Instagram via Instagram Business Login

Connecting your Instagram account to ChatbotX allows you to automate responses, handle customer queries instantly, and manage all your direct messages from a single dashboard. This guide explains how to connect Instagram to ChatbotX using the recommended Instagram Business Login method, which provides a direct and reliable connection.

Prerequisites

Before starting the setup, ensure you have:

A valid Facebook account.
A valid Instagram Professional account (either Business or Creator type).
A publicly accessible ChatbotX installation with an HTTPS URL.

If you are running your instance locally, you need a tunneling tool like ngrok to expose your local port to the internet. This allows Meta’s servers to reach your webhook callback URL.

Step 1: Create a Meta Developer App

To connect your Instagram account, you first need to create a developer application on Meta’s platform. This app acts as a secure bridge that allows ChatbotX and Instagram to share message data safely.

Create a new app

Go to the Facebook Developer Portal and click Create App.

Enter app details

Enter your App name and contact email, then click Next.

Select a use case

When asked for a use case, select Other.

Choose app type

For the app type, choose Business.

Finish creation

Review your details and click Create App to finish.

Add the Instagram product

From your Meta Developer App dashboard, locate the Instagram card and click Set up.

Copy Instagram App ID and App Secret

After creating your app, go to Instagram and select API setup with Instagram business login. Copy the Instagram App ID and Instagram App Secret shown on this screen.

Step 2: Configure Credentials in ChatbotX

With your Instagram credentials generated and Webhooks configured in Meta, save these settings in ChatbotX to link the integration.

Open Integrations

In your ChatbotX installation, navigate to:

https://app.yourdomain.com/manage/platform-credentials

Open the Instagram configuration

Click the Edit button on the Instagram card to open the configuration modal.

chatbotx_super_admin_instagram_edit_modal

Enter your credentials

Provide the details from your Meta Developer Portal configuration:

Client ID: Paste your Instagram App ID (copied in Step 1-7).
Client Secret: Paste your Instagram App Secret (copied in Step 1-7).
API Version: Select v23.0 or higher.
Webhook Verify Token: A secret string used to validate incoming webhook requests, choose your own value, for example, a random string

Click Save. Instagram will now be available as a channel when creating chatbots.

After saving, ChatbotX will display a Auth Callback URL & Webhook URL. Copy and keep this URL, you will need it when configuring in Step 3.

chatbotx_super_admin_integrations_instagram

Before saving settings in ChatbotX, you must set up the Instagram product in the Meta Developer Portal to retrieve your Instagram credentials and establish the webhook connection.

Configure Webhooks

Under Instagram: Webhooks in the Meta portal:

Callback URL: Paste https://app.yourdomain.com/integrations/instagram/webhook.
Verify Token: Enter a secure random string of your choice (e.g. INSTAGRAM_VERIFY_TOKEN).

Click Verify and save.

Configuring Webhook Callback Url And Verify Token

Configure Redirect URL

In the Client OAuth settings on the same page, enter your Redirect URL:

Valid OAuth Redirect URIs: Paste https://app.yourdomain.com/integrations/instagram/callback.

Save your changes.

Configuring Instagram Business Login Redirect Url

Subscribe to webhook events

Once verified, subscribe to the following fields:

messages
messaging_seen
message_reactions

Complete app review

To receive messages from the general public, Meta requires your app to go through an App Review process. During this review, you must request specific permissions that allow the bot to read and reply to messages.Request Advanced Access for the following scopes:

Permission	Description
`instagram_business_basic`	Retrieve connected Instagram Business account metadata: username, ID, and profile picture.
`instagram_business_manage_messages`	Receive and respond to Instagram Direct Messages.
`human_agent`	Enable human agents to respond to messages outside the standard 24-hour window.

Step 4: Test Your Connection

Before you open your chatbot to the public, it is best to test the connection using a test account. This ensures everything is set up correctly without affecting real customers.

In the Meta Developer Portal, go to App Roles: Roles and click Add Users.

Select the Instagram Tester role

Choose the Instagram Tester role, enter the Instagram username of your test account, and click Submit.

Accept the invitation

Log in to the test Instagram account, go to Settings: Apps and Websites: Tester Invites, and accept the pending invitation from your app.

Connect the Instagram channel in ChatbotX

Go to Settings: Channels in your ChatbotX dashboard. Click Add Instagram, select Connect, and follow the on-screen Meta authorization prompt. Select the test Instagram account to finalize the link.

Send a test message

Ensure the test account has Allow Access to Messages enabled in the Instagram mobile app:

Settings and privacy: Messages and story replies: Message controls: Allow Access to Messages (ON)

Send a DM to your business profile. It should appear in the ChatbotX dashboard immediately.

Troubleshooting

Insufficient Developer Role Error

Ensure the Instagram test user has accepted the Instagram Tester role invitation under Settings: Apps and Websites: Tester Invites on their Instagram account.

API Access Deactivated Error

Verify that your Meta app has a valid and reachable Privacy Policy URL configured in Settings: Basic.

Invalid redirect_uri Error

Check that the Valid OAuth Redirect URI in the Instagram Business Login settings matches your ChatbotX installation URL callback format exactly.

Token Exchange Failure

Verify that the Meta App is in Live mode and all permissions have been correctly approved or the test user is properly linked to the app.

​Prerequisites

​Step 1: Create a Meta Developer App

​Step 2: Configure Credentials in ChatbotX

​Step 3: Configure Instagram Business Login Settings in Meta

​Step 4: Test Your Connection

​Troubleshooting

Prerequisites

Step 1: Create a Meta Developer App

Step 2: Configure Credentials in ChatbotX

Step 3: Configure Instagram Business Login Settings in Meta

Step 4: Test Your Connection

Troubleshooting