# Live automations (/docs/live)



Match comments during a live window and send the private reply in Direct. Live rules are account-wide. They are not tied to one live session.

## Create a live rule [#create-a-live-rule]

Title: Live auto-reply. Lede: Set a name, optional active times, then the keyword and DM for live comments.

Default window: **now to now plus 2 hours**.

<Steps>
  <Step>
    Choose New automation, then Live comments.
  </Step>

  <Step>
    Read the banner: Go live on Instagram. We match keywords on live comments and send the DM. Optional active from and to limit when comments can get the DM.
  </Step>

  <Step>
    Set Name. Adjust Active from and Active to if the default 2-hour window is wrong.
  </Step>

  <Step>
    Add keywords, or turn on Send DM to all comments.
  </Step>

  <Step>
    Design the private reply and audience. Live rules send Direct only. No public reply, no media picker.
  </Step>

  <Step>
    Choose Create before you go live, or as the live starts.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## During the live [#during-the-live]

Matching live comments in the window trigger the DM within [Meta caps](/docs/meta-rules). After Active to, the automation shows as Ended.

Pause anytime from the automation page if you need to stop sends early. See [Pause and delete](/docs/pause-delete).

## Keyword overlap [#keyword-overlap]

Live keyword overlap is **account-wide** across all live comment automations, not scoped to one window. If two live rules share a keyword, create fails with Keyword "…" is already used by another automation on this post. The wording says this post even on live. Turn on Send DM to all comments to skip the overlap check (that switch means every comment, so keywords are not compared).

## Related [#related]

* [Create an automation](/docs/create-automation)
* [Keywords and triggers](/docs/keywords-and-triggers)
* [Events and why a DM did not send](/docs/events-and-skips)