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🚨 Instagram New Follower Welcome Automation Is LIVE but Not Triggering (Tried Everything)

  • December 31, 2025
  • 6 comments
  • 206 views
jotaescalona

Hi everyone đź‘‹
I’m running into an issue with a new follower welcome automation on Instagram and I’m a bit stuck.

Context:

  • Brand new Instagram account

  • Automation is set to LIVE in ManyChat

  • The automation should send a message when someone follows the account

  • I’ve tested it multiple times with different new followers

  • The message never triggers

What I’ve already verified / tried:
âś… Instagram account is Professional (Creator/Business)
âś… Instagram permissions are correctly enabled:

  • Instagram → Settings and activity → Messages and story replies → Message controls → Connected tools

  • “Allow access to messages” is ON
    ✅ Clicked “Update permissions” in ManyChat (Help section)
    âś… Automation shows no yellow dot (no unpublished changes)
    âś… Automation status is LIVE
    âś… Reconnected Instagram account more than once

At this point, everything appears to be set up correctly, but the automation still doesn’t fire when someone follows the account.

Has anyone experienced this with new Instagram accounts or follower-trigger automations specifically?
Is there any hidden limitation, delay, or additional step I might be missing?

Any insight or direction would be greatly appreciated 🙏

February 8, 2026

Hey ​@jotaescalona 

This feature has some limitations and doesn’t work every time that someone follows you due to Meta rules.

You can check those limitations here: https://help.manychat.com/hc/en-us/articles/23096654243740-Follow-to-DM-on-Instagram-Say-Hi-to-New-Followers

      6 replies

      Manaia45t
      • Manaia45t
      • Up-and-Comer
      • January 1, 2026

      I’ve seen this happen with new Instagram accounts. ManyChat’s “New Follower” automation sometimes does not trigger immediately on brand-new accounts. I would double-check that the account has been active for a few days and has accepted all message permissions. Sometimes logging out and reconnecting ManyChat after a short wait resolves the issue. If it still doesn’t trigger, using a workaround like an API or webhook to monitor new followers can help until ManyChat fully recognizes the account.

      lsatqueens
      • lsatqueens
      • Rising Conversationalist
      • January 2, 2026

      My account is not new, but it looks like the new follower automation stopped working about 2 weeks ago?  Since it was the holiday and a slow season I didn’t notice right away.  All the suggested steps to fix have not helped. 

      thehotelmarketinglady

      Hi guys, I have the same problem! The welcome new followers is set up and live, however is not working when new followers start following my account. Where else can I get someone to help me sort this out? Thanks in advance!

      rodrigo_silvano
      Forum|alt.badge.img+4
      • rodrigo_silvano
      • Community Moderator
      • February 8, 2026

      Hey ​@jotaescalona 

      This feature has some limitations and doesn’t work every time that someone follows you due to Meta rules.

      You can check those limitations here: https://help.manychat.com/hc/en-us/articles/23096654243740-Follow-to-DM-on-Instagram-Say-Hi-to-New-Followers

      rodrigosilvano.pt | Automate with intelligence - Surprise with experience
      ClaireBabai
      • ClaireBabai
      • Up-and-Comer
      • March 23, 2026

      ​@rodrigo_silvano it worked just fine up until a week ago and now it’s not sending any dm’s anymore. This can’t be due to the limitations like “Additionally, Meta allows only one Follow to DM message per user per week. If a person follows multiple accounts using this feature, they’ll receive a message only from the first account they followed. This rule helps keep the experience safe and free from spam.” because then we’d still see some messages.

      What could trigger the automation to break even though it says it’s live and the connection with Instagram is working?

      rodrigo_silvano
      Forum|alt.badge.img+4

      Hey ​@ClaireBabai 

      Check this thread here on the community: 

       

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