# Instagram Connected but AI Agent Not Receiving DMs? Fix It

Your Instagram account may show as connected in [ZazzyAgent](http://app.zazzyagent.com) while the AI Agent still doesn't answer incoming DMs.

Don't immediately rebuild the AI Agent.

First determine whether the problem is:

**Instagram → ZazzyAgent**

or:

**ZazzyAgent → AI Agent**

These are different problems.

## Step 1: Send a test DM

Use another Instagram account.

Send your business account a simple message:

> Hi

Now check whether that message appears in ZazzyAgent.

## If the message doesn't appear

The issue is probably your Instagram connection or message permissions.

## If the message appears

The Instagram connection is probably working.

Move to AI Agent troubleshooting.

## Step 2: Check Connected Tools

Open Instagram's mobile app.

Go to:

**Profile → ☰ → Settings and privacy → Messages and story replies → Message controls → Connected tools**

Check:

**Allow access to messages**

Make sure it is turned on.

This is one of the first settings to check when Instagram messages are not reaching an automation platform.

## Step 3: Confirm the Instagram account

Make sure the DM is being sent to the exact Instagram account connected to your ZazzyAgent workspace.

Businesses sometimes have multiple accounts:

*   Main account
    
*   Regional account
    
*   Support account
    
*   Personal account
    

Test the correct one.

## Step 4: Check whether the AI Agent is active

Creating an AI Agent does not necessarily mean that it is actively responding.

Open the AI Agent configuration.

Check its status.

The current platform workflow separates creating an agent from enabling it through Agent Configuration.

## Step 5: Check Agent Configuration

Open:

**Agent Configuration**

Check whether the agent is enabled for the connected Instagram channel.

An agent can exist without being assigned to incoming Instagram conversations.

## Step 6: Check routing

If you have more than one AI Agent, routing becomes extremely important.

For example:

**Lead Agent**

handles new enquiries.

**Sales Agent**

handles qualified sales conversations.

**Support Agent**

handles existing customer issues.

Your routing rules determine which agent receives the conversation.

The current multi-agent setup uses Agent Configuration and routing rules to direct incoming Instagram DMs to the appropriate specialist.

## Step 7: Test with a simple message

Before testing a complex scenario, send:

> Hi

Your first goal is simply to confirm:

**Instagram DM**

→ **ZazzyAgent**

→ **AI Agent**

→ **Reply**

If this works, move on to more advanced testing.

## Step 8: Check the System Prompt

Make sure your System Prompt actually instructs the agent to respond.

For example:

> You are the Instagram customer support assistant for our company. Answer customer questions using the available knowledge. Be friendly, concise and helpful.

Avoid a prompt that only describes the business without telling the agent what its actual job is.

See [How to Write a System Prompt for a ZazzyAgent AI Agent](https://blog.zazzyagent.com/how-to-write-system-prompt-for-zazzyagent-ai-agent).

## Step 9: Check Knowledge

If the AI receives the message but cannot answer correctly, check Knowledge rather than the Instagram connection.

For example:

Customer:

> What are your prices?

If your AI doesn't have pricing information, it should not invent an answer.

See [How to Train ZazzyAgent AI With Knowledge](https://blog.zazzyagent.com/how-to-train-zazzyagent-ai-with-knowledge).

## Step 10: Check actions separately

Suppose your agent should:

*   Save lead details
    
*   Add a label
    
*   Assign a team member
    
*   Start another flow
    

A reply can work even when an action doesn't.

Test each action separately.

## Step 11: Don't test only one scenario

For an Instagram lead agent, test:

### General enquiry

> Hi, I need some information.

### Pricing question

> How much does this cost?

### Qualification

> I'm interested. My budget is ₹50,000.

### Human request

> Can someone call me?

Your goal is to test both the answer and the next action.

## A simple diagnostic map

```text
Instagram DM
     ↓
Appears in ZazzyAgent?
   ↙          ↘
 No            Yes
 ↓              ↓
Instagram      AI Agent
permissions    enabled?
               ↓
            Routing?
               ↓
            Prompt?
               ↓
            Knowledge?
               ↓
             Reply
```

This makes the problem much easier to isolate.

## Common mistake

A lot of users see:

> Instagram connected

and assume:

> AI Agent is connected.

Those are two separate things.

The Instagram account must first deliver messages to ZazzyAgent.

Then the configured AI Agent must be enabled and routed to handle those messages.

If the issue persist reach out to our support team: [ZazzyAgent Support](https://api.whatsapp.com/message/CEYO3OWH3U7KE1)