How do I install the CrowdRiff Chrome Extension?
To get started, install the extension directly from the Chrome Web Store using this link.
💡Heads up: Already using Sidekick? The legacy Sidekick extension will automatically update to become the CrowdRiff extension. Make sure your existing extension is up to date.
How do I use the CrowdRiff Chrome Extension on Instagram?
The extension must be accessed from the direct URL of an Instagram post not from your discovery feed or a user's profile page. Once you're on the post, you have two ways to take action:
Click the pinned extension icon in your Chrome toolbar
Right-click anywhere on the page, find CrowdRiff, and select an action
Two actions are available:
Request to Use: Kicks off the rights request workflow
Save URL: Saves the post URL to CrowdRiff for later review
How do I request rights using the extension?
Navigate directly to the Instagram post you want to use.
Click the CrowdRiff extension icon in your Chrome toolbar (or right-click and select CrowdRiff).
Click Request to Use.
Select your intended usage (e.g., Organic Social).
Optionally, add details about how you plan to use the asset.
Click Generate Comment. CrowdRiff analyzes the post's visuals, caption, and your intended usage to draft a rights request comment.
Review and edit the comment if needed, then click Copy and Add to Comment.
The comment is added directly to the Instagram post's comment box — click Post to send it.
Once submitted, go to the Save URLs page in CrowdRiff to see the post URL, the date it was saved, who saved it, and the current rights request status.
Where can I track saved and requested URLs?
Open the Save URLs page in CrowdRiff. For each entry you'll see:
The Instagram post URL
The date it was saved
Which team member saved it
The current rights request status (e.g., Not Requested, Requested, Approved)
Once a post owner replies and approves your request, the status updates to Approved on this page. You can then go to the Usage Rights page to view the full request, including the request comment, approval comment, and your usage intent. Approved assets also appear in your Library, sortable by Most Recently Approved.
What should I know before requesting rights through the extension?
Keep the following in mind to avoid duplicate requests and unexpected behavior:
Rights status doesn't update until you receive a response. If you use the extension to request rights for an asset already in your library, it will show No Usage Rights until the content owner replies.
Check for existing requests first. If an asset is already in your library, scan the comments on the original Instagram post to confirm nobody from your team has already requested rights.
Requests don't appear on the Usage Rights page until a response is received. Until then, track pending requests from the Save URLs page.
What if I need to manually approve a Saved URL especially with DMs or blanket rights?
Due to Meta’s latest API requirements, Saved URL assets can only be pulled from Instagram if the user @mentions your account in their post. This update is part of Meta’s effort to ensure that content usage complies with rights and permissions policies.
What are my options if I’ve received approval via DM or have blanket rights?
Use a Collector for blanket rights content.
Add the user as a Followed Account (for business and creator accounts). This makes their content easily searchable by username so you can manually mark assets as approved in your library
Need more help?
If you have any other questions, feel free to send us a message!