# How to schedule Instagram posts URL: https://blackbox.plus/guides/schedule-instagram-posts Level 3: Post it (https://blackbox.plus/guides/post-it) Updated: 2026-11-04 Time: about 3 minutes You'll end with: Your post scheduled on Instagram — say, Thursday 7pm — and on Plan’s calendar Do it in Blackbox: https://blackbox.plus/app/plan > Schedule Instagram posts from your computer, or post right away — to Instagram and TikTok at once — and see everything coming up on one calendar. ## Short answer Scheduling Instagram posts from a computer takes an Instagram Business or Creator account and a scheduler, such as Meta Business Suite or a tool like Blackbox, that posts at the time you set. In Blackbox (blackbox.plus), with that account connected to your brand, open a ready post from Plan and go to step 3, Post. In the Organic card, pick your Instagram account, and your TikTok account too if you want both in one send. Click Schedule — it often names a suggested time, like Schedule: Thu 19:00 — check the date and time, and click Schedule it. Or click Publish to post straight away. The time must be at least 2 minutes from now and no more than 180 days ahead, in your workspace's time zone, and the post goes out on its own. Everything scheduled and posted shows on Plan's calendar. To change a scheduled post, click Unschedule, edit it and schedule it again. Facebook Pages are not a destination. ## You'll need - **A post ready in Studio.** Made from an idea or uploaded, with its slides drawn and a caption. (Guide: https://blackbox.plus/guides/make-instagram-carousel-with-ai) - **Instagram connected.** A Business or Creator account, connected to the brand the post files under. (Guide: https://blackbox.plus/guides/connect-instagram) - **TikTok too, if you want it.** The same post can go to TikTok in the same send. (Guide: https://blackbox.plus/guides/connect-tiktok) ## How to schedule Instagram posts in Blackbox 1. **Open the post.** Click **Plan**, then the post on its day. With no day, it is in the brand’s **Library**. You'll see: The post, with its slides and the **Caption**, **Check** and **Post** steps. Starts at: https://blackbox.plus/app/plan ![Plan’s calendar for Daybreak Coffee Co.: a week of posts and suggestions, with a scheduled post ringed on its day](https://blackbox.plus/guides/shared/open-post.png) 2. **Go to Post.** Click step 3, **Post**. You'll see: **Where it goes**, with an **Organic** card and a **Paid** card. 3. **Pick your accounts.** In **Organic**, click your Instagram account — and your TikTok account too, to send to both at once. You'll see: A line under the accounts saying how many it is going to. ![Where it goes, Organic: the Instagram and TikTok accounts ringed as picked, a second Instagram account left out, and Going to 2 accounts, in one send](https://blackbox.plus/guides/schedule-instagram-posts/03-accounts.png) 4. **Schedule it.** Click **Schedule** — it may already name a good time, like **Schedule: Thu 19:00**. Check the **Date** and **Time**, then click **Schedule it**. You'll see: **Going out** with the day and time, and an **Unschedule** button. ![Schedule: Thu 19:00 ringed, the line saying Thursdays around 7pm are when this account’s posts usually do best, and the Date and Time fields with Schedule it](https://blackbox.plus/guides/schedule-instagram-posts/04-schedule.png) 5. **Or post it now.** Click **Publish**, then **Post it** to confirm. You'll see: **Posting it now**, then **Live** with a **See the post** link. 6. **See it on the calendar.** Find its day in **Plan**. You'll see: Your post on its day under **Month**, or listed under **Agenda**. Starts at: https://blackbox.plus/app/plan ![Plan’s calendar for Daybreak Coffee Co.: the month with the scheduled pumpkin spice post on Thursday at 7:00 PM, ringed](https://blackbox.plus/guides/schedule-instagram-posts/06-calendar.png) 7. **Change a scheduled post.** Open the post and click **Unschedule**, make your change, and schedule it again. You'll see: The post back to **Ready**, with the time you had offered again. ![A scheduled post’s Organic card saying when it goes out, with the Unschedule button ringed](https://blackbox.plus/guides/schedule-instagram-posts/07-unschedule.png) ## Good to know - In Plan, Planned for at the top of a post sets its day and time, and Schedule then offers exactly that instead of the suggested best time. - A scheduled time must be at least 2 minutes from now and no more than 180 days ahead. For anything sooner, press Publish. - Times are in your workspace’s time zone, set in Settings, and the post goes out on its own — you don’t need to be online. - The suggested time is when your accounts’ posts usually do best. Without enough history, Schedule opens on tomorrow at 09:00. - With Instagram and TikTok both picked, the caption gets an Instagram tab and a TikTok tab, so each can have its own words. - With Meta Ads connected, Do both: post now, then boost it posts the post and opens the boost review once it is live. Nothing spends until you start it. - Studio posts to Instagram and TikTok. Facebook Pages are not a place it posts to. - Carousels go out with 2 to 10 slides; a video goes to Instagram as a Reel. To move a scheduled post, unschedule it and schedule it again — the calendar does not drag. - Blackbox cannot delete an Instagram post once it is live. Delete it in the Instagram app. - If a post shows Failed or Needs checking, see [If a post didn't go out: failed, needs checking, send again](https://blackbox.plus/guides/post-did-not-go-out). - To plan the weeks ahead around your markets’ holidays, with your CMO’s suggestions on their days, see [How to plan a social media content calendar](https://blackbox.plus/guides/plan-a-content-calendar). ## Official docs - [Instagram: who can publish through apps](https://developers.facebook.com/documentation/instagram-platform/overview) - [Instagram: content publishing limits](https://developers.facebook.com/documentation/instagram-platform/content-publishing) ## Questions people ask **The Instagram account shows as read-only** Reconnect it: on the Data page, reconnect Instagram and leave posting allowed when Facebook asks. Everything you have set up stays, and your reporting keeps working the whole time. **I want the same post on Instagram and TikTok** Pick both accounts and press Publish or Schedule once. TikTok also asks who can see it before you send — see [How to schedule TikTok posts](https://blackbox.plus/guides/schedule-tiktok-posts). **My Facebook Page isn’t offered as a place to post** Studio posts to Instagram and TikTok only. Your Facebook Page is used to reach your Instagram account, not as a place to post. **The post went out at the wrong hour** Times follow the workspace’s time zone, shown under the time picker. Change it in Settings under Time zone, then schedule the next one again. **It won’t let me pick a date more than six months away** A scheduled time has to be within 180 days, and at least 2 minutes from now. Schedule it closer, or come back nearer the time. **I can’t edit a post I scheduled** A scheduled post is locked so what goes out is what you checked. Click Unschedule, make your changes, then schedule it again.