# Reply to Instagram and Messenger chats: up to 7 days

> In the SkedX Flow inbox, an Instagram or Messenger chat has no countdown. A person on your team can reply for 7 days after the customer’s last message — just type and send. AI replies and automations answer only within 24 hours of the customer’s last message. After 7 days the chat closes like a WhatsApp chat: it says Chat closed and Meta allows replies for 7 days; it reopens when the customer writes. Click Add a follow-up task, or Message on WhatsApp when you have their phone number. Meta allows support replies, not promotions, more than 24 hours after the customer’s last message. WhatsApp is different: it has a 24-hour clock, then templates. A reply that did not reach them says why in plain words, with Retry only when trying again can work; a person who opted out shows “asked not to be messaged” with Add a follow-up task.

Product: SkedX Flow · Topic: Inbox · Draft — steps not yet re-verified in the live product · Updated 2026-11-04

On Instagram and Messenger your team can reply for 7 days after the customer’s last message. Then the chat closes until they write.

## Video (0:36)

Watch: https://skode.ai/help/flow/inbox/reply-to-instagram-and-messenger-chats/ · MP4: https://skode.ai/help/videos/flow/inbox/reply-to-instagram-and-messenger-chats.mp4

- 0:01 Step 1: Just reply
- 0:15 Step 2: After 7 days, the chat closes
- 0:32 Step 3: Carry on over WhatsApp

Transcript:

On Instagram and Messenger, SkedX Flow shows no timer. Your team can reply for 7 days after the customer's last message. Just type in the message box and send. When 7 days have passed, the chat closes, like a WhatsApp chat. Meta allows replies for 7 days after their last message, and it reopens when they write. Click Add a follow up task to be reminded. If you have their phone number, click Message on WhatsApp to carry on there.

## Step 1: Just reply

Open the chat. The header has no timer on Instagram or Messenger. Type in the message box and send — up to 7 days after the customer’s last message.
Open it directly: https://flow.skode.ai/inbox

## Step 2: After 7 days, the chat closes

When 7 days have passed, the chat closes, like a WhatsApp chat does: **Chat closed — waiting on** them. **Meta allows replies for 7 days** after their last message, and it reopens when they write. Click **Add a follow-up task** to be reminded.

## Step 3: Carry on over WhatsApp

If you have their phone number and a WhatsApp number is connected, click **Message on WhatsApp**: their WhatsApp chat opens with your templates. **Add a follow-up task** is still there.

## Common questions

### Do AI replies and automations work for 7 days too?

No. They answer only within 24 hours of the customer’s last message. After that, a person on your team replies.

### Can I send an offer after 24 hours?

Meta allows support replies, not promotions, more than 24 hours after the customer’s last message.

### Why does WhatsApp show a clock?

WhatsApp works differently: you can type for 24 hours after the customer’s last message, then only templates.

### A reply says it didn’t reach them. What now?

The note under the message says why in plain words. **Retry** appears only when trying again can work; otherwise the chat shows the next step, such as **Message on WhatsApp** or **Add a follow-up task**.

### What if they asked not to be messaged?

The chat says they **asked not to be messaged** and offers **Add a follow-up task** instead of a message box. It reopens when they write to you.

### What about a comment on my post?

A comment gets one private reply within 7 days of the comment. See [Answer Facebook and Instagram comments](https://skode.ai/help/flow/inbox/answer-facebook-and-instagram-comments/).

## Useful links
- Meta’s Messenger message tags — the human agent tag Meta allows for 7 days: https://developers.facebook.com/docs/messenger-platform/send-messages/message-tags

Videos and screenshots © 2026 SkedX, with sample data only. Share and link to them freely; copying the SkedX product or its design is not allowed. Terms: https://skode.ai/terms/

## Related guides
- What you see in a Flow conversation: every message as your customer saw it: https://skode.ai/help/flow/inbox/what-you-see-in-a-flow-conversation/
- What is the WhatsApp Business API?: https://skode.ai/help/flow/channels/what-is-the-whatsapp-business-api/

Source: https://skode.ai/help/flow/inbox/reply-to-instagram-and-messenger-chats/