If your keyword-triggered DMs aren’t firing—or you’re seeing odd messages in Instagram—run through the quick checks below.
Nine times out of ten, one of these solves the issue.
1. Connection Didn’t Finish? Wait 24 Hours & Retry
After you connect Instagram inside Engage → AutoDM, Rally shows a green Success! banner.
No banner = the IG API likely timed out on Meta’s side. Give it a full day, then reconnect—this usually clears the glitch.
2. Rally Permissions Not Granted
During the connect step, a Meta pop-up asks you to Allow Rally.Fan access. Closing that window (or blocking pop-ups) halts the handshake.
Fix:
Go back to Marketing → AutoDMs.
Click Reconnect Instagram and this time hit Allow on the Meta pop-up.
3. Double-Check Instagram App Permissions
Inside Instagram:
Profile → ☰ Menu → Settings & privacy → Website Permissions → Apps & websites
You should see Rally.Fan listed.
Missing? Reconnect from your Rally dashboard—permissions didn’t stick.
4. Other DM Tools Still Connected
Meta lets only one automation app control the inbox. If you use ManyChat, Chatfuel, or any third-party “DM catcher,” Rally’s messages will be suppressed.
Fix:
In Instagram Settings → Website Permissions, revoke access for all other DM apps.
Return to Rally and reconnect.
Test again.
5. The 12-Hour Safety Cool-Down
To keep your account safe from spam flags, Rally AutoDM sends a maximum of one DM per user every 12 hours. If you test multiple comments back-to-back, only the first will fire.
Need to test again sooner? Use a different IG account, or wait out the 12-hour window.
6. “You Got a Message About Your Comment” (But No Link Inside)
A rare Meta bug occasionally replaces your AutoDM with a generic “@username messaged you about a comment…” notice. Our data shows it happens most often when either:
You and the commenter don’t follow each other, or
The post is a Collab post with another creator.
Work-around: Ask the user to DM the keyword instead of commenting, or wait 12 hours and retry—Meta usually fixes itself.
7. Links Look Different Inside the DM
Rally AutoDM uses a built-in shortener:
URLs pointing to rally.fan →
dm.rally.fan/ABC123External URLs →
ext-link.rally/XYZ456
That’s expected behaviour and helps analytics & deliverability. Your original link will redirect perfectly.
At-a-Glance Troubleshooting Checklist
Symptom | Quick Check | Typical Fix |
No DM, no error banner | IG API lag | Wait 24 h, reconnect |
DM fires once, then stops | 12-hour limit | Test from new account or wait |
DM never fires, permissions OK | Other DM app active | Disconnect ManyChat/others |
Shortened links look odd | Link shortener | Safe to ignore |
Generic “messaged you” alert | Meta glitch | Wait 12 h or switch to DM keyword |
Still Stuck?
Send an email to friends@rally.fan with:
Your Rally account email
IG handle
Screenshot or screen recording of the issue
Time and date of your last test
Our support team will dig in and get your DMs rolling ASAP.