Linking Facebook to Instagram

Connecting Instagram to a Facebook Page

To access all Instagram features in Metricool, Meta requires your professional Instagram account to be linked to a Facebook page. This step is necessary to connect your account to external tools via their official API, such as Metricool. While these Instagram permissions are managed through Facebook, it is not mandatory to post on Facebook if it is not part of your strategy.

It is important to note that the link must be bidirectional: Facebook-Instagram and Instagram-Facebook, meaning the accounts must be linked on both platforms. Typically, when linking on Instagram, it should automatically appear linked on Facebook and vice versa, but some confirmation may be required. Additionally, if they are associated with a Meta Business Account, you will need the necessary permissions in Business Manager to complete the connection correctly.

Don’t have a Facebook page yet? We explain how to create one step by step here.

If you only need to schedule and publish content, you can connect your account directly using Instagram credentials.

First Steps

1. Confirm that your Instagram account is professional (creator or business). You can check it in the "Account type on Instagram" guide.

2. Ensure you have the necessary permissions on the Page (check Facebook's help article "See your Facebook Page role or access"):

• Classic Facebook Page: Admin role

• New Facebook experience Pages: Full control

3. If your Facebook Page has been added to your Meta Business Account in Business Manager, you must also add your Instagram Business Account to the same Business Account before connecting them (by clicking on add assets).

• Facebook Page: Permission should be full control

• Instagram Account: Permission can be full or partial

⚠️ Note that access to the business account can be full or partial, but on the Facebook Page (associated as an asset within the business account), you must have full control.

For more information on Meta management, refer to the following Facebook help articles:

"Add a Page to your business portfolio""
"Add an Instagram account to your business portfolio in Business Manager"

Linking from Instagram

Follow these steps to connect your Facebook Page to your professional (business or creator) Instagram account through the Instagram app:

1. Log in to the Instagram mobile app and tap your profile picture in the bottom right.

2. Select Edit Profile.

3. Under "Business Public Information," select Page "Connect or Create."

4. Tap Page > Continue. (If prompted, set up the Accounts Center)

5. Choose the page you want to connect to your account or select Create a new Facebook Page.

6. Tap Connect.

Your business account is now linked to a Facebook Page. If the page you want to link doesn't appear in the dropdown menu on your profile, it may be because you don't manage it. Check your page settings and make sure you have permission to add it to your Instagram business account.

Manage current connection

If you already have a connected Facebook Page, in the business public information (step 3), the page name will be displayed.
Tap on the page, and you will see the following options:

• Change or create a page

• Disconnect page

Linking from Facebook

1. Log in to Facebook.

2. Click on your profile picture in the top right and select the profile you want to connect with Instagram (this will allow you to act as your Facebook Page instead of your personal Facebook profile) or click here to directly access the list.

3. From the left sidebar, click on Settings > Linked Accounts > Instagram.

4. Click Connect Account > Connect

5. Enable or disable if you want to allow access to Instagram messages in the inbox > Confirm.

• When enabled, people managing your Page can see and respond to Instagram messages.

• This setting can be changed later.

5. Log in with the Instagram account you want to connect and complete the process.

⚠️ If you have a Classic Page instead of a new experience page, the process may vary slightly.

Disconnecting account

If you want to change the linked Instagram account or simply remove the connection, click on disconnect account.

If the web version doesn't allow us to make the connection, you can try it from the Business Manager on the mobile app. You need to download the Business Suite mobile app and go to tools > Settings > Instagram to link your Instagram account to the business account.

Troubleshooting common linking process errors

The page already belongs to a business

On Instagram, when selecting a Facebook Page to connect, you might encounter this issue :

• "The Facebook Page already belongs to a business: The Facebook Page you tried to add is already owned by another business. You can still request access to this Page, but your request must be approved by the owning business."*

This error indicates that the Facebook Page you are trying to connect is is managed through Business Manager. To proceed, you will need to ask the Page owner to confirm the connection for you via Instagram, or you can try connecting through Facebook if you have the correct permissions.

Not sure who owns the Page?

Navigate to the Page Management History after switching to the Page profile on Facebook. Look for the entry "[Name] received full control of [Name]" —this person likely has the correct permissions.

Can't access the Linked Accounts page on Facebook

If you can't access the Linked Accounts page of your Page (Settings > Instagram in Classic Pages), it's possible that you lack the necessary role or access to your Facebook Page.

On Classic Pages, you must have the administrator role. On New Pages, you must have Facebook access with full control. (check Facebook's help article "See your Facebook Page role or access")

Instagram asks me to log in to someone else's Facebook account

If Instagram asks you to log in to someone else's account when setting up Accounts Center, it means that someone else already manages that Instagram account in Accounts Center.

In this situation, you won't be able to confirm the connection through the Instagram app. Instead, you must connect through Facebook if you have the correct level of permissions.

The page is already linked to an Instagram account

On Instagram, you may see this error when selecting a Facebook Page to connect:

• "The page is already linked to an Instagram account."*

This means that the Facebook Page you selected is already connected to another Instagram account. Due to limitations set by Facebook, only one Instagram account can be connected to a Facebook Page.

Check the previous section "Linking from Facebook" to see which Instagram account is connected. From there, you can disconnect it to free up that Page and connect it to a different account.

Instagram Confirmation Alert

If you can't confirm the connection through Instagram, you will need to ask the Page owner to confirm the connection for you. Here's how they can do it:

1. Open the Instagram app and tap your profile picture in the bottom right.

2. Tap Edit Profile.

3. In the Page section, tap the orange Confirm icon.

4. If prompted, log in to Business Manager.

5. Follow the instructions to confirm the connection.

Still having trouble ?

If you create a new Facebook Page, you will have full admin rights by default and should have no access or role issues. Check "I don't have a Facebook Page" to create a new one.

We suggest giving your new Page a unique name so you can easily identify it.