Two of the four message layouts send media rather than text: image with button builds a card, and attachment sends a file.
Image cards and carousels
Pick image with button in a Post automation to create one product card:
- Product image: upload PNG or JPEG, up to 10 MB. AP3K optimizes the image for delivery.
- Product title: up to 80 characters.
- Subtitle: optional, up to 80 characters.
- Buttons: up to three, each with a destination URL and a label of up to 20 characters.
For multiple cards, choose the Auto DM product link carousel template or the Product carousel node in Flow builder. A carousel holds up to ten cards, with up to three links per card.
A carousel is useful when the reader has a choice to make — products, price tiers or services. For one action, a single card or text with button keeps the decision simple.
Attachments
Pick attachment and you get an upload box: drop a file in, click Upload file, Record audio for a voice note, or Pick recent to reuse something you’ve already sent.
What you can send
| Type | Formats | Limit |
|---|---|---|
| Image | PNG, JPG, GIF | 8 MB |
| Video | MP4, MOV | 25 MB |
| Audio | AAC, M4A, WAV | 25 MB |
| Document | 25 MB |
GIFs go through as images — an 8 MB ceiling, which most short loops fit under comfortably, but a long screen recording exported as a GIF will not. Export it as MP4 instead and it gets the 25 MB video allowance.
Using them well
- PDFs are delivered as a Download PDF button linking to the saved file. Test the download from another Instagram account.
- Video works for demos and unboxings, where showing beats describing.
- Voice notes are unusually effective for high-touch services — a fifteen second “hey, thanks for commenting” in your actual voice reads as personal in a way no text can.
Uploads are fixed for the saved attachment or card. Text variations do not swap media files between recipients.
Record audio
- Select Record audio and allow microphone access when your browser asks.
- Start recording, then stop when your message is ready.
- Listen to the recording. Choose Upload to keep it, Re-record to start again, or Discard to remove it.
- Wait for the upload to finish before saving or publishing.
Pick recent lists your saved uploads for reuse. If a file fails, check its format and size, then retry before publishing.