> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.hookmyapp.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Quickstart

> Use the HookMyApp test Instagram account and start sending and receiving DMs.

## What you will have

A ready-made chat app runs on your laptop.<br />
You can start sending and receiving Instagram DMs in two minutes.

## Install and authenticate

```bash theme={null}
npm install -g @gethookmyapp/cli
hookmyapp login
```

## Start sandbox session

```bash theme={null}
hookmyapp sandbox start instagram
```

The CLI opens a DM to the HookMyApp test Instagram account.
Send the prefilled message from your Instagram account.
That account is now connected to this sandbox session.

HookMyApp provides the test Instagram account, so you can start building before you connect your own.

## Clone and run starter kit

```bash theme={null}
git clone https://github.com/hookmyapp/webhook-starter-kit.git
cd webhook-starter-kit
npm install
hookmyapp sandbox env --write .env
npm start
```

You now have a ready-made chat app running locally.<br />
Change it, restart it, and keep testing with the HookMyApp test account.

## Listen for messages

```bash theme={null}
hookmyapp sandbox listen --path /webhook/instagram
```

This tells HookMyApp to send sandbox Instagram DMs to your computer while the command is running.<br />
`--path /webhook/instagram` is the route in your local chat app that receives the DMs.

## Send test message

```bash theme={null}
hookmyapp sandbox send --message "hello from my app"
```

This sends a test Instagram DM through the sandbox.<br />
You can also DM the sandbox Instagram account from your connected account.<br />
DMs appear in the starter kit chat. Reply from the chat input when you want to test sending.

## Connect Instagram account

```bash theme={null}
hookmyapp channels connect instagram
```

This opens Meta connect flow.<br />
Sign in, choose the Instagram account, and grant the messaging permissions.

### List channels

```bash theme={null}
hookmyapp channels list
```

This shows the Instagram accounts connected to your workspace.

See [Connect Instagram](/instagram/connect) for the full flow and what you get back.

### Pull account env values

```bash theme={null}
hookmyapp channels env ch_xxxxxxxx --write .env
```

This replaces the sandbox values in `.env` with values for your connected account.<br />
Your app gets a send URL, your Instagram account ID, and a channel token.<br />
Use it to send from your connected Instagram account.<br />
The receiver code does not change.

### Listen locally to account

```bash theme={null}
hookmyapp channels listen ch_xxxxxxxx --path /webhook/instagram
```

This tells HookMyApp to send DMs from your connected Instagram account to your computer while the command is running.<br />
`--path /webhook/instagram` is the route in your local chat app that receives the DMs.<br />
Stop the CLI with Ctrl-C when you are done.

Real DMs to your connected account now arrive on your laptop.<br />
You can reply from the starter kit chat with your connected account too.

### Set deployed webhook URL

```bash theme={null}
hookmyapp channels webhook set ch_xxxxxxxx \
  --url https://api.yourapp.com/webhook/instagram \
  --verify-token $(openssl rand -hex 32)
```

Run this when your receiver is deployed behind a stable public URL.

## Next steps

* [Connect Instagram](/instagram/connect): Connect your Instagram professional account.
* [Send text](/instagram/send-messages/text): Send your first Instagram DM.
* [Receive webhooks](/instagram/receive-webhooks): Verify the signature and acknowledge fast.
* [Build with AI](/instagram/build-with-ai): Let Cursor, Codex, or Claude Code do this for you.