How to post to Instagram from Claude Desktop

1. 1

   Create an API key and add planpo.st to Claude Desktop

   Make a scoped key in planpo.st under Settings. Open Settings, then Connectors, then Add custom connector, and enter the planpo.st URL with an Authorization header. Or add the local npx entry to claude_desktop_config.json and restart the app, since it reads that file only on launch.

2. 2

   Confirm the server is connected

   Start a new chat and check that the planpost tools appear in the tools menu.

3. 3

   Connect Instagram

   Connect a professional Instagram account in the dashboard under Connections, either through its linked Facebook Page or with Instagram login. When it asks for permissions, leave publishing ticked or posts will fail later.

4. 4

   Know what the post needs

   An Instagram post needs at least one image or video. Captions run to 2,200 characters. Nothing in platformSettings is required; postType picks between a feed post, a Reel and a Story.

5. 5

   Ask in a chat window

   Say what to post and when. Claude Desktop finds the Instagram connection, creates the post, and tells you whether it was scheduled or kept as a draft, with the reason.

Settings -> Connectors -> Add custom connector

Name:  PlanPost
URL:   https://mcp.planpo.st/mcp

Then add the header:
Authorization: Bearer pk_live_xxx

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "planpost": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "planpost-mcp"],
      "env": { "PLANPOST_API_KEY": "pk_live_xxx" }
    }
  }
}

Instagram needs an image or video on every post, and that is the one awkward part of this pairing. Claude Desktop reaches planpo.st through the connector and has no shell to PUT a file from your disk to an upload URL. Two routes work: upload the file in the planpo.st dashboard and let Claude Desktop pick it with list_media, or ask for a carousel rendered from text with render_carousel.