Good news: Instagram has finally lifted its API limitations for auto-publishing Stories.
What does that mean for you? You can now schedule Instagram Stories and have them published automatically by Kontentino - no reminders, no manual posting (if you choose Direct Publishing).
In this article, you’ll learn:
The difference between Direct Publishing and Manual Publishing
The pros and cons of each method
Media requirements for Direct Publishing
How to publish Stories (and other Instagram post types) step by step using both methods
⚠️ Instagram publishing limit
Instagram allows a maximum of 50 scheduled posts per profile within 24 hours via third-party tools.
This limit applies to all post types (Story, Post, Reel, Carousel).
Each media item in a Carousel counts as one post.
First steps
Set your Instagram account to Business
Your Instagram profile must be a Business account. Instagram does not allow Personal or Creator accounts to connect via the API.
Follow the steps in this article to switch to a Business account.
Connect your Instagram profile to Kontentino
Open the Profile selector
Click Add new
Choose Instagram
Select the profile you want to connect
If you run into connection issues, follow the steps in this article.
Direct Publishing
What is Direct Publishing?
With Direct Publishing, Kontentino publishes your Instagram Stories, images, Reels, and carousel posts automatically at the scheduled time.
You simply upload your media, set the posting time, and you’re done.
⚠️ Important: While Instagram now supports auto-publishing Stories, some API limitations still apply.
Direct Publishing does not support:
Text overlays
Stickers
Music
Location
Tagging
Other native Instagram Story features
If you need full creative control, use Manual Publishing instead.
How to publish Stories using the Direct Publishing method?
1. Create a new post
Select your Instagram profile in the Calendar
Hover over a day and click the + button
orUse Create → Post in the left navigation panel
2. Select "Story" as the post type
The Direct Publishing method is selected by default.
3. Upload your files
Attach your files:
from your device
from your Media Library
using the Kontentino AI image generator
You can add multiple files to create a Story sequence. Reorder media using drag & drop.
Media requirements for IG Stories Direct Publishing
❗Please take note of the following requirements when uploading your media.
4. Schedule the Story
Set the date and time
Save the post
Send it for approval (if needed)
Click Schedule
Your Story (or Story sequence) will be published automatically at the selected time.
Manual Publishing
What is Manual Publishing?
Manual Publishing gives you full creative freedom.
You schedule the Story in Kontentino, then finish and publish it manually using the Kontentino mobile app.
This method is ideal if you want to:
Add text, stickers, music, locations, or tags
Make last-minute creative tweaks in Instagram
📱 The Kontentino mobile app is required for Manual Publishing.
If you encounter issues with push notifications, ensure that notifications are enabled for the Kontentino app in your device settings and that you are signed in to the correct account.
How to publish Stories using the Manual Publishing method?
1. Create a new post
Select your Instagram profile in the Calendar
Hover over a day and click the + button
orUse Create → Post in the left navigation panel
2. Select Story and switch to Manual Publishing
Choose Story as the post type
Change the publishing method from Direct to Manual
3. Upload your files
Attach your files:
from your device
from your Media Library
using the Kontentino AI image generator
Adding multiple media files allows you to create sequences. The selected media can be reordered by dragging and dropping.
4. Schedule the Story
Set the date and time
Save the post
Send it for approval (if required)
Click Schedule
⚠️ If you see an error in the Post completion section saying the mobile app is required, make sure:
The Kontentino mobile app is installed and up to date
You’re signed in to the correct Kontentino account
Push notifications are enabled in your phone settings
Push notifications
A push notification is sent 5 minutes before publishing
It goes to the user who scheduled the post
You can change the recipient via the three dots in the push notification tooltip → Change a user.
❗️ If the push notification is missed, the manual publishing process will not be completed, and the content will not appear on Instagram.
5. Publish the Story
Tap the push notification
You’ll be redirected to the scheduled post in the Kontentino mobile app
Click Publish manually
Media downloads to your device
Post text is copied to your clipboard
Open the Instagram mobile app and make sure you’re logged into the correct account.
Start creating your Story/post, select the downloaded media, and publish:
As-is
orEnhance it with Instagram features (text, music, stickers, tags, location, etc.)
⚠️ It is crucial to complete the manual publishing step in the Instagram app to ensure the content appears as scheduled.
💡 Pro tip: The manual publishing method is available for all Instagram post formats - not just Stories, but Image/Carousel posts and Reels too!
This method is helpful if you cannot or don't want to connect your Instagram profile to Kontentino, but still want to use our tool for planning and collaboration.
Troubleshooting: Why are Instagram posts or Stories marked as posted in Kontentino but not appearing on Instagram?
When using Kontentino's manual publishing feature to schedule Instagram posts or Stories, you may encounter situations where the content is marked as "Posted" in the app but does not appear on Instagram. This issue typically arises due to the manual publishing method selected in the content scheduling process.
Common Issues:
Content Marked as "Posted" but Not Visible on Instagram:
Kontentino automatically marks posts or Stories as "Posted" once the scheduled time passes, assuming the manual publishing step has been completed. However, if the manual step is not performed, the content will not appear on Instagram.
Missed Push Notifications:
Users may miss the push notification from the Kontentino mobile app, which serves as a reminder to complete the manual publishing process.
How to Resolve:
Enable Push Notifications: Ensure push notifications are enabled for the Kontentino mobile app on your device.
Respond to Notifications: Open the push notification to access the manual publishing flow in the Kontentino app.
Complete Publishing in Instagram: Follow the steps provided in the Kontentino app to finalize the post or Story directly in the Instagram app. By understanding and following the manual publishing process, you can ensure that your Instagram content is successfully published as scheduled.
If you have questions or run into any issues, our Customer Support team is ready to help 💬