Instantly Common Errors

Overview

Diagnostic reference for Instantly API v2 errors. Covers HTTP status codes, campaign state errors, account health issues, lead operation failures, and webhook delivery problems.

Prerequisites

• Completed instantly-install-auth setup
• Access to Instantly dashboard for verification
• API key with appropriate scopes

HTTP Status Codes

Campaign Errors

Campaign Won't Activate (Stuck in Draft)

// Diagnosis: check campaign requirements
async function diagnoseCampaign(campaignId: string) {
  const campaign = await instantly<Campaign>(`/campaigns/${campaignId}`);

  const issues: string[] = [];

  // Check sequences
  if (!campaign.sequences?.length || !campaign.sequences[0]?.steps?.length) {
    issues.push("No email sequences — add at least one step with subject + body");
  }

  // Check schedule
  if (!campaign.campaign_schedule?.schedules?.length) {
    issues.push("No sending schedule — add schedule with timing and days");
  }

  // Check sending accounts
  const mappings = await instantly(`/account-campaign-mappings/${campaignId}`);
  if (!Array.isArray(mappings) || mappings.length === 0) {
    issues.push("No sending accounts assigned — add via PATCH /campaigns/{id} with email_list");
  }

  // Check for leads
  const leads = await instantly<Lead[]>("/leads/list", {
    method: "POST",
    body: JSON.stringify({ campaign: campaignId, limit: 1 }),
  });
  if (leads.length === 0) {
    issues.push("No leads — add leads via POST /leads");
  }

  if (issues.length === 0) {
    console.log("Campaign looks ready to activate");
  } else {
    console.log("Issues preventing activation:");
    issues.forEach((i) => console.log(`  - ${i}`));
  }
}

Campaign Status Codes

Fix: Accounts Unhealthy (-1)

async function fixUnhealthyAccounts(campaignId: string) {
  // 1. Get accounts assigned to campaign
  const accounts = await instantly<Account[]>("/accounts?limit=100");

  // 2. Test vitals for each
  const vitals = await instantly("/accounts/test/vitals", {
    method: "POST",
    body: JSON.stringify({ accounts: accounts.map((a) => a.email) }),
  });

  // 3. Identify and fix broken accounts
  for (const v of vitals as any[]) {
    if (v.smtp_status !== "ok" || v.imap_status !== "ok") {
      console.log(`BROKEN: ${v.email} — SMTP=${v.smtp_status}, IMAP=${v.imap_status}`);
      // Pause the broken account
      await instantly(`/accounts/${encodeURIComponent(v.email)}/pause`, { method: "POST" });
      console.log(`  Paused ${v.email}. Fix credentials, then resume.`);
    }
  }
}

Lead Errors

Duplicate Lead (422)

// Prevent duplicates by setting skip flags
await instantly("/leads", {
  method: "POST",
  body: JSON.stringify({
    campaign: campaignId,
    email: "user@example.com",
    first_name: "Jane",
    skip_if_in_workspace: true,   // skip if email exists anywhere in workspace
    skip_if_in_campaign: true,    // skip if already in this campaign
  }),
});

Lead Status Reference

Rate Limit Handling

async function withBackoff<T>(
  operation: () => Promise<T>,
  maxRetries = 5
): Promise<T> {
  for (let attempt = 0; attempt <= maxRetries; attempt++) {
    try {
      return await operation();
    } catch (err: any) {
      if (err.status === 429 && attempt < maxRetries) {
        const wait = Math.pow(2, attempt) * 1000;
        console.warn(`429 Rate Limited. Waiting ${wait}ms (attempt ${attempt + 1}/${maxRetries})`);
        await new Promise((r) => setTimeout(r, wait));
        continue;
      }
      throw err;
    }
  }
  throw new Error("Unreachable");
}

Webhook Errors

Quick Diagnostic Script

set -euo pipefail
echo "=== Instantly Health Check ==="

# Test auth
curl -s -o /dev/null -w "Auth: HTTP %{http_code}\n" \
  https://api.instantly.ai/api/v2/campaigns?limit=1 \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $INSTANTLY_API_KEY"

# Count campaigns by status
curl -s https://api.instantly.ai/api/v2/campaigns?limit=100 \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $INSTANTLY_API_KEY" | \
  jq 'group_by(.status) | map({status: .[0].status, count: length})'

# Check account health
curl -s https://api.instantly.ai/api/v2/accounts?limit=100 \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $INSTANTLY_API_KEY" | \
  jq '[.[] | {email, status, warmup_status}] | .[:5]'

Error Handling

Resources

• Instantly API v2 Docs
• Instantly Help Center
• API Schemas

Next Steps

For structured debugging, see instantly-debug-bundle.