> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.usereplier.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Reply to old comments with a one-time automation

> Run a one-time automation to publicly reply to the comments already on an Instagram post that contain your keyword.

A **one-time automation** runs once on a post you already published. Use it to reply to older comments that your normal automations never saw.

It is different from an automation on the **Automations** page, which keeps answering new comments. It is also different from **Catch up**, which only covers recent comments that Replier already received.

Right now there is one template: **Reply to comments with a keyword**. It works on Instagram posts only, and it sends public replies only. It does not send DMs.

## Before you start

* Connect an Instagram account.
* You need permission to create automations to set one up, and permission to send replies to start the replies.
* These replies do not count toward your interaction allowance.

## Set one up

1. Open **One-time automations** in the menu and select **New one-time automation**.
2. Choose **Reply to comments with a keyword**, then select **Use this template**.
3. Choose the Instagram account and the post.
4. Select **Next: keywords and reply**.
5. Add a name, one or more keywords, and up to 5 public replies. A comment that contains any keyword gets a reply.
6. Select **Find matching comments**.

Replier reads every top-level comment on the post, however old. Replies under comments are not checked. Hidden comments are left out. Each person gets one reply, under their newest matching comment.

If you already replied to people on this post with a one-time automation, Replier asks whether to leave them out. Choose **Leave them out** to reply only to people who have not had a reply.

## Review and send

Nothing is sent until you say so.

1. Wait until the run shows **Needs review**. The page shows how many comments have been read.
2. Check the list. Clear the box next to any comment you do not want to reply to.
3. Select **Reply to …** and confirm.

Replies go out gradually, so a long list can take a while. You can leave the page. Select **Stop** to cancel the replies that have not gone out. Replies already posted stay on Instagram.

A run keeps up to 1,000 matching comments. If a post has more, run it again later and leave out the people you already replied to.

## Check the results

Each run and each comment's result stay on the page. Use the filters to show **Replied**, **Failed** or **Left out** comments.

| What you see | What it means |
| - | - |
| **Hidden comment** | The comment is hidden, so it gets no reply. |
| **Their newer comment gets the reply** | The same person has a newer matching comment. |
| **Already replied to on this post** | An earlier one-time automation replied to this person. |
| **Comment deleted or unavailable** | The comment is gone. |
| **Instagram didn't accept the reply** | Instagram refused the reply. Replier tried three times. |
| **Couldn't confirm the reply. It may have been posted.** | Instagram did not answer. Replier does not try again, so check the comment on Instagram. |

## If a run pauses

A run pauses with a message when:

* Instagram is limiting replies from the account. Try **Resume** later.
* The account needs to be reconnected. Reconnect it, then select **Resume**.
* The workspace is paused.

If Instagram's request limit is reached, Replier waits 15 minutes and continues.

## Run it again or change it

Select **Run again** to start a new run. Changes you make to the keywords or replies apply the next time it runs. You cannot start a new run while replies are still going out.

To remove a one-time automation, select **Delete** and confirm. Its runs and results are deleted. Replies already posted stay on Instagram.


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