Why connect Instagram to Facebook, and what happens when you do
When you connect Instagram to a Facebook page, you link the two accounts so that posts, messages, and some settings flow between them. The main reason to do this is reach: a single post can appear on both platforms at once, and messages from Instagram and Facebook arrive in the same inbox. If you run a small business or manage a community page, this saves time because you are not logging into two separate accounts to post the same content twice.
The connection also lets you see performance data for both platforms in one place — how many people saw a post, clicked a link, or sent you a message. Facebook owns Instagram, so the two platforms are designed to work together. The process takes about five minutes and requires that you own or have admin access to both the Instagram account and the Facebook page.
One thing to know upfront: connecting them does not automatically post old content from one platform to the other. It only affects new posts you create after the connection is made. Also, some features — like Instagram Stories or Reels — have their own rules about cross-posting, which we cover below.
Key Takeaways
- You need admin access to both the Instagram account and the Facebook page before you start; if you do not have both, ask the account owner to add you first.
- The connection happens inside the Instagram app or website, not in Facebook, and takes you through a series of permission screens that ask what data the two accounts can share.
- After connecting, new posts can be set to appear on both platforms at once, but you choose this for each post — it is not automatic.
- Stories and Reels have separate cross-posting options that work differently from regular feed posts, so check the settings for each content type you plan to use.
- If you change your mind, you can disconnect the accounts at any time without losing either account or its history.
Check that you have the right access before you start
Before you open Instagram or Facebook, confirm that you are an admin on both accounts. For Instagram, this means you own the account or someone with owner access added you as an admin. For Facebook, it means you are an admin on the specific page — not just a member of the page, but someone who can edit settings and post on behalf of the page.
If you are not sure, open Instagram and go to Settings. Tap Account, then Accounts Center. You will see a list of accounts linked to your login. If the Instagram account you want to connect is there, you have access. For Facebook, go to the page itself, click Settings in the top right, and look for a section called Page Roles. If your name appears there with the role "Admin", you have the access you need.
If you do not have admin access to one or both accounts, contact the person who does and ask them to add you. They can do this in Settings on each platform. This step prevents you from getting stuck halfway through the connection process.
Connect the accounts through Instagram Settings
Open Instagram and go to Settings at the bottom right of the screen. Tap Account, then Accounts Center. You will see a list of accounts you manage. Tap Accounts, then Add Account. Select the Instagram account you want to connect (if you have more than one). Instagram will ask you to log in if you are not already signed in to that account.
Once you are logged in, tap Next. Instagram will show you a list of Facebook pages you can connect to. Find the page you want and tap it. Instagram will then ask for permission to access certain information — things like your page name, profile picture, and the ability to post on the page. Read through these permissions and tap Continue.
You will be taken to a Facebook login screen. Sign in with the account that has admin access to the Facebook page. Facebook will ask you to confirm the permissions again. Tap Continue as [Your Name]. After this, you will see a confirmation screen saying the accounts are connected. Tap Done, and you are finished.
Turn on cross-posting for regular feed posts
After the accounts are connected, you can choose to post to both Instagram and Facebook at the same time. This does not happen automatically — you control it for each post. When you create a new post on Instagram, you will see a new option before you share it. Look for a toggle or checkbox that says something like "Also post to Facebook" or "Share to Facebook Page".
If you do not see this option, make sure the accounts are fully connected by going back to Settings, Account, Accounts Center, and checking that the Facebook page is listed under your Instagram account. If it is there but the toggle still does not appear, try closing the Instagram app completely and opening it again.
When you turn on the cross-posting toggle, the post will appear on both your Instagram feed and your Facebook page feed at the same time. The image or video is the same, but the caption text may look slightly different depending on how each platform formats it. Comments and likes on each platform stay separate — a comment on the Instagram version does not appear on the Facebook version.
Handle Stories and Reels separately
Stories and Reels have their own cross-posting settings because they work differently from regular feed posts. For Stories, when you create a new Story on Instagram, you will see an option to share it to Facebook as well. This works the same way as feed posts — you turn it on or off for each Story. However, Stories on Facebook look different from Stories on Instagram because Facebook displays them in a different format.
Reels are short videos, and they can be shared to Facebook, but with a catch: the Reel will appear on Facebook as a regular video post, not as a Reel. This means it will not have the same layout or features as a Reel on Instagram. If you want the video to look and feel the same on both platforms, you may want to post it to Instagram first, let it get some engagement, and then read it and post it separately to Facebook.
To turn on cross-posting for Stories and Reels, look for the same toggle you use for feed posts. It appears in the same place before you share the content. If you do not see it, the accounts may not be fully connected, or you may need to update the Instagram app.
Manage messages from both platforms in one inbox
One of the biggest benefits of connecting the accounts is that messages from both Instagram and Facebook arrive in the same inbox. When someone sends you a direct message on Instagram or a message on your Facebook page, you will see both in the Instagram app under the Messages section (the speech bubble icon at the top right).
You can reply to messages from either platform without switching apps. The person who messaged you will see your reply on the platform they used to contact you — if they messaged you on Instagram, they see your reply on Instagram. This is useful if you manage both accounts but do not want to check two separate inboxes.
If you want to turn off this feature, you can disconnect the accounts. Go to Settings, Account, Accounts Center, find the Facebook page, and tap Remove. The accounts will no longer be connected, and messages will go back to separate inboxes.
View performance data for both accounts together
When the accounts are connected, you can see how your posts perform on both platforms in one place. In Instagram, go to the Insights section (tap the menu icon, then Insights). You will see data for posts, Stories, and Reels, including how many people saw them, how many engaged with them, and where they came from. If you have a connected Facebook page, you can also see performance data for the posts that were shared to Facebook.
This data is useful for understanding which types of content work best across both platforms. For example, you might notice that a particular post got more engagement on Facebook than on Instagram, which could help you decide what to post in the future. The data updates throughout the day, so you can check it anytime to see how your content is performing.
Keep in mind that Instagram and Facebook measure engagement differently, so a post that gets 100 likes on Instagram might get a different number on Facebook. This is normal and does not mean anything is wrong with the connection.
Disconnect the accounts if you need to
If you want to stop sharing posts between Instagram and Facebook, you can disconnect the accounts at any time. Go to Settings, Account, