Summary
Connecting your Instagram account to Wati lets you manage Instagram direct messages (DMs) in the Wati Team Inbox, automate responses, and streamline customer communication.
This guide explains the requirements for connecting Instagram to Wati and walks you through the connection process.
Note: The basic Instagram integration, including 1 Instagram account, is available on all Wati plans. Advanced Instagram features require the Pro or Business plan.
For more information, see our guide to Instagram features and plan availability.
Instructions
Before you begin
Before connecting Instagram to Wati, make sure you have:
An Instagram Professional Account
Admin access to the Instagram Professional Account you want to connect
Important: Wati requires an Instagram Professional Account. Personal Instagram accounts cannot be connected to Wati.
Instagram Professional Accounts include 2 account types:
Business Account
Creator Account
Both Business and Creator accounts are Professional Accounts and can be connected to Wati.
Check or convert your Instagram account
If you currently use a Personal Instagram Account, convert it to a Professional Account before connecting it to Wati.
To convert your account:
Open the Instagram app.
Go to your profile.
Tap the menu icon (☰) in the top-right corner.
Select Settings and Privacy.
Tap Account type and tools.
Select Switch to professional account.
Follow the prompts and choose either a Business or Creator account.
Complete the setup process.
Connect your Instagram account
Step 1: Open the Instagram channel settings
Log in to your Wati account.
Go to Settings > Channels > Instagram.
Click Get Started.
Step 2: Confirm the prerequisites
Review the prerequisites shown on the screen and confirm that you have:
An Instagram Professional Account
Admin access to the Instagram Professional Account
Select the required checkboxes and click Connect Instagram.
Step 3: Sign in to Instagram
After you click Connect Instagram, you will be redirected to the Instagram login page.
Sign in to the Instagram account you want to connect to Wati.
If 2-factor authentication (2FA) is enabled on your Instagram account, enter your authentication code when prompted.
Step 4: Grant permissions
Review the permissions requested by Wati.
Click Allow to grant the required access and continue.
Step 5: Confirm the connection
Wati displays a confirmation message once the connection succeeds. Your Instagram account now appears in Settings > Channels > Instagram with its connection status and connection date, and Instagram DMs start arriving in the Team Inbox.
Disconnect your Instagram account
Need to disconnect an Instagram account from Wati? You can do it in just a few steps.
Go to Settings > Channels > Instagram.
Find the Instagram account you want to disconnect.
Select Delete Account.
What happens when you disconnect?
New Instagram DMs and comments stop arriving in Wati, and Instagram automation rules stop running.
Conversations are no longer visible in the Team Inbox for the disconnected account.
Contacts remain available under Contacts in Wati, including their existing attributes.
Automation rules and chatbot flows remain in place, so you don't need to rebuild them if you reconnect the account.
Your Instagram contacts remain available after disconnecting. This means any WhatsApp numbers collected from Instagram contacts can still be used in campaigns.
If you have multiple Instagram accounts connected, disconnecting one account doesn't affect the others.
Important: You can also revoke Wati's access from Instagram's settings. This stops message delivery in the same way, but the account may still appear as connected in Wati. To keep your Instagram and Wati connection status in sync, disconnect the account from Wati instead.
What to set up next
Once you connect Instagram, Wati automatically creates 2 automation rules for you: a welcome message and an out-of-office message. They’re turned off by default, so you can enable them when you’re ready.
For more information, refer to our guide on setting up OOO and welcome messages for Instagram.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Instagram account requirements
1. What type of Instagram account can I connect to Wati?
You can connect an Instagram Professional Account to Wati. Professional Accounts include Business and Creator accounts. Personal Instagram accounts cannot be connected to Wati.
2. Do I need admin access to connect an Instagram account to Wati?
Yes. You need admin access to the Instagram Professional Account you want to connect to Wati.
3. How do I convert my Personal Instagram account to a Professional Account?
In the Instagram app, go to Profile > Menu (☰) > Settings and Privacy > Account type and tools > Switch to professional account. Follow the prompts and choose either a Business or Creator account, then complete the setup.
Connecting Instagram to Wati
4. How do I connect my Instagram account to Wati?
In Wati, go to Settings > Channels > Instagram and click Get Started. Confirm that you have an Instagram Professional Account and admin access, select the required checkboxes, and click Connect Instagram. Sign in to Instagram, complete 2-factor authentication if prompted, review the requested permissions, and click Allow.
5. How do I know if my Instagram account is connected to Wati?
After a successful connection, Wati shows a confirmation message. Your Instagram account appears under Settings > Channels > Instagram with its connection status and connection date. Instagram DMs also start arriving in the Team Inbox.
Disconnecting Instagram
6. How do I disconnect my Instagram account from Wati?
Go to Settings > Channels > Instagram, find the Instagram account you want to disconnect, and select Delete Account.
7. What happens to my Instagram data and automations when I disconnect my account?
After disconnecting an Instagram account, new Instagram DMs and comments stop arriving in Wati, and Instagram automation rules stop running. Conversations from the disconnected account are no longer visible in the Team Inbox, but contacts and their existing attributes remain available in Wati. Automation rules and chatbot flows also remain in place.
8. What happens if I disconnect one Instagram account when I have multiple accounts connected?
Disconnecting 1 Instagram account does not affect your other connected Instagram accounts.