Start here if your Instagram connection stopped working
If your Instagram account is disconnected from Metricool, or you're getting permission errors when trying to reconnect, this guide walks you through the recovery process step by step.
Before you start: Instagram has two connection methods — via Facebook or via Instagram login. To preserve your historical data, you must reconnect using the same method you originally used. If you're unsure which method you used, check Instagram connection types and differences.
Quick recovery checklist
Follow these steps in order. Most connection issues are resolved by completing all three steps:
Step 1: Revoke old permissions
Before reconnecting, clear any existing Metricool authorizations from your Meta accounts. Old permissions are the most common cause of connection failures and wrong page issues.
If you connect via Facebook
Go to Facebook Business Tools settings.
Find Metricool in the list of connected apps.
Click Remove to revoke all permissions.
Make sure you're logged into the correct Facebook profile — the one with admin access to the page you want to connect.
If you connect via Instagram login
Open the Instagram mobile app.
Go to your profile → Menu (☰) → Settings and privacy.
Select Website permissions → Apps and websites.
Find Metricool and tap Remove.
Step 2: Verify your setup
2.1 Check your Instagram account type
Metricool only works with professional accounts (Business or Creator). Personal accounts are not supported.
Open Instagram and go to your profile.
Tap Menu (☰) → Settings and privacy.
Go to Account type and tools.
If you see "Switch to professional account," your account is personal — tap it to convert to Business or Creator.
2.2 Verify your Facebook page link (Facebook connection only)
If you're connecting via Facebook, your Instagram account must be linked to a Facebook Page. This is a Meta requirement.
Open the Instagram app.
Go to your profile → Edit Profile.
Under Business Public Information, tap Page.
Confirm the correct Facebook Page is linked here. If a different page appears, disconnect it and link the correct one.
For detailed steps, see Linking Facebook to Instagram.
2.3 Check Business Manager permissions
Only needed if your Facebook Page is managed through Meta Business Manager. Skip this section if you manage your page directly.
If your page uses Business Manager, you need the correct permissions on both assets:
Both must be added as assets to your personal admin profile. For detailed instructions, see Meta Business Manager Permissions.
Step 3: Reconnect in Metricool
3.1 Disconnect the old connection
Go to the connections dashboard.
Find your Instagram account (or Facebook Page if connecting via Facebook).
Click the X next to it to disconnect.
3.2 Reconnect with the same method
Critical: Use the same connection method you originally used. Switching methods (Facebook to Instagram login, or vice versa) creates a new connection and you'll lose access to your historical data.
Facebook connection (recommended)
Click Connect page next to Facebook.
In the Facebook pop-up, confirm you're logged in with the correct profile.
Select the correct Facebook Page from the list.
Accept all permissions.
Instagram will connect automatically.
Instagram login only
Click Connect next to Instagram.
Log in with your Instagram credentials.
Accept the authorization permissions.
The Instagram login connection uses a different API and has limited features compared to the Facebook connection.
Still seeing issues?
If Metricool shows a different Facebook page than the one you want:
Confirm you're logged into the correct Facebook profile in your browser. Check facebook.com and verify your profile picture in the top right.
Verify the Instagram–Page link in Meta — see step 2.2 above.
Disconnect the wrong page in Metricool's connections dashboard.
Revoke Metricool in Facebook Business Tools — see step 1 above.
Reconnect and select the correct page.
If the correct page still doesn't appear, your Facebook profile may not have admin or full control permissions on that page. Ask another admin to grant you access, or reconnect using their Facebook credentials.
These errors are common with the direct Instagram login connection.
Log out of Instagram and log back in.
Clear your browser cache and cookies, or use incognito/private mode.
Remove Metricool from Instagram's connected apps (see step 1 above).
Wait a few minutes and try connecting again.
These errors are less common with the Facebook connection. If they persist, switch to the Facebook connection method — it's more stable and reliable.
For detailed error solutions, see I can't connect Instagram to Metricool.
A privacy setting in your Meta account prevents external apps from accessing your data.
Go to the Meta Accounts Center.
Click Your activity off Meta technologies.
Select Manage future activity.
Enable Future activity.
Go back to Metricool and try connecting again.
This happens when you switch connection methods. Instagram connections via Facebook and via Instagram login use different APIs that don't share data.
If you reconnect with the same method, your historical metrics will be restored. However:
Follower counts and Stories data are only tracked while connected — they can't be recovered for periods when you were disconnected.
If you switched methods, the data from your previous connection method cannot be recovered.
For more details, see Historical data available.
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