How to Post to Instagram From Claude (Step by Step)

Here is how to post to Instagram from Claude: add a connector to Claude, connect your Instagram account, ask Claude to write the post, add your photo or video, check the preview and say yes. Claude can't publish to Instagram on its own, so the connector does the posting for it. You don't need to write any code, and setup takes a few minutes.

This guide uses the Postlefy connector, which is free to add. It's in Beta, so it works today for writing and posting from Claude, and we're still adding features. It's a good fit if you already use Claude to write your captions and you're tired of copying them across to your phone.

What you need

You need four things before you start:

• A Claude account. Custom connectors work on Claude Free (one custom connector), Pro, Max, Team and Enterprise. On Team and Enterprise, an Owner adds it first in Organization settings → Connectors.
• A Postlefy account. It's free to start and no card is needed.
• An Instagram Business or Creator account. Instagram only allows outside tools to publish to these account types, and switching is free in Instagram's settings.
• A photo or video. Every Instagram post needs one, and Claude can't create pictures itself. You'll add your own in a later step.

How to post to Instagram from Claude, step by step

Follow these five steps in order. You only do the first two once. After that, every new post starts at step three.

Step 1: Add the connector to Claude

A connector lets your AI app use another service. In Claude:

1. Open Customize → Connectors → + Add → Add custom connector.
2. Give it a name (Postlefy) and paste https://postlefy.com/api/mcp as the URL.
3. Choose Continue, then Add, and sign in to Postlefy when asked.

You approve the connection on Postlefy's own page. Claude's menus do change from time to time, so if a name looks different, look for the place where you add a custom connector.

Step 2: Connect Instagram in Postlefy

Sign in to Postlefy and connect your Instagram account from the Connect screen. You sign in through Instagram itself, so you never give Claude your Instagram password. Each Postlefy account connects one account per platform.

Step 3: Ask Claude to write the post

Now talk to Claude the way you'd talk to a helper. Be specific about what you're promoting and who it's for. For example:

Write a post about our new autumn menu, give me a link to add a photo, then post it to Instagram and Facebook.

Claude writes the caption. If you don't like it, say so: "make it shorter", "less formal" or "mention that we open at 7am". Keep going until it sounds like you.

Instagram allows up to five hashtags on a post, and Postlefy keeps the first five if a draft has more. So ask Claude for a few that really fit, like your town and what you sell.

Step 4: Add your photo or video

Ask Claude for an upload link. Open it on your phone and add your own photos or a video. Postlefy then gives you view links, so you can see the attached photos before anything is posted.

You can also give Claude a public image link instead. If you want AI-made pictures, make them in the Postlefy app.

Step 5: Check the preview and say yes

Postlefy shows a preview with the exact text for each platform, any warnings and the estimated credits. Nothing goes out until you clearly say yes.

If the draft changes after you saw the preview, for example because a photo arrived, Postlefy refuses and sends a new preview to ask again. So the post that goes out is always the one you approved.

You can also schedule it instead of posting right away. Just say: "Schedule this for Friday at 9am."

Everyday things you can ask Claude

Once it's set up, you can do more than publish. These all work in plain words:

• "How many credits do I have left?"
• "Show my recent posts and whether they went out."
• "Cancel tomorrow's scheduled post."
• "Give me a link to add a photo from my phone."

A simple routine works well for a small business. Sit down once a week, ask Claude for three or four post ideas based on what's happening that week, take the photos while you work, and schedule them all in one go. You approve each one, and the rest of your week stays free.

What Claude can't do yet

It helps to know the limits before you start:

• It can't make the picture. Claude writes the words. You supply the photo or video, or you make an AI picture in the Postlefy app.
• TikTok and YouTube aren't available from chat. They're posted from the Postlefy app for now. From Claude, you can post to 11 platforms, including Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, X and Pinterest.
• It's still in Beta. Some things will change as we add features, and we'd like to hear what you want next.

There's more detail on the Postlefy connector page, including what to do if you want to disconnect. You can do that anytime in Postlefy (Account → Connected AI apps) or in your AI app's settings.

What it costs

The connector itself is free. You only pay for the posts you publish, and there's no monthly subscription.

A post with your own photo uses 1 credit, and it can go to every platform you choose at once. On the $10 pack that's about $0.03 a post, so posting once a day comes to about $1 a month. Posting to X costs a little more. Your first 50 credits are free. The pricing page has the full details.

If you'd rather not use Claude for captions, our free AI Instagram post generator writes a caption and designs a card for you, with no sign-up needed.

FAQ

Can Claude post to Instagram by itself?

No. Claude needs a connector to reach Instagram. Once you add one, Claude writes the post, and the connector shows you a preview and publishes it after you say yes.

Do I need a paid Claude plan?

No. Claude Free allows one custom connector, which is enough for this. Pro, Max, Team and Enterprise work too.

Will it post without asking me?

No. Postlefy only posts when your yes matches the exact preview you saw. If anything changed, it shows you the new preview first.

Can I schedule Instagram posts from Claude?

Yes. Tell Claude the day and time, check the preview, and say yes. You can also ask Claude to cancel a scheduled post later.

Ready to try it?

Add the connector, connect Instagram and try one small post today. It's the easiest way to see whether it suits how you work. You can start with 50 free credits, and no card is needed.