ig.me Links

Updated: Jun 30, 2026

ig.me is a shortened URL service operated by Meta that redirects users to a conversation in Instagram. You can use them on your website, email newsletters and more.

The format of the URL is https://ig.me/<USERNAME> where <USERNAME> is the Instagram handle of the Instagram professional account.

When a person clicks an ig.me URL to start or continue a conversation with an Instagram professional account, the person is redirected to a new or existing thread, based on whether the person had previously messaged the Instagram professional account. A messages webhook event is triggered and your webhook server receives a notification. If you add the referral parameter to your URL, the messaging_postback webhook event is triggered and the value of the parameter is sent in the notification. You can include the referral parameter in your ig.me link to:

• Track different links in different channels
• Tie an Instagram professional user to a session or account in an external app
• Direct the user to specific content or features available within an Instagram professional account

To get the most out of your ig.me URLs, you should implement Icebreakers in your Instagram experience for new conversations and set each icebreaker to its own referral parameter.

Additional scenarios

Other common scenarios for using an ig.me link include the following:

• An ig.me link with a QR code on product packaging to allow people to reach out to you for support or get a coupon towards the next purchase.
• An ig.me link with a QR code on out of home advertising such as billboards, TV ads, physical stores, etc., to sign up for loyalty or membership accounts.
• An ig.me link on the Contact Us page on a website to allow people to contact you via messaging instead of relying on calling.
• Provide people an option to message you on Instagram by sending an ig.me link via SMS.

Limitations

ig.me links are currently not supported on Instagram Web.

User Experience

When a person follows an ig.me link, the following content is automatically displayed.

New conversation

You opened this conversation from a link. <INSTAGRAM_PROFESSIONAL_ACCOUNT_USERNAME> will see that you used their link once you send a message.

Existing conversation

You opened this conversation from a link. <INSTAGRAM_PROFESSIONAL_ACCOUNT_USERNAME> can see that you used their link. If you wish to stop receiving messages from them, you can turn off messages.

Referral Parameters

You can include the ref parameter in your ig.me link to:

• Track different links in different channels
• Tie an Instagram professional user to a session or account in an external app
• Direct the user to specific content or features available within an Instagram professional account

URL format

• A referral parameter must be a string of up to 2,083 characters in length and only alphanumeric characters, and hyphens (-), underscores (_), or equal signs (=) are supported.

https://ig.me/<USERNAME>?ref=<REFERRAL_PARAMETER_CONTENT>

Webhook notifications

Your webhook server will either receive a postback or message object with a referral object with . The referral object will include the following:

• ref set to the <REFERRAL_PARAMETER_CONTENT> content in the ig.me
• source set to SHORTLINKS
• type set to OPEN_THREAD

Examples

When an ig.me link with a ref parameter opens the Instagram app, one of the possible use cases can be triggered.

New conversation with an Icebreaker

If you have configured Icebreakers for your Instagram Account and the user taps on an Icebreaker, your app receives the a notification with a postback object with the following:

• mid set to the message ID
• title set to the icebreaker question or prompt the person selected
• payload set to the information you set to be included when a person selects that particular icebreaker option
• ref object

{
  "object": "instagram",
  "entry": [
    {
      "id": "<IG_ID>",
      "time": 1502905976963,
      "messaging": [
        {
          "sender": {
            "id": "<IGSID>"
          },
          "recipient": {
            "id": "<IG_ID>"
          },
          "timestamp": 1502905976377,
          "postback": {
            "mid":"<MESSAGE_ID>",
            "title": "<SELECTED_ICEBREAKER_OPTION>",
            "payload": "<ICEBREAKER_OPTION_SELECTED_INFORMATION>,
            "referral": {
                   "ref": "<REFERRAL_PARAMETER_CONTENT>"
                   "source": "SHORTLINKS"
                   "type":  "OPEN_THREAD"
             }
          }
        }
      ]
    }
  ]
}

New Thread with a message

If a person sends a message instead of selecting an icebreaker, your app receives a notification with a message object with the following:

• mid set to the message ID
• title set to the icebreaker question or prompt the person selected
• payload set to the information you set to be included when a person selects that particular icebreaker option
• ref object

...
          "message": {
              "mid":"<MESSAGE_ID>",
              "referral": {
                   "ref": "<REFERRAL_PARAMETER_CONTENT>"
                   "source": "SHORTLINKS"
                   "type":  "OPEN_THREAD"
              }
           }
...

Existing conversation

If a conversation already exists between the person and the Instagram professional account, and the person clicks the ig.me link, the existing conversation is opened and your app receives a notifications with only the referral object. Your app has 24 hours to send a reply.

This action resets the 24-hour window for standard messaging, allowing the app to reply after getting the webhook event with the ref parameter.

The messaging_referral webhook event follows this format:

...
          "referral": {
                 "ref": "<REFERRAL_PARAMETER_CONTENT>"
                 "source": "SHORTLINKS"
                 "type":  "OPEN_THREAD"
          }
...