Fresh 2026

Send a Generic Template

The generic template allows you to send a structured message that includes an image, text and buttons. A generic template with multiple options described in the elements array will send a horizontally scrollable carousel of items, each composed of an image, text and buttons.<br>## Before you start<br>This guide assumes you have set up your webhooks server to receive notifications and subscribed your app to Instagram messages and messaging_postbacks events.<br>You will need:<br>- The ID for the Instagram professional account, <IG_ID><br>- The elements for the template<br>- The payload to include in the webhook notification for each element<br>### Limitations<br>This feature is currently not available on desktop.<br>#### Host URL<br>https://graph.instagram.com

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Send a template

To send a template message send a POST request to the /<IG_ID>/messages endpoint with the following parameters:

• recipient.id set to the Instagram-scoped ID of the person you are sending the message

• message.attachmentobject with:

  • type set to template

  • payloadobject with:

    • template_type set to generic
    • elements set to an array of objects that the recipient can select such as links, buttons, and images

Sample request

curl -X POST -H "Content-Type: application/json" -d '{
  "recipient":{
    "id":"<IGSID>"
  },
  "message":{
    "attachment":{
      "type":"template",
      "payload":{
        "template_type":"generic",
        "elements":[\
           {\
            "title":"Welcome!",\
            "image_url":"https://raw.githubusercontent.com/fbsamples/original-coast-clothing/main/public/styles/male-work.jpg",\
            "subtitle":"We have the right hat for everyone.",\
            "default_action": {\
              "type": "web_url",\
              "url": "https://www.originalcoastclothing.com/",\
            },\
            "buttons":[\
              {\
                "type":"web_url",\
                "url":"https://www.originalcoastclothing.com/",\
                "title":"View Website"\
              },{\
                "type":"postback",\
                "title":"Start Chatting",\
                "payload":"DEVELOPER_DEFINED_PAYLOAD"\
              }\
            ]\
          }\
        ]
      }
    }
  }
}' "https://graph.instagram.com/v20.0/me/messages?access_token=INSTAGRAM_ACCESS_TOKEN"

On success your app receives a JSON response with the Instagram-scoped ID for the reciepient and the ID for the message.

Example Response

{
  "recipient_id": "1254477777772919",
  "message_id": "AG5Hz2Uq7tuwNEhXfYYKj8mJEM_QPpz5jdCK48PnKAjSdjfipqxqMvK8ma6AC8fplwlqLP_5cgXIbu7I3rBN0P"
}

Properties

Property	Type	Description
recipient.id	String	The Instagram-scoped ID (<IGSID>) for the person to whom you are sending the message
message.attachment	Object	An object describing attachments to the message.

message.attachment

Property	Type	Description
type	String	Value must be template
payload	Object	payload of the template.

message.attachment.payload

Property	Type	Description
template_type	String	Value must be generic
elements	Array	An array of element objects that describe instances of the generic template to be sent. Specifying multiple elements will send a horizontally scrollable carousel of templates. A maximum of 10 elements is supported.

message.attachment.payload.elements

The generic template supports a maximum of 10 elements per message. At least one property must be set in addition to title.

Property Name	Type	Description
title	String	The title to display in the template. 80 character limit.
subtitle	String	Optional. The subtitle to display in the template. 80 character limit.
image_url	String	Optional. The URL of the image to display in the template.
default_action	Object	Optional. The default action executed when the template is tapped. Accepts the same properties as URL button, except title.
buttons	Array	Optional. An array of buttons to append to the template. A maximum of 3 buttons per element is supported. Only postback and web_url buttons are supported.

Learn more

Visit the message.attachment.data for GIFs and Stickers.