If in recent years you Googled whether you can like Instagram comments via the API, you got the same answer everywhere: "You can't." Stack Overflow, GitHub issues, Reddit threads, unanimous. The like_count field was read-only, there was no endpoint to write. Since April 22, 2026 that is no longer true. Meta enabled the "Like Media and Comments API". And replient.ai is among the first tools worldwide to use it in production.
TL;DR: Meta published a new API endpoint on April 22, 2026, through which Instagram comments and posts can be liked and unliked, officially, without bot risk. Supported are feed posts, Reels, comments, and replies. Stories and private accounts are excluded. replient.ai rolled out the feature on April 29, 2026, including 1-click like in the Inbox, auto-like in automations, and AI suggestions that detect when a like is the better reaction than a reply.
What Meta changed on April 22, 2026
Meta announced four new API extensions in the Instagram Platform changelog. One of them: the ability to like and unlike Instagram posts and comments via the official Graph API. Specifically:
- Liking feed posts, Reels, comments, and replies
- Unliking (undoing) the same content
- New permission
instagram_manage_engagementfor third-party apps
What is not supported: Stories and content from private accounts.
That sounds like a small update. But it is not. Because until that date, liking comments via the official API was simply impossible, a limitation that frustrated developers and social media tools for years.
Why liking Instagram comments was impossible until now
The Instagram Graph API offered exactly three operations for comments: read, hide, and delete. A like endpoint? It did not exist. The like_count field was purely informational, you could see how many likes a comment had, but not set one yourself.
This affected every social media tool on the market. Moderation tools could automatically hide, reply to, or tag comments, but not like them. If a brand wanted to react to a positive fan comment with a heart, they had to switch to the native Instagram app.
The only alternative: unofficial private APIs that simulate Instagram's mobile app. Tools like instagrapi (Python) offered comment_like() functions, but with the risk that Instagram would block the account. Automated engagement actions via unofficial interfaces violate Instagram's terms of use. Anyone who used that in production risked their brand's account.
4 Use Cases: What you can do with Instagram comment likes
Liking comments sounds trivial. But for brands with hundreds or thousands of comments per day, it is a real engagement signal:
1. Acknowledge positive comments with a heart
A fan writes "Best product ever 🔥" under your Reel. A like from your brand says, "We see you, thanks." Faster than any text reply, and an interaction signal for the algorithm.
2. Loyalty signal to repeat customers
Returning commenters see that you acknowledge their comments. That strengthens community bonds, without you having to write an individual reply every time. For SNOCKS with over 300 comments per day, this makes the difference between "we moderate" and "we interact".
3. Auto-like as an automation action
In combination with sentiment analysis: comment is positive, contains no purchase intent, no question: automatic like instead of a text reply. Fastest response, zero manual effort, still an engagement signal for the Instagram algorithm.
4. AI decides: reply or like?
Not every comment needs a text reply. "😍😍😍" or "Love it!", a like is enough. An AI that has learned from your brand voice can make this distinction and automatically suggest the right reaction: text reply, like, or hide.
How it works in replient.ai
Since April 29, 2026, liking Instagram comments is live in replient.ai. Three ways you can use the feature:
1-click like in the inbox
In the comment overview you see a heart icon next to each comment. One click, the comment is liked. Another click, unliked. Works the same in board view as in thread view. No tab switching to the native Instagram app.
Auto-like as an automation action
In the automation builder you can set "Like comment" as an action, just like "Hide", "Reply" or "Send DM". Combined with triggers like "Sentiment = positive" or "Contains emoji, no question", this runs fully automatically. For brands that automate comment moderation, this is a new building block.
AI suggestion: "Like" instead of a text reply
The AI in replient.ai detects comments where a like is the more appropriate reaction than a text reply. Instead of generating three reply suggestions, it shows a single heart icon as a suggestion. You confirm with one click, or switch to a text reply if you prefer.
This is not a bot. The AI makes this decision based on your past response patterns, your brand voice, and the context of the comment. The difference between AI comment replies and bots is especially relevant here: bots like blindly based on keyword lists. AI understands context.
Requirement: Instagram Business Account via Facebook login
For liking to work via third-party tools, your Instagram Business or Creator account must be connected through Facebook Business login, that is, through your Facebook Page. This is the standard route that most brands already use.
If you connected your Instagram account as a standalone login (without a Facebook Page), liking via the API is currently not possible. In replient.ai you will see a notice in that case indicating which connection method is required.
In short: Facebook Page linked with Instagram Business Account → likes work. Standalone IG login → likes not available.
What (still) does not work
The new API has clear limits:
| Supported | Not supported |
|---|---|
| Like feed posts | ❌ Like stories |
| Like reels | ❌ Private accounts |
| Like comments | ❌ Standalone IG login |
| Like replies to comments | |
| Undo likes (Unlike) |
Meta's standard rate limits apply: 200 API calls per user per hour. For most brands not a bottleneck, but for accounts with 5,000+ comments per day it's a factor for the automation strategy.
Which tools support the new API?
As of April 29, 2026, the major social media management platforms have not yet publicly announced the new Instagram Like API. None of the well-known all-in-one tools has so far said that Instagram comment likes are possible through their dashboard.
replient.ai is therefore among the first tools worldwide to offer this feature in production. The window of opportunity is limited, more providers will follow in the coming weeks.
For brands this means: those who use the feature now have an edge in engagement. Not because likes alone drive ROAS, but because they show there is a team behind the account that notices every comment.
Strategic take: why likes are underestimated
A like on a comment is the fastest form of reaction. Faster than a text reply, faster than a DM. It is also a signal to the Instagram algorithm: this interaction is relevant.
For brands with high comment volume, as is the case for scaled ad accounts from 300+ comments per day, this closes a gap. Until now the decision was binary: respond or ignore. Now there is a middle ground: liking. Fast, scalable, positive, and via the official API without risk to the account.
If you approach comment management strategically, you'll find the basics in the Social Media Comment Management Guide, from platform differences to AI training to the automation strategy for Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn, YouTube and Google Reviews.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I now like Instagram comments via third-party tools?
Yes. Since April 22, 2026 the official Meta Instagram Graph API provides an endpoint for liking and unliking comments, replies, feed posts and reels. A prerequisite is an Instagram Business or Creator account that is connected via Facebook Business Login.
Can others see which comments I like as a brand?
Yes, like when you like manually in the Instagram app. The like is publicly visible. That is exactly what makes it valuable as an engagement signal: your community sees that you notice comments.
How do likes on comments affect the algorithm?
Jede Interaktion ist ein Signal. Ein Like von der Brand auf einen User-Kommentar erhöht die Gesamt-Interaktionsrate des Posts. Instagram gewichtet Beiträge mit mehr Engagement höher im Feed und in Explore. Der direkte ROAS-Impact ist schwer zu messen, aber als Teil einer Gesamtstrategie mit AI responses and automation the signals add up.
Does liking also work on Facebook, TikTok, or LinkedIn?
Liking comments via APIs has been possible on Facebook for some time. TikTok and LinkedIn also offer engagement options through their APIs. In replient.ai liking works across Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and LinkedIn. For YouTube, Google Reviews, the App Store and Play Store the feature is not available, as there are no comparable API endpoints.
Can I undo likes?
Yes. The API supports unliking, meaning removing a like. In replient.ai it is a toggle: click the heart icon to like, click it again to unlike.
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