A ManyChat migration means rebuilding flows and re-earning Instagram contacts. This guide covers what you can export, what you cannot, a step-by-step plan, consent and window rules and common mistakes.
Quick answer: in a ManyChat migration, flows cannot be exported to another tool and Instagram contacts cannot be moved, so you rebuild flows by hand and ask people to message you again. Export what you can, test the new tool, disconnect the old one and connect the new one through official login.
Key Takeaways
- No flow import or export between ManyChat and other tools.
- Instagram contacts must opt in again.
- Export contact data before cancelling.
- Avoid two tools on the same triggers.
- Test before you disconnect.
ManyChat Migration: What Really Moves and What Does Not
A ManyChat migration is less like moving house and more like rebuilding it. Based on ManyChat’s community answers and competitor guides, you should expect to rebuild flows by hand and to re-earn Instagram contacts, because the people live on Instagram, not inside the tool. Read this before you cancel anything. For the tool itself see our ManyChat review and ManyChat alternatives.
Figure 1. A safe migration order.
What You Can and Cannot Move
| Item | Can it move? | Notes (mostly vendor and community sources) |
|---|---|---|
| Flows | No import or export | A ManyChat moderator said JSON import or export is not available; flows can be copied only between ManyChat accounts using templates, duplication or account clone |
| Instagram and Facebook contacts | No | A ManyChat moderator said they must opt in to a new account; Inrō’s guide says the exported CSV cannot be imported to message people because of the Instagram API |
| Contact export | Partly | ManyChat help pages describe exports that give IDs; full data such as email and custom fields usually needs a flow that writes to Google Sheets, per community answers |
| WhatsApp numbers | Yes, per community | Phone numbers can be exported and uploaded elsewhere, subject to opt-in rules |
| Analytics | No | Competitor guides say history does not transfer |
We could not read all of ManyChat’s official export pages, so confirm details in your account before you rely on them.
ManyChat Migration Plan
- Audit your flows. List live automations, triggers, keywords, tags and integrations.
- Export what you can. Contact IDs, and email or custom fields via a Google Sheets step if you need them.
- Pick the new tool and rebuild the top flows first. Competitor guides recommend recreating by hand.
- Test on a spare account or with a teammate.
- Avoid running two tools on one account without a plan. Meta’s Conversation Routing allows more than one app, but only one handles a conversation at a time, and vendors warn about trigger conflicts.
- Disconnect the old tool. One vendor guide says to remove it under Instagram Settings → Apps and Websites and then wait about 5 to 30 minutes.
- Connect the new tool through official login.
- Watch the first days for missed triggers.
Community threads report Instagram accounts staying “linked” to an old workspace until staff released them, so allow extra time.
Consent and the 24-Hour Window
On Instagram, a business can message a person only after they message you, and the 24-hour window restarts with each new message from the user. Nothing in Meta’s documentation we read says consent or windows carry over between tools, so assume they do not. Ask existing contacts to message you again, for example through a story or an ig.me link. WhatsApp is different: you need opt-in before you start a conversation.
Why People Switch
- Price: contact-based pricing grows with activity; see DM automation pricing compared.
- Features: better AI, CRM or inbox.
- Channels.
- Support or reliability.
Candidates include LinkDM vs ManyChat and the options in Instagram DM automation tools. DMpro is built by the same team as this site.
Mistakes to Avoid
- Cancelling before the new setup is tested.
- Assuming contacts transfer.
- Running two tools on the same triggers.
- Forgetting integrations and webhooks.
- Not telling your team.
Sources
- Meta for Developers: Instagram Messaging API
- Meta for Developers: Conversation Routing
- ManyChat Community: flow import and export
- Inrō: migration guide (vendor)
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I export my ManyChat flows?
ManyChat community answers say there is no JSON import or export. Flows can be copied between ManyChat accounts only.
Can I move my Instagram contacts?
A ManyChat moderator said Instagram and Facebook contacts must opt in to a new account, and competitor guides say you cannot message them from an export.
How do I export ManyChat contact data?
Official pages describe exports of IDs. Community answers suggest a flow with a Google Sheets step for emails and custom fields. Check your account.
Can I run ManyChat and another tool together?
Meta allows multiple apps through Conversation Routing, but vendors warn about trigger conflicts.
How long does disconnecting take?
One vendor guide says about 5 to 30 minutes for Meta to release the connection, and community threads report longer waits in some cases.
Want to Send Auto DMs?
The DMpro Auto-DM Chrome extension, built by the same team as this site, writes personalized first DMs for Instagram and TikTok profiles and sends them from your own browser. It has a free plan with 10 AI-written DMs. Browser-based sending carries some account risk, so start small and compare it with other tools before you choose.
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