How to Schedule Instagram Timeline Posts via API
Publish feed posts to Instagram using the PostFast API. Schedule images, carousels, and videos that appear on your profile grid.
Instagram Timeline posts are permanent feed content that appears on your profile grid and in followers' feeds. Using the PostFast API, you can schedule Timeline posts by setting instagramPublishType to "TIMELINE" (or omitting it since TIMELINE is the default).
Timeline posts support images and videos, alone or mixed in a carousel. A single video publishes as a Reel, and for a Reel the instagramPostToGrid option controls whether it also appears in your feed and on your profile grid. You can also invite collaborators to co-author the post.
Key capabilities when scheduling Instagram Timeline posts via API include single images, carousels of images and videos, video posts (published as Reels), grid visibility for Reels, and collaborator invitations.
API Parameters
| Parameter | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|
instagramPublishType | string | Type of Instagram post to create TIMELINESTORYREEL |
instagramPostToGrid | boolean | Post to profile grid (for Reels) |
instagramCollaborators | string[] | Array of Instagram usernames for collaboration |
Code Example
const response = await fetch('https://api.postfa.st/social-posts', {
method: 'POST',
headers: {
'pf-api-key': 'YOUR_API_KEY',
'Content-Type': 'application/json'
},
body: JSON.stringify({
"posts": [
{
"content": "Beautiful moments captured! #instagram #photography",
"mediaItems": [
{
"key": "image/f5a6b7c8-d9e0-1234-5678-90abcdef1234.jpg",
"type": "IMAGE",
"sortOrder": 0
}
],
"scheduledAt": "2025-01-31T10:00:00.000Z",
"socialMediaId": "770fa600-04bd-43f6-c938-667877660003"
}
],
"controls": {
"instagramPublishType": "TIMELINE",
"instagramPostToGrid": true
}
})
});
const data = await response.json();
Did You Know?
Tips
instagramPublishType: "TIMELINE" is the default, so you can omit it when posting feed content
Use sortOrder to control the order of images in carousel posts
instagramPostToGrid only affects a single video, which publishes as a Reel: set it to false to show the Reel only in the Reels tab
Portrait (4:5) images take up more screen space in the feed and often get better engagement
Schedule Timeline posts, Reels, and Stories from one API
Common Pitfalls
Instagram crops every carousel item to the aspect ratio of the first one. Use the same ratio for all of them.
A single video always publishes as a Reel, even with instagramPublishType: "TIMELINE", because Instagram retired feed-only video.
More than 10 items in a carousel (images and videos together) will cause an error. Split into multiple posts if needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between TIMELINE and REEL for videos?
For a single video there is none. Instagram retired feed-only video, so it publishes as a Reel either way. Use TIMELINE for images and carousels (which can include videos) and REEL when you post one video.
Can I hide a post from my profile grid?
Only for a Reel. Image and carousel posts always appear in the feed and on your grid. A single video publishes as a Reel, and instagramPostToGrid: false shows it only in the Reels tab.
How do carousels work?
Include 2 to 10 IMAGE or VIDEO items in your mediaItems array with sequential sortOrder values (0, 1, 2, etc.). Images and videos can be mixed. Instagram displays them as a swipeable carousel.