> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.clianta.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Warmup Best Practices

> Tips and strategies for safely warming up new Instagram accounts

A proper warmup is the single most important factor in keeping your accounts safe. These best practices are based on patterns that consistently produce the best results.

## The golden rules

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Never skip warmup for new accounts" icon="shield-check">
    Even if you're eager to start sending, the 7-14 day warmup period is an investment that pays for itself. Accounts that skip warmup have a significantly higher ban rate.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Start with the Safe template" icon="turtle">
    The Safe template sends zero DMs for the first two days, just browsing. This is especially important for:

    * Brand new Instagram accounts
    * Accounts that were recently suspended
    * Accounts that haven't been active in months
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Use 14 days, not 7" icon="calendar">
    Unless the account has a strong existing history, choose the 14-day duration. The slower ramp gives Instagram more time to build trust in the account's activity patterns.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Don't manually override DM limits during warmup" icon="hand">
    The ramp-up system manages daily limits automatically. Overriding them defeats the purpose of gradual ramping and can trigger flags.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## Setting up for success

### Before warmup

1. **Set up proxy first** - Configure a [dedicated residential proxy](/connecting/proxy-setup) before logging in
2. **Complete Instagram setup** - Add a profile picture, bio, and a few posts. Empty accounts look suspicious.
3. **Add a phone number** - Accounts with verified phone numbers get fewer security challenges
4. **Enable 2FA** - Protects the account and allows automatic re-login

### During warmup

* **Let it run** - Don't pause and restart repeatedly. Consistent daily activity is the goal.
* **Be careful with manual DMs** - If you open the browser and send DMs manually, Instagram still counts those against your account's limits. Let Clianta control the volume during warmup.
* **Monitor for issues** - Check the Activity tab occasionally for any warnings or errors.
* **Rest days are normal** - The system automatically takes a rest day every 5-8 days. Don't worry if you see a day with no DMs.

### After warmup

* **Start with moderate volume** - Even at full capacity, 20-35 DMs per day is a good target
* **Scale gradually** - If you want to increase beyond 35, do it over several weeks
* **Keep warmup browsing active** - Leave the daily Account Warmup enabled even after ramp-up completes

## Template comparison

|                          | Safe                          | Balanced          | Fast                  |
| ------------------------ | ----------------------------- | ----------------- | --------------------- |
| **Best for**             | New accounts, post-suspension | Most users        | Accounts with history |
| **Days before first DM** | 2                             | 0                 | 0                     |
| **Day 1 DM volume**      | 0                             | \~5% of daily max | \~8% of daily max     |
| **Recommended duration** | 14 days                       | 14 days           | 7 days                |
| **Risk level**           | Lowest                        | Low               | Moderate              |

## Signs that warmup is working

* No "Action Blocked" or "Try Again Later" warnings
* DM limits increase daily as expected
* Account passes verification challenges without issues
* Consistent activity in the Activity log

## Signs to slow down

* Instagram shows "Action Blocked" or "Try Again Later"
* Account gets a verification challenge every session
* Multiple leads show as Failed

If you see these signs, pause the ramp-up for 24-48 hours, then resume. If the issue persists, switch to the Safe template and consider a longer duration.

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Warmup System" icon="fire" href="/features/warmup">
    How the warmup system works
  </Card>

  <Card title="Account Suspended" icon="ban" href="/troubleshooting/account-suspended">
    What to do if your account gets flagged
  </Card>
</CardGroup>