relayHow to schedule Instagram posts: the complete guide
Scheduling Instagram posts lets you post consistently without being on your phone at the right minute. It only works if your account, images and captions are ready. Here’s the method, step by step.
1. Switch to a professional account
Instagram only allows automatic publishing for professional accounts (creator or business). Switching is free: Settings, Account type and tools, Switch to professional account.
Meta usually asks you to link the account to a Facebook Page. Do it now: it’s the most common reason a scheduling tool fails to connect.
2. Prepare images in the right format
Instagram accepts aspect ratios between 4:5 portrait and 1.91:1 landscape. Anything taller or wider is rejected at publishing time. Square (1:1) and 4:5 portrait are the safest and fill the screen best.
- Square: 1080 × 1080 pixels
- Portrait: 1080 × 1350 pixels
- Landscape: 1080 × 566 pixels
3. Write the caption before the day
Write the hook first: only the first two lines show before “more”. Then the useful details and one call to action. Prepare a week of captions in one sitting rather than one a day.
4. Pick your times from your own data
General “best times” are a starting point. Your Instagram Insights show when your followers are online: schedule just before those peaks, then compare results after a month.
5. Choose a scheduling tool
Meta Business Suite schedules for free on Facebook and Instagram. Tools like Buffer or Hootsuite add more networks. Relay goes one step further: you describe the post, the AI writes the caption, prepares the visual and schedules it after your approval.
Frequently asked questions
Can I schedule posts on a personal Instagram account?
Not with automatic publishing. Meta reserves it for professional accounts; switching is free and reversible.
Why did my scheduled post fail?
The usual causes are an image outside the accepted proportions, an account no longer linked to its Facebook Page, or an expired connection. Reconnecting the account fixes the last two.