Connect Meta (Facebook + Instagram)

This guide will walk you through connecting your Facebook Pages and Instagram Business accounts to the platform using Meta's unified OAuth system.

Overview

Meta's integration allows you to manage both Facebook and Instagram from one connection:

• Post to Facebook Pages and Instagram simultaneously
• Schedule content across both platforms
• Track engagement and analytics
• Manage both platforms from a unified interface

Prerequisites

Before you start, ensure you have:

Facebook Requirements

• ✅ Facebook account (personal profile)
• ✅ Admin or Editor access to at least one Facebook Page
• ✅ Page must be published (not in draft mode)
• ✅ Page in good standing (no policy violations)

Instagram Requirements

• ✅ Instagram Business or Creator account (not Personal)
• ✅ Instagram account connected to your Facebook Page
• ✅ Account in good standing

Converting to Instagram Business Account

If you have a Personal Instagram account, you need to convert it:

1. Open Instagram app
2. Go to Settings → Account
3. Tap Switch to Professional Account
4. Choose Business or Creator
5. Complete the setup

Linking Instagram to Facebook Page

Your Instagram must be linked to your Facebook Page:

1. Go to your Facebook Page
2. Click Settings → Instagram
3. Click Connect Account
4. Log in to Instagram
5. Confirm the connection

Step-by-Step Connection Guide

Step 1: Navigate to Platform Connections

1. Log in to the platform
2. Click Connected Platforms in the sidebar
3. Or click Connect Account from your dashboard

Step 2: Select Meta Connection

1. Find the Meta (Facebook + Instagram) option
2. Click Connect or Add Account
3. You'll see a description of what permissions are needed

Step 3: Authorize with Facebook

1. Redirect to Facebook: You'll be sent to facebook.com
2. Log In: Enter your Facebook credentials (if not already logged in)
3. Review App: You'll see our app requesting permissions

Step 4: Grant Permissions

Facebook will ask for the following permissions:

Required Permissions

Facebook Pages Access:

• pages_show_list - View your Pages
• pages_read_engagement - Read comments and reactions
• pages_manage_posts - Create and edit posts
• pages_manage_metadata - Update Page information
• read_insights - Access analytics data
• business_management - Manage business assets
• publish_video - Post video content

Instagram Access:

• instagram_basic - Access account information
• instagram_manage_insights - Read analytics data
• instagram_content_publish - Create posts and stories

Why each permission is needed:

• View Pages: Required to show you which Pages you can connect
• Manage Posts: Enables creating and scheduling content
• Read Insights: Provides analytics and performance data
• Instagram Basic: Connects your Instagram Business account
• Content Publish: Allows posting to Instagram

⚠️ Important: You must grant ALL permissions for full functionality. Denying any permission will limit features.

Step 5: Select Pages and Instagram Accounts

1. Choose Pages: Select which Facebook Pages to connect

   • You can select multiple Pages
   • Each Page can be managed separately
   • Instagram accounts linked to these Pages will appear

2. Confirm Instagram: Instagram Business accounts linked to your Pages will be included automatically

3. Click Continue

Step 6: Confirm and Complete

1. Review your selections
2. Click Done or Confirm
3. You'll be redirected back to the platform
4. Your accounts will appear in Connected Platforms

Understanding Your Connection

What Gets Connected

When you connect via Meta OAuth:

Facebook Pages:

• ✅ All Pages where you're Admin or Editor
• ✅ Ability to post, schedule, and manage content
• ✅ Access to Page insights and analytics
• ✅ Read comments and engagement data

Instagram Business Accounts:

• ✅ Accounts linked to your Facebook Pages
• ✅ Ability to post photos and videos
• ✅ Choose VIDEO or REELS format
• ✅ Access to account and media insights
• ✅ Support for first comment (for links)

What Doesn't Get Connected

• ❌ Your personal Facebook profile
• ❌ Personal Instagram accounts (must be Business/Creator)
• ❌ Instagram accounts not linked to a Facebook Page
• ❌ Facebook Groups
• ❌ Pages where you're not Admin/Editor

Posting to Facebook and Instagram

Simultaneous Posting

Create one post and publish to both platforms:

1. Create a post in the content editor
2. Select both Facebook Page and Instagram account
3. The platform optimizes content for each platform
4. Publish or schedule

Platform-Specific Considerations

Facebook:

• Character limit: 63,206 characters (practically unlimited)
• Media: Up to 10 images/videos per post
• Link previews: Automatically generated
• Hashtags: Supported, less important than Instagram

Instagram:

• Character limit: 2,200 characters
• Media: 1 photo/video per post (carousel in app only)
• Links: Not clickable in captions (use first comment)
• Hashtags: Important for discoverability (up to 30)
• Video format: Choose VIDEO or REELS

Instagram Video Modes

When posting videos to Instagram:

VIDEO Mode:

• Traditional Instagram videos
• Appears in feed and profile grid
• Up to 60 minutes long
• Best for: Tutorials, longer content

REELS Mode:

• Short-form vertical video
• Appears in Reels tab
• Up to 90 seconds long
• Best for: Trending content, quick tips

Select the mode when creating your post in the content editor.

