Step 1 of 3 in Level 3: Post it
How to schedule Instagram posts
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
To schedule Instagram posts from your computer with Blackbox (blackbox.plus), you need a post ready in Studio and an Instagram Business or Creator account connected to that brand. Open the post from the Library tab and go to step 3, Post. In the Organic card, tick your Instagram account, and your TikTok account too if you want both in one send; one caption goes to every account. Click Publish to post straight away, or click Schedule, choose a date and time, and click Schedule it. 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 the Calendar tab, by month or as an agenda. To change a scheduled post, click Unschedule, edit it and schedule it again. Facebook Pages are not a destination, and an Instagram account that can't be posted to just needs reconnecting.
Before you start
A post ready in Studio
Made from an idea or uploaded, with its slides drawn and a caption. See Make an Instagram carousel with AI.
Instagram connected
A Business or Creator account, connected to the brand the post files under. See Connect your Instagram account to Blackbox.
TikTok too, if you want it
The same post can go to TikTok in the same send. See How to schedule TikTok posts.
How to schedule Instagram posts in Blackbox
- 01
Open the post
In Studio, open the Library tab and click the post. Then open step 3, Post. The heading reads Where it goes; if anything is unfinished, a Still open box says what and takes you there.
- 02
Pick the accounts
In the Organic card, tick your Instagram account. Tick your TikTok account as well to send to both at once — the line under the accounts says how many it is going to. If the brand has only one account, it is already chosen.
- 03
Post it now
Click Publish. Blackbox asks Post this now? and lists where it is going; click Post it. It goes out straight away, and the page updates when it lands with a See the post link.
- 04
Or schedule it
Click Schedule, choose a Date and a Time, and click Schedule it. Pick a time at least 2 minutes from now and no more than 180 days ahead. Times are in your workspace’s time zone, set in Settings, and the post goes out on its own — you do not need to be online.
- 05
See it on the calendar
Open the Calendar tab in Studio. Month shows everything scheduled and posted by day; Agenda lists the next 30 days. Click any post to open it.
- 06
Change your mind
Open the post and click Unschedule. It goes back to Ready, so you can change the words or the slides, then schedule it again — the time you had is offered again.
Good to know
- One caption goes to every account you tick.
- 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 and schedule it again — the calendar does not drag.
- Blackbox cannot delete an Instagram post once it is live. Open it and delete it in the Instagram app.
Questions people ask
- If the Instagram account shows as read-only
- Reconnect it. Open Data, reconnect Instagram, and leave posting allowed when Facebook asks. Everything you have set up stays, and your reporting keeps working the whole time.
- Can I post to Instagram and TikTok at the same time?
- Yes. Tick both accounts and press Publish or Schedule once. Each account gets the same post and caption; TikTok also asks who can see it before you send.
- Does it post to my Facebook Page too?
- No. Studio posts to Instagram and TikTok only. Your Facebook Page is used to reach your Instagram account, not as a place to post.
- Which time zone does it use?
- The workspace’s, set in Settings under Time zone, and shown under the time picker. The post goes out at that time wherever you are.
- Can I schedule further ahead than six months?
- No. A scheduled time has to be at least 2 minutes from now and within 180 days. For anything sooner than 2 minutes, press Publish.
- Can I edit a post after scheduling it?
- Unschedule it first — a scheduled post is locked so what goes out is what you checked. Make your changes, then schedule it again.
Stuck at any step? Send us a message and we'll do it with you on a call. All of Level 3: Post it