Replying to a Comment or Message
Updated
Open a conversation in Social Inbox to reply through its connected account. You need Manager or Editor access to send replies.
- Select the conversation and check the account and recipient.
- For a comment reply, choose Reply on the comment you want to answer.
- Write your response in the box below the conversation.
- Check the length counter, then select Send reply.
- Confirm the reply appears in the thread. If sending fails, read the error before trying again.
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10:24 am
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Reply Length Limits
The counter shows the limit Maeve applies to the current reply.
| Network | Comment Reply | Direct Message |
|---|---|---|
| 2,200 characters | 1,000 bytes | |
| 8,000 characters | 2,000 characters | |
| Threads | 500 bytes | Not supported |
| TikTok | 1,200 characters | Not supported |
| YouTube | 10,000 characters | Not supported |
| Google Business Profile | 4,096 bytes for a review reply | Not supported |
Supported mention replies use the platform's comment limit.
If the counter turns red, shorten the reply until the send button is available.
Answering One Person in a Busy Thread
Select Reply on a comment and check the Replying to banner before sending. Your reply is attached to that comment where the platform supports it.
On platforms that allow a top-level comment, sending without a target adds a comment to the original post. Direct messages already have a recipient and do not use a comment target.
Saved Replies
Open the saved replies picker in the reply box. Search by name or tag, then select a reply to insert it at the cursor. Existing text remains in the box. Review the combined text before sending.
You can create a saved reply from the same dialog. Saved replies are shared with your workspace.
Attaching an Image or Video
In a supported Instagram or Facebook DM, select the paperclip, choose an image or video, and wait for it to upload. Check the preview, then send. Attachments can be up to 25MB. Maeve's comment and review replies are text only.
Threads: Who Can Reply to Your Reply
Before sending a Threads reply, use Who can reply to your reply to choose an audience. Options include anyone, profiles you follow, mentioned profiles, followers, and the parent post's author.
This setting applies to your new reply.
The Five-Second Undo
Turn on the five-second send delay below the reply box before sending. After you select send, choose Undo during the countdown to cancel delivery and return to your draft.
The setting is remembered in your browser. Once the countdown ends and the reply is sent, this control cannot recall it.
Hiding, Deleting, and Liking
Open a comment's actions to see which controls are available for that account.
| Action | Result |
|---|---|
| Hide or Unhide | Changes the comment's visibility on the platform |
| Delete | Removes the comment where Maeve supports deletion |
| Like | Likes the comment from the connected account |
Availability depends on the platform and connection permissions. Maeve does not offer comment deletion for Instagram, Threads, or YouTube.
Hide from inbox on a direct message removes it from your inbox view. It does not remove the message from the other person's conversation.
When You Cannot Reply
Check the message above the reply box. A missing reply target, an overlong reply, an unavailable permission, or an expired DM window can prevent sending.
Instagram and Facebook DMs normally use a 24-hour reply window from the person's latest message. Where extended human-agent access is enabled, manual replies can remain available for up to seven days. Follow the availability shown on the conversation. Automatic replies do not use that extension.
An expired conversation remains readable. A new message from the person opens a new reply window.
If the connection needs attention, open Settings > Social channels and reconnect the account. Approve the required permissions, then check the reply controls again. Reconnecting does not reopen an expired messaging window.
Google Review Replies Overwrite
A Google review has one public business reply. Sending another replaces the previous text. Check the existing reply before submitting an update.
Google review replies do not support attachments or threaded responses.
Questions
How long can a reply be?
Check the counter below the reply box. The limit depends on the platform and conversation type; the table above lists Maeve's limits.
Why does the counter say bytes?
Maeve measures Instagram DMs, Threads replies, and Google review replies in UTF-8 bytes. Accented letters and emoji can use more than one byte.
How do I reply to one comment instead of the post?
Select Reply on the comment and check the Replying to banner before sending.
Why will TikTok not let me send?
Select a visible comment as the reply target. If sending is still unavailable, check the connection warning and reply length.
Can I attach a file to a reply?
You can attach an image or video up to 25MB to supported Instagram and Facebook DMs. Comment and review replies are text only. Send Instagram text and media separately.
Can I take a reply back?
Enable the five-second delay before sending, then select Undo during the countdown. This cannot recall a reply after it has been sent.
Why does it say the reply window has expired?
The allowed time since the person's last message has passed. Standard DMs use 24 hours; eligible manual replies can have an extended window. Wait for a new message from the person to reopen it.
What happens if I reply to a Google review twice?
The second reply replaces your previous business reply. It does not start a threaded conversation.