Instagram Automation

# Instagram Automation via Rube MCP

Automate Instagram operations through Composio's Instagram toolkit via Rube MCP.

Prerequisites

- Rube MCP must be connected (RUBE_SEARCH_TOOLS available)

- Active Instagram connection via `RUBE_MANAGE_CONNECTIONS` with toolkit `instagram`

- Always call `RUBE_SEARCH_TOOLS` first to get current tool schemas

- Instagram Business or Creator account required (personal accounts not supported)

Setup

**Get Rube MCP**: Add `https://rube.app/mcp` as an MCP server in your client configuration. No API keys needed — just add the endpoint and it works.

1. Verify Rube MCP is available by confirming `RUBE_SEARCH_TOOLS` responds

2. Call `RUBE_MANAGE_CONNECTIONS` with toolkit `instagram`

3. If connection is not ACTIVE, follow the returned auth link to complete Instagram/Facebook OAuth

4. Confirm connection status shows ACTIVE before running any workflows

Core Workflows

1. Create a Single Image/Video Post

**When to use**: User wants to publish a single photo or video to Instagram

**Tool sequence**:

1. `INSTAGRAM_GET_USER_INFO` - Get Instagram user ID [Prerequisite]

2. `INSTAGRAM_CREATE_MEDIA_CONTAINER` - Create a media container with the image/video URL [Required]

3. `INSTAGRAM_GET_POST_STATUS` - Check if the media container is ready [Optional]

4. `INSTAGRAM_CREATE_POST` or `INSTAGRAM_POST_IG_USER_MEDIA_PUBLISH` - Publish the container [Required]

**Key parameters**:

- `image_url`: Public URL of the image to post

- `video_url`: Public URL of the video to post

- `caption`: Post caption text

- `ig_user_id`: Instagram Business account user ID

**Pitfalls**:

- Media URLs must be publicly accessible; private/authenticated URLs will fail

- Video containers may take time to process; poll GET_POST_STATUS before publishing

- Caption supports hashtags and mentions but has a 2200 character limit

- Publishing a container that is not yet finished processing returns an error

2. Create a Carousel Post

**When to use**: User wants to publish multiple images/videos in a single carousel post

**Tool sequence**:

1. `INSTAGRAM_CREATE_MEDIA_CONTAINER` - Create individual containers for each media item [Required, repeat per item]

2. `INSTAGRAM_CREATE_CAROUSEL_CONTAINER` - Create the carousel container referencing all media containers [Required]

3. `INSTAGRAM_GET_POST_STATUS` - Check carousel container readiness [Optional]

4. `INSTAGRAM_POST_IG_USER_MEDIA_PUBLISH` - Publish the carousel [Required]

**Key parameters**:

- `children`: Array of media container IDs for the carousel

- `caption`: Carousel post caption

- `ig_user_id`: Instagram Business account user ID

**Pitfalls**:

- Carousels require 2-10 media items; fewer or more will fail

- Each child container must be created individually before the carousel container

- All child containers must be fully processed before creating the carousel

- Mixed media (images + videos) is supported in carousels

3. Get Media and Insights

**When to use**: User wants to view their posts or analyze post performance

**Tool sequence**:

1. `INSTAGRAM_GET_IG_USER_MEDIA` or `INSTAGRAM_GET_USER_MEDIA` - List user's media [Required]

2. `INSTAGRAM_GET_IG_MEDIA` - Get details for a specific post [Optional]

3. `INSTAGRAM_GET_POST_INSIGHTS` or `INSTAGRAM_GET_IG_MEDIA_INSIGHTS` - Get metrics for a post [Optional]

4. `INSTAGRAM_GET_USER_INSIGHTS` - Get account-level insights [Optional]

**Key parameters**:

- `ig_user_id`: Instagram Business account user ID

- `media_id`: ID of the specific media post

- `metric`: Metrics to retrieve (e.g., impressions, reach, engagement)

- `period`: Time period for insights (e.g., day, week, lifetime)

**Pitfalls**:

- Insights are only available for Business/Creator accounts

- Some metrics require minimum follower counts

- Insight data may have a delay of up to 48 hours

- The `period` parameter must match the metric type

4. Check Publishing Limits

**When to use**: User wants to verify they can publish before attempting a post

**Tool seque