Why you might connect Instagram to Facebook
Connecting your Instagram account to Facebook lets you share posts to both platforms at once, manage both accounts from one place, and see insights about how your content performs across both. Facebook owns Instagram, so the connection is built into both apps. When you link them, you control what information flows between them — you decide whether to cross-post, and Facebook stores data about your activity on both platforms in one profile.
The connection is optional. You can use Instagram without linking it to Facebook, and you can unlink them at any time. But if you run a business or post regularly to both platforms, linking saves you from posting the same photo twice.
Key Takeaways
- You link Instagram and Facebook through Instagram's settings, not Facebook's, by going to Settings and Privacy, then Accounts Center.
- Both accounts must exist before you link them, and you need the password for at least one of them to prove you own both.
- Once linked, you can cross-post to Facebook when you share a photo or video on Instagram by toggling a single button.
- Linking does not automatically share old posts — only new ones you choose to cross-post after the connection is made.
- You can unlink the accounts anytime from the same Accounts Center menu, and unlinking does not delete posts from either platform.
How to link Instagram and Facebook on your phone
Open Instagram and tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) in the bottom right corner. Tap Settings and Privacy, then tap Settings. Scroll down and tap Accounts Center. If you have not used Accounts Center before, tap get your free guide and follow the prompts to create it — this is a Meta tool that manages both your Instagram and Facebook accounts in one place.
Once Accounts Center is open, tap Accounts. You will see Instagram listed. Tap Add Account and select Facebook. Enter your Facebook email or phone number and password. Instagram will confirm that both accounts are now linked. If you already have Accounts Center set up, you can skip the get your free guide step and go straight to Accounts, then Add Account.
On Android and iPhone the steps are the same. If you see a message saying your accounts are already linked, they are — you can skip this section and move to the next one about cross-posting.
How to link Instagram and Facebook on a computer
Go to instagram.com and log in. Click the menu icon (three horizontal lines) in the bottom left. Click Settings and Privacy, then click Settings. Scroll down and click Accounts Center. If this is your first time, click get your free guide and follow the prompts.
Once Accounts Center is open, click Accounts on the left side. You will see Instagram listed. Click Add Account and select Facebook. Enter your Facebook email or phone number and password. Click Log In. Instagram will confirm the link is complete.
What happens when you cross-post to Facebook
After you link the accounts, the next time you post a photo or video to Instagram, you will see a toggle that says "Also share to Facebook" or "Share to Facebook." If you turn this toggle on before you tap Share, the post will go to both Instagram and Facebook at the same time. The caption, photo, and any hashtags you used will appear on Facebook too.
Cross-posting does not work for Instagram Stories or Reels — only for regular feed posts. If you want to share a Story or Reel to Facebook, you have to do that separately. Also, if your Instagram account is private, the Facebook cross-post will still be private on Facebook, visible only to your Facebook friends.
You do not have to cross-post every time. You can turn the toggle off and post only to Instagram, or turn it on only for posts you want on both platforms. The choice is yours for each post.
How to unlink Instagram from Facebook
Open Instagram and go to Settings and Privacy, then Settings. Tap Accounts Center. Tap Accounts, then tap Instagram. Scroll down and tap Remove Account. Instagram will ask you to confirm — tap Remove again. The accounts are now unlinked.
Unlinking does not delete any posts from either platform. Posts you cross-posted will stay on both Instagram and Facebook. You will just stop being able to cross-post new content, and Facebook will no longer see your Instagram activity in your profile. If you link them again later, you will use the same steps as the first time.
What data Facebook sees when accounts are linked
When you link Instagram to Facebook, Facebook can see your Instagram activity — which posts you make, when you make them, who comments, and how many likes you get. Facebook stores this information in your account profile. This data is used to show you ads on both platforms and to suggest content you might like.
Facebook does not automatically share your Instagram direct messages with Facebook Messenger, even when accounts are linked. Your Instagram DMs stay private to Instagram. However, Facebook does use data about your activity on both platforms to build a picture of your interests, which affects what ads you see.
If you do not want Facebook to see your Instagram activity, unlinking the accounts is the way to stop it. You can also adjust your privacy settings on Instagram itself — for example, making your account private so fewer people can see your posts — but unlinking is the only way to prevent Facebook from tracking your activity across both platforms.
Troubleshooting common problems
If you see an error message saying "Account already linked," both accounts are already connected. Go to Accounts Center and check the Accounts section — you should see both Instagram and Facebook listed. If you want to link a different Facebook account, you must unlink the current one first, then add the new one.
If the Add Account button does not appear, make sure you are logged into Instagram with the account you want to link. Log out completely, then log back in with the correct Instagram account. If you still do not see the button, try closing the app and opening it again, or use a web browser instead of the app.
If cross-posting is not working, check that the toggle is actually turned on before you tap Share. Also check that your Facebook account is not restricted — if your Facebook account is disabled or in a limited state, cross-posting will not work until it is restored. You can still post to Instagram alone.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I link multiple Instagram accounts to one Facebook account?
No. Each Instagram account can link to only one Facebook account. If you have multiple Instagram accounts, you would need multiple Facebook accounts to link them all. You can switch between Instagram accounts in the app without unlinking, but only one can be connected to Facebook at a time.
What if I forgot my Facebook password?
Go to facebook.com and click "Forgotten password?" on the login page. Facebook will send a reset link to your email or phone. Reset your password, then try linking again in Instagram. You will need the correct password to prove you own the Facebook account.
Does linking Instagram to Facebook share my old posts?
No. Linking only affects new posts you make after the connection is complete. Old Instagram posts will not appear on Facebook unless you manually share them. Only posts you cross-post using the toggle after linking will go to both platforms.
Can my followers on Instagram see that I am linked to Facebook?
No. The link is private to you. Your Instagram followers cannot see that your account is connected to Facebook. Only you know the accounts are linked, and only you can see the cross-post toggle when you create a post.
What happens to cross-posted content if I unlink the accounts?
Posts that were already cross-posted stay on both Instagram and Facebook. Unlinking just stops new posts from going to both platforms. You can delete individual posts from either platform if you want to remove them.