Use the inbox and take over a chat

In short

• The Inbox shows each person's comments and DMs, with anything automation sent them.
• You can reply yourself, right there.
• Take over a chat and automation stops replying to that person.

Steps

1. Open Inbox in the menu on the left.
2. Pick a person.
3. Type in the message box and click Send.
4. To pause automation for this person, click Take over.
5. Want it off for good? Tick Permanent takeover.
6. Done? Click Hand back. Automation can reply again.

Good to know

• Leave Permanent takeover off and automation comes back after 5 minutes.
• When you reply from the Inbox, or type a DM in the Instagram app, automation stays off for that person for 5 minutes.
• Instagram only allows replies within 24 hours of their last message.
• Your own replies never count toward your people this month.