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If you don’t see your preferred webhook provider, you can request support for it.
This guide walks you through using ngrok to receive Instagram webhooks on your localhost app. By integrating ngrok with Instagram, you can:
  • Develop and test Instagram webhooks locally without deploying to a public environment or setting up HTTPS.
  • Inspect and troubleshoot requests from Instagram in real time via the inspection UI and API.
  • Modify and replay Instagram webhook requests with a single click instead of reproducing events manually in your Instagram account.
  • Secure your app with Instagram webhook validation provided by ngrok. Invalid requests are blocked by ngrok before reaching your app.

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What you’ll need

  • An ngrok account and your authtoken.
  • The ngrok agent installed.
  • Node.js installed (for the sample app, or use your own app).
  • A Facebook page and a Facebook app linked to that page; connect your Instagram account to the page.
This integration requires an ngrok Pay-as-you-go plan because Facebook validates your ngrok domain.

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1. Start your app

For this tutorial, you can use the sample Node.js app on GitHub. To install the sample, run the following in a terminal:
Then start the app:
The app runs on port 3000 by default. You can confirm it’s running by visiting http://localhost:3000. The app logs request headers and body in the terminal and shows a message in the browser.

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2. Expose your app with ngrok

Once your app is running locally, you’re ready to put it online securely using ngrok.
The ngrok agent uses your authtoken to authenticate when you start a tunnel.
  • In the dashboard, expand Gateway and click Domains.
If you don’t have an ngrok Pay-as-you-go plan, sign up by clicking Update Subscription and following the procedure.
  • On the Domains page, click + Create Domain or + New Domain.
  • In the Domain pane, enter a domain (for example, myexample.ngrok.app) and click Continue.
Make sure your domain is available.
  • Close the Start a Tunnel and Domain panes.
  • Start ngrok with your domain:
  • Copy the URL ngrok displays. Your app is now exposed at that URL for use with Instagram.

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3. Configure Instagram to send webhooks

Instagram sends webhook events through a Facebook app. First, connect your Instagram account to your Facebook page so Instagram activity is available to the app. Follow Meta’s documentation for setting up webhooks, add the Instagram object, and set the following:
  • Callback URL: your ngrok URL with /webhooks at the end (for example, https://myexample.ngrok.app/webhooks).
  • Verify token: a value of your choice that your app checks during verification (for this example, 12345).
  • Include values: Yes.
After you save, confirm your localhost app receives the validation request and logs WEBHOOK_VERIFIED in the terminal. Then subscribe to the comments field and set your app mode to live.
You can subscribe to more fields and objects using the same URL.

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Run webhooks with Instagram and ngrok

Instagram sends different request body contents depending on the object and field. With the comments field, comment on one of your posts to trigger a call. Confirm your localhost app receives the message and logs both headers and body in the terminal.

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Inspecting requests

ngrok’s Traffic Inspector captures all requests made through your ngrok endpoint to your localhost app. Select any request to view detailed information about both the request and response.
To avoid exposing secrets, accounts only collect traffic metadata by default. You must enable full capture in the Traffic Inspector section of your account settings to capture complete request and response data.
Use the traffic inspector to:
  • Validate webhook payloads and response data
  • Debug request headers, methods, and status codes
  • Troubleshoot integration issues without adding logging to your app

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Replaying requests

Test your webhook handling code without triggering new events from your service using the Traffic Inspector’s replay feature:
  1. Send a test webhook from your service to generate traffic in your Traffic Inspector.
  2. Select the request you want to replay in the traffic inspector.
  3. Choose your replay option:
    • Click Replay to send the exact same request again
    • Select Replay with modifications to edit the request before sending
  4. (Optional) Modify the request: Edit any part of the original request, such as changing field values in the request body.
  5. Send the request by clicking Replay.
Your local application will receive the replayed request and log the data to the terminal.

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Secure webhook requests

ngrok can verify that incoming requests are from your Instagram webhook so only that traffic reaches your app.
Webhook verification is limited to 500 validations per month on free accounts. If you need more, you can upgrade to Hobbyist or Pay-as-you-go. See TPU Pricing for details.
To add verification:
  • In Meta for Developers, go to My Apps, Settings, Basic.
  • Click Show next to App secret and copy the value.
  • Create a Traffic Policy file named instagram_policy.yml. Replace {your app secret} with the value you copied:
  • Restart ngrok with the policy file:
  • Trigger an Instagram event (for example, comment on a post) to send a request.
Your app should receive the request and log it in the terminal.