]() - Add [conditions]() To learn more about the flow creator, see our article about [adding new flows](). ## Predefined templates Tidio also offers a collection of predefined flow templates accessible through the [**Flows**]() section in your Tidio admin panel. You'll find them in three lists in the menu on the left: **Sales Flows**, **Leads Flows** and **Support Flows**. To see only the templates that work on Instagram, open the **Channels** list at the top and select **Instagram**: ![The Sales Flows template list with the Channels list open at the top and Instagram selected, showing only templates that work on Instagram]() These templates cater to various common issues, for example: - Discount Code - Order Status - Shipping Policy - Automate Repetitive Answers But not only. We also have Instagram-dedicated flows such as **Autoresponder for Story Reply**, which triggers by leaving a reaction to the story. ![The "Autoresponder for Story Reply (Reactions)" template offers "Use template" and "Test it out" buttons beside an Instagram story reaction conversation.]() Inside, you can decide on which exact reactions the flow should be triggered and how often (see [Instagram - Story Reply]() above). ![The flow editor with the Instagram - Story Reply trigger selected and its settings on the right: all eight quick reactions and Text ticked, and the Trigger limitation list open with send once per 24 hours, send only once for a unique follower and unlimited (send on each reaction); the Activate button in the top-right]() Each template's details show the channels it **Works on**. If you open a template made for Instagram before connecting your account, you'll see a reminder to integrate with Instagram first. If you want to learn more about pre-defined templates, see our article explaining the [predefined flow templates](). ## FAQ **I noticed flows don't work on the desktop version. What do I do?** Instagram flows are designed for mobile use only. At this moment, Instagram doesn't support the desktop flows option. **What do I do if Instagram flows don't reply to story reactions? ** If the IG story reaction flow does not trigger for the customers please do the following steps. 1. Check if regular messages are going back and forth, if not, try to re-integrate IG with Tidio (this may already resolve the issue, but if not 2. Edit the flow, clone the trigger and the first action, then reconnect them. 3. Activate the flow to save your changes. 4. Test with a new story. ## Further reading - [The Flows section]() - [Flow editor: Triggers]() - [Flow editor: Actions]() - [Visitor Says (flow trigger)]() - Integration with Instagram