# Why didn’t someone get my automatic DM?

> Usually a safety rule stopped it on purpose: the person already got that reply, the keyword did not match, a sending limit was reached, or they replied STOP. Check DM history, then this list.

- Topic: Automations
- In the app: Open DM history — https://app.replavia.com/dms
- Last checked: 2026-10-29
- Web page: https://replavia.com/help/why-didnt-my-auto-dm-send

## Start with DM history

Open **DM history** and look for the person. If the row says **Sent**, Instagram accepted the DM. It may be sitting in their message requests, not their main inbox. See [How to check if a lead got my DM](https://replavia.com/help/dm-history).

If there is no row, or the row says **Skipped**, Replavia chose not to send. Work through the list below.

## 1. You tested from your own account

Replavia never answers comments from the connected account itself. Test from a different Instagram account.

## 2. They already got this reply

Replavia does not send the same person the same automated reply again too soon.

| Trigger | Each person gets the reply |
|---|---|
| Comment on a post or reel | Once per post |
| Comment on a live | Once a day |
| DM | Once a day (UTC) |
| Reply to your story | Once per story |
| Mention in a story | Every time |

This is why a second test from the same account gets nothing. Also, if someone comments on several of your posts within about two minutes, some DMs may be skipped.

## 3. The keyword did not match

“Exact match” needs the whole message to be the keyword. “Contains keyword” matches whole words only, so “pricey” does not match “price”. See [Keywords and matching](https://replavia.com/help/keywords-and-matching).

Also check that the automation is switched on, and that **Which posts?** includes that post.

## 4. Two automations wanted the same comment

Instagram allows one automated DM per comment. Only one automation answers. An **Any keyword** automation always goes last.

## 5. A sending limit was reached

Each Instagram account has an hourly and a daily limit. At the limit, new replies are skipped. They are not saved to send later. For comment automations, the person is still saved as a lead.

These skipped replies do not appear in DM history. Open **Account safety** instead, where the account shows **At limit**. See [Sending limits](https://replavia.com/help/sending-limits).

## 6. Your free DMs for the month are used up

On the Free plan, DMs stop when the monthly 1,500 are used. DM history shows these as **Limit reached**. See [I ran out of free DMs](https://replavia.com/help/get-more-free-dms).

## 7. They replied STOP

After someone opts out, your comment automations skip them. If they later DM you first, your DM automations can still answer. See [How STOP and unsubscribe work](https://replavia.com/help/stop-and-unsubscribe).

If you clicked **Stop DM** for them in Comment Shield, automations do not message them while Comment Shield is on.

## 8. Instagram is disconnected

When a connection drops, Replavia pauses that account’s automations. The account shows **Needs Reconnect** on the Accounts page. See [How to reconnect Instagram](https://replavia.com/help/reconnect-instagram).

After a downgrade, an account or automation over your plan’s limit may also be paused.

## 9. They never tapped the button

A comment allows one private reply. If your DM uses a button, the link only arrives after the person taps it. You can only message them for 24 hours after their last message. See [The 24-hour window](https://replavia.com/help/instagram-24-hour-window).

## Still stuck?

Click **Report a problem** at the bottom of the menu. Name the automation and the post, and say roughly when they commented. See [How to report a problem](https://replavia.com/help/report-a-problem).

## Good to know

- Replies wait a short, random time before they go out. A few seconds of silence is normal.
- Thanking people for story mentions? See [How to thank people who mention you](https://replavia.com/help/thank-people-who-mention-you-in-stories).