Confirm the comment contains your keyword
Matching is case-insensitive and checks whether the comment contains the word anywhere, so a typo or extra spacing can stop it.
Your auto-DM didn't send. Here's why.
Work through the usual causes in order, from keyword matching to Meta's limits, and get comment-to-DM sending again.
A comment-to-DM that doesn't trigger is almost always one of eight causes: the keyword didn't match, you tested from your own account, the automation was off or the post wasn't a target, the comment or message was outside Meta's reply window, Meta's one-reply-per-comment rule, the DM landed in the recipient's message requests, the wrong account type or permissions, or a used-up Free plan.
30-second checklist
Test from a different account
Replier never answers the connected account's own comments, so comment from another account to see the automation fire.
Check the automation is on and the post is a target
It only answers while turned on, and only on posts it targets: a specific post, your next post, or all posts.
Stay inside Meta's reply window
A comment can get a reply for 7 days; a message or story reply for 24 hours. Older items can no longer be answered.
Remember one reply per comment
Meta allows a single private reply per comment, so another tool or an earlier run may have already used it.
Check Instagram message requests
On Instagram, a DM to someone who doesn't follow you lands in their message requests, not their main inbox.
Check the account type and permissions
You need an Instagram professional account or a Facebook Page connected with the permissions Replier requests.
Check your Free plan usage
The Free plan sends up to 100 interactions a month; new DMs pause once you reach the limit.
The comment doesn't contain your keyword
Replier matches keywords with a case-insensitive contains test, so GUIDE, Guide, and guide all match, and so does a longer sentence that includes the word. If the comment doesn't actually contain the keyword — a typo, extra spacing like gui de, or a different word — nothing sends. Very short or common keywords can also match comments you didn't mean to answer. Use Suggest similar keywords to add spacing, typo, and full-width variants, and test from another account before you promote the post. A GIF, sticker, or photo-only comment arrives with no text, so only an any-comment trigger matches it.
You're testing with your own account
Replier never sends a reply to the connected account's own comments. On Instagram it ignores comments from the account's own user ID or username; on Facebook it ignores the Page's own comments, matched by Page ID. Comment from a different account — on Facebook, a personal profile — to see the automation fire.
The automation is off, or the post isn't one of its targets
An automation only answers while it's turned on and the comment is on a post it targets. A target is a specific post, the next post you publish (next post), or all posts. A specific post with its own enabled automation uses that one instead of an all-posts automation. Each automation can have up to 24 targets, and up to 10 next post targets can wait on one account at a time. All posts and next post start answering only from when they activate.
The comment, message, or story reply is outside Meta's reply window
Meta lets a private reply answer a comment for 7 days, and a message or story reply for 24 hours after it was sent. Past that window the DM can't go out. Replier's Catch up can still send replies to eligible comments from the last 7 days and messages or story replies from the last 24 hours. The backfill dialog — shown when you turn on, save, or resume an automation that targets a specific post, not all posts or next post — offers eligible comments from the last 7 days only; anything older has closed.
Meta: Instagram private repliesMeta's rule that a private reply can answer a comment within 7 days.
Meta: Facebook Page private repliesMeta's 7-day comment reply and 24-hour messaging window for Pages.
Meta: Messenger Platform policyMeta's standard 24-hour messaging window.
Reply to old Instagram commentsCatch up covers the last 7 days. Older comments get a public reply, not a DM.
A comment can only get one private reply
Meta allows exactly one private reply per comment. If another tool, Meta's own automatic replies, or an earlier Replier run already sent that one reply, Replier's send is refused as already replied and no second DM goes out. If you run more than one comment-to-DM tool on the same account, they compete for that single reply.
On Instagram, the DM landed in the recipient's message requests
On Instagram, when you message someone who doesn't follow you, the DM arrives in their message requests rather than their main inbox, so it can look like nothing was sent. The conversation only continues after the person replies, within Meta's 24-hour messaging window. Ask your Instagram tester to check their requests folder.
The account type or Meta permissions aren't right
Comment-to-DM needs an Instagram professional account (Business or Creator) or a Facebook Page, connected with the messaging and comment permissions Replier requests during sign-in. If a connection is missing a permission, was revoked, or needs reconnecting, replies stop until you reconnect. A channel added only through a free tool is read-only until you enable automations on it.
You've used up the Free plan's monthly interactions
The Free plan includes 100 interactions per month and up to 2 connected channels. Once you reach 100 interactions in a monthly period, new automated DMs pause until the period resets or you upgrade. Creator ($10/month) removes the monthly interaction cap with fair use; Studio ($49/month) adds multi-step automations and 10 connected channels. Check your usage on the pricing or billing page.
Still not working?
If you've worked through all eight and comment-to-DM still isn't sending, our team can look at your setup. Share the post, the keyword, and the account you're testing from.
FAQ
Usually one of eight reasons: the keyword didn't match, you commented from your own account, the automation was off or the post wasn't a target, the comment was older than 7 days, the comment already got its one allowed private reply, the DM went to the recipient's message requests, the account type or permissions were wrong, or you reached the Free plan's 100 monthly interactions.
Matching is case-insensitive and checks whether the comment contains your keyword anywhere, so Guide, GUIDE, and I want the guide please all match the keyword guide.
No. Replier never replies to the connected account's own comments, so test by commenting from a different account. On Facebook, use a personal profile.
Meta allows a private reply for 7 days after a comment, and 24 hours after a message or story reply. Replier's Catch up can send eligible replies within those windows; older items have closed.
A comment gets only one private reply, on Instagram non-followers receive it in their message requests, and the Free plan stops new DMs after 100 interactions a month. Any of these can explain missing DMs.
An Instagram professional account (Business or Creator) or a Facebook Page, connected with the permissions Replier requests at sign-in.