Instagram First Comment

Instagram captions don't support clickable links. Use first comment instead:

1. In the post editor, find First Comment section (Instagram only)
2. Add your link here
3. The platform will automatically post this as the first comment
4. Your link will be clickable

Managing Your Connection

View Connection Status

1. Go to Connected Platforms
2. See each connected Page/Instagram account
3. Check:
   • ✅ Active: Connection working
   • ⚠️ Expired: Needs reconnection
   • ❌ Error: Connection issue

Reconnect if Needed

Tokens expire every 60 days (typically):

1. You'll see Reconnect button
2. Click to restart OAuth flow
3. Re-authorize permissions
4. Connection restored

Add More Pages

To connect additional Pages:

1. Click Add Account under Meta section
2. Go through OAuth flow again
3. Select different Pages
4. All Pages managed in one place

Disconnect a Page or Instagram Account

1. Find the account in Connected Platforms
2. Click Disconnect or three-dot menu
3. Confirm removal
4. Account disconnected (history preserved)

Common Issues and Solutions

"Page not found" or "Page not showing"

Problem: Your Facebook Page doesn't appear in the selection

Solutions:

• ✅ Verify you're Admin or Editor on the Page
• ✅ Ensure Page is published (not drafted)
• ✅ Check Page hasn't violated Facebook policies
• ✅ Try reconnecting after clearing browser cache

"Instagram account not eligible"

Problem: Instagram account can't be connected

Solutions:

• ✅ Convert to Business or Creator account
• ✅ Link Instagram to Facebook Page in Page settings
• ✅ Ensure Instagram account is in good standing
• ✅ Check account isn't too new (wait 24-48 hours after conversion)

"Missing permissions"

Problem: Error says required permissions weren't granted

Solutions:

• ✅ During OAuth, grant ALL requested permissions
• ✅ Don't skip or deny any permissions
• ✅ Reconnect and ensure all permissions are checked
• ✅ Some browser extensions may interfere - try disabling

"Token expired" or "Reconnect required"

Problem: Connection stops working after some time

Solutions:

• ✅ This is normal - tokens expire every 60 days
• ✅ Click Reconnect button
• ✅ Re-authorize through OAuth
• ✅ Your content history remains intact

Posts fail to publish to Instagram

Problem: Facebook post succeeds but Instagram fails

Solutions:

• ✅ Check media meets Instagram requirements:
  • Images: 1080x1080px minimum, aspect ratio 1.91:1 to 4:5
  • Videos: 1080px minimum width, max 60 seconds (VIDEO), max 90 seconds (REELS)
• ✅ Ensure caption is under 2,200 characters
• ✅ Check for restricted hashtags
• ✅ Verify Instagram account is still linked to Facebook Page

Can't post to Instagram Stories

Problem: Want to post to Instagram Stories

Solution: Instagram Stories can only be posted through the official Instagram app. The Instagram API doesn't support Stories posting for third-party apps. You'll need to:

• Post to feed using our platform
• Share to Stories manually from Instagram app

Security and Privacy

What Data We Access

• ✅ Facebook Pages you manage
• ✅ Linked Instagram Business accounts
• ✅ Permission to post content
• ✅ Analytics and insights data
• ✅ Comments and engagement metrics

What Data We DON'T Access

• ❌ Your personal Facebook profile posts
• ❌ Private messages or Messenger data
• ❌ Friends list or personal connections
• ❌ Payment information
• ❌ Personal Instagram content

Revoking Access

You can remove our access anytime:

From Facebook:

1. Facebook Settings → Business Integrations
2. Find our app
3. Click Remove

From Platform:

1. Go to Connected Platforms
2. Click Disconnect on each account
3. Confirm removal

Best Practices

✅ Do's

• Test with one Page first: Connect one Page, test features, then add more
• Keep Instagram linked: Maintain Facebook Page → Instagram connection
• Monitor connection status: Check for "reconnect" messages
• Use Business accounts: Ensure Instagram is Business/Creator, not Personal
• Grant all permissions: Don't skip permissions during setup

❌ Don'ts

• Don't use Personal Instagram: Must be Business or Creator account
• Don't skip permissions: Denying permissions breaks features
• Don't share access tokens: Never share OAuth tokens or API keys
• Don't connect too many Pages: Start small, add more as needed
• Don't ignore reconnect prompts: Reconnect immediately when prompted

Advanced Tips

Managing Multiple Pages

If you manage many Facebook Pages:

1. Connect all Pages in one OAuth flow
2. Each Page managed separately in platform
3. Create posts for specific Pages only
4. Or bulk-post to multiple Pages at once

Instagram-Only Posting

To post to Instagram without Facebook:

1. Don't select the Facebook Page when creating post
2. Select only the Instagram account
3. Post will go to Instagram only

Facebook-Only Posting

To post to Facebook without Instagram:

1. Don't select Instagram account when creating post
2. Select only the Facebook Page
3. Post will go to Facebook only

Next Steps

After connecting Meta accounts:

1. 📝 Create Your First Post - Start creating content
2. 📅 Schedule Content - Plan your content calendar
3. 📊 View Analytics - Track your performance
4. 🎨 Organize Media - Manage your content assets

Related Resources

• Platform Connections Overview - Understanding OAuth
• Managing Connections - Advanced connection management
• OAuth Troubleshooting - Fix connection issues
• Token Expiration - Handle expired tokens
• Platform Requirements - Content specs

Last updated: January 14, 2025