Every contact in Inrō has a status that tells you whether you can message them and how. It updates automatically based on how they've interacted with your account. You can't set it by hand.
You'll see the status badge on any contact row in the Contacts table, and at the top of any conversation in the inbox. Each badge has a ? icon you can tap for a quick in-app explanation.
The short version: can I message this contact?
The status you'll care about most is whether a contact is reachable right now. Active means Instagram's messaging window is open and your messages will go through. Anything else means you're limited or blocked until they interact again.
This reachability is set by Instagram's rules, not by Inrō. Inrō reads where the contact stands and reflects it as the status.
The full status list
Pending: Inrō doesn't have enough information yet to decide this contact's status. It updates on their next interaction. New contacts start here.
Active: This contact can receive your messages. Their messaging window is open, so campaigns, automated DMs, and AI Agent replies all go through.
Inactive: Inrō can't message this contact right now. The window has closed, usually because they haven't interacted recently, they blocked you, or they never accepted your message request. They become Active again if they message you.
Commented: This contact commented on one of your posts or Reels. You have a 7-day window to send them a DM. If they reply, they move to Active.
Live commented: This contact commented during one of your Instagram Lives. Same idea as Commented, but the window is 24 hours instead of 7 days.
Requested: You've sent this contact a message but they haven't accepted the request yet. This happens when they don't follow you, so your DM lands in their message requests rather than their main inbox. Until they accept, you can't send more. (If they already follow you, your message goes straight to their inbox and they stay Active.)
Opt-out: This contact opted out of your messages. Inrō won't send them automated messages or campaigns. This status is sticky: automatic updates won't quietly reactivate them.
Deleted: This contact's Instagram account was deleted. Their profile stays in Inrō for your records, but they can't be contacted.
Spam: You added this contact to your spam list (by hand or in a batch action). They leave your main inbox and won't receive campaigns or automations. Like opt-out, this status is sticky.
How the messaging window works
Instagram, not Inrō, decides whether you can send a DM. When someone messages you, comments on your content, or replies to your story, a messaging window opens. While it's open, the contact is Active.
If the window closes with no new interaction, the contact goes Inactive. The only way to reopen it is for them to engage with your account again.
For contacts who only commented and never DMed, you get one outbound DM inside the window. If they reply, the full window opens and they become Active.
⚠️ Contact status is separate from handling status. Active or Inactive tells you whether Instagram lets Inrō message someone. Handling status (Human, Automation, Agent) tells you who is managing that conversation inside Inrō. The two move independently. See Handling Status: Human, Automation, Agent & More.
Opt-out and consent
The Opt-out status is your unsubscribe state. Once a contact is opted out, Inrō stops sending them automated messages and campaigns, and won't quietly reactivate them.
A contact can opt out in a few ways:
By you, from their status control ("Opt out contact from receiving messages"). Opting them back in recomputes their real status.
By a scenario, using the Opt-out contact action. See Contact Actions: Folders, Properties & Data Collection.
Automatically, if you turn on opt-out detection in settings: a keyword in a message, a persistent-menu unsubscribe button, or AI detection of an unsubscribe intent. You can also send an optional confirmation message when someone opts out.
This is how Inrō respects unsubscribe requests, so it's worth turning on opt-out detection if you run campaigns.
🐾 Netsuke's Tips
Filter to Status: Active before sending a campaign. Inactive contacts won't receive it, and including them skews your delivery numbers.
The Commented status is where comment-to-DM scenarios do their work. If you see contacts stuck here who should have been messaged, check your scenario's trigger.
Contacts in Requested are a warm audience: they've seen your message but haven't accepted. A nudge from your Instagram app directly (not through Inrō) can help them accept.
A large Inactive pool is a signal to plan a re-engagement push for the next time those contacts open a window.
What's next?
Now that you know what each status means, put it to work. See Segmentation & Filters: Build Smart Audiences to filter your contacts by status and build targeted audiences for your campaigns.