What linking your Facebook page to Instagram actually does
Linking a Facebook page to Instagram lets you manage both accounts from one place and share posts across both platforms at the same time. When you link them, Instagram shows you a list of your Facebook pages, and you pick which one to connect. After that, you can post to Instagram and have the same content appear on your linked Facebook page without posting twice.
The link also lets you see insights from both platforms in one dashboard, run ads that reach people on both networks, and switch between accounts more easily. You keep separate passwords and separate logins — linking just connects the accounts so they work together, it does not merge them into one.
You need to own or have admin access to both the Facebook page and the Instagram account for the link to work. If you manage accounts for a business or client, make sure you have the right permissions before you start.
Key Takeaways
- Linking requires admin access to both your Facebook page and your Instagram account, and you do this from Instagram's settings, not Facebook.
- Once linked, you can post to Instagram and automatically share that post to your Facebook page in the same action.
- The link lets you see combined insights and run ads across both platforms, but does not merge your accounts or change your passwords.
- You can unlink the accounts at any time from Instagram settings, and the link does not affect any posts you made before you connected them.
How to link your accounts on a phone or tablet
Open Instagram and tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) in the bottom right corner. Scroll down and tap Settings and privacy, then tap Settings. Scroll down to the section labeled Account and tap Linked accounts.
Tap Facebook. Instagram will ask you to log in to your Facebook account if you are not already logged in. Enter your Facebook email or phone number and password. After you log in, Instagram shows you a list of Facebook pages you have admin access to. Tap the page you want to link. Instagram will ask for permission to connect the accounts — tap Continue as [your name] to confirm.
Once the link is complete, you will see the Facebook page name displayed under Linked accounts in your Instagram settings. If you have multiple Facebook pages, you can link more than one by repeating these steps and choosing a different page each time.
How to link your accounts on a computer
Go to Instagram.com and log in. Click the menu icon (three horizontal lines) in the bottom left corner and select Settings. Click Linked accounts in the left sidebar under the Account section.
Click Connect to Facebook. A Facebook login window will pop up. Enter your Facebook email or phone number and password. Facebook will then show you a list of pages you manage — select the one you want to link to Instagram and click Continue. Instagram will ask for permission to access your Facebook page. Click Continue as [your name] to finish the connection.
Your Facebook page name will now appear in the Linked accounts section. You can link multiple Facebook pages by repeating this process.
What to do if the link fails or does not appear
If you see an error message when you try to link, the most common reason is that you do not have admin access to the Facebook page. Check with the page owner to confirm your role. You need to be listed as an Admin or Editor on the page — other roles like Moderator or Analyst cannot link accounts.
If you are the page owner but still cannot link, try logging out of both Instagram and Facebook completely, then log back in and try again. Clear your browser cache if you are on a computer. If the link option does not appear in your Instagram settings at all, your account may not have access to this feature yet — Instagram rolls out features gradually, so it may take a few days or weeks to reach your account.
If you recently changed your Facebook password, log out of Instagram and log back in so Instagram can refresh your Facebook credentials. If none of these steps work, try linking from a different device or browser.
How to post to both platforms at once after linking
After your accounts are linked, open Instagram and create a post as you normally would. Before you tap Share, scroll down in the sharing options and look for Share to Facebook. Toggle this switch on. The switch will turn blue when it is active.
When you tap Share, Instagram will post the image or video to your Instagram feed and automatically share it to your linked Facebook page at the same time. The post will appear on Facebook as a shared post from Instagram, so it will include the Instagram logo and a link back to the original Instagram post.
You can turn off Share to Facebook for individual posts if you want to post to Instagram only. The setting does not carry over to your next post — you have to toggle it on each time you want to share to both platforms.
How to unlink your accounts
If you want to disconnect your Facebook page from Instagram, go to your Instagram settings and tap or click Linked accounts. Find the Facebook page you want to unlink and tap or click the three dots next to its name. Select Unlink and confirm.
Unlinking does not delete any posts you made while the accounts were connected. Posts you shared to both platforms will stay on both Instagram and Facebook. You will just stop being able to post to both at the same time going forward. You can link the accounts again later if you change your mind.
What happens to your data when accounts are linked
When you link your Facebook page to Instagram, both platforms can see that the connection exists, but your Instagram followers do not automatically become your Facebook followers, and vice versa. The link lets the platforms share information about your posts and audience, but it does not merge your audiences.
Instagram and Facebook are both owned by Meta, so they already share some data about you behind the scenes. Linking your accounts does not change what data they collect — it just makes it easier for you to manage both accounts and see combined insights about your audience. Your passwords stay separate, and you can still log in to each account independently.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I link multiple Facebook pages to one Instagram account?
Yes. Go to Linked accounts in your Instagram settings and repeat the linking process for each Facebook page you manage. You will see all linked pages listed, and you can choose which one to share to each time you post.
What if I do not have a Facebook page yet?
You need to create a Facebook page first before you can link it to Instagram. Go to Facebook.com, click the menu icon, and select Create. Choose Page and follow the steps to set up your page. Once it is created and you are listed as admin, you can link it to Instagram.
Will my Instagram followers see my Facebook posts?
No. When you link accounts and share a post to both platforms, your Instagram followers see it on Instagram and your Facebook followers see it on Facebook. The link does not cross-post to each other's audiences — it just lets you create the post once and send it to both places.
Can I link a personal Facebook profile instead of a page?
No. Instagram only links to Facebook pages, not personal profiles. If you want to link to Facebook, you need to have or create a Facebook page. Personal profiles and pages are separate on Facebook.
What if I want to unlink but keep my posts on both platforms?
Unlinking does not delete posts. Any posts you shared to both Instagram and Facebook while linked will stay on both platforms. After you unlink, new posts will only go to the platform you post to directly.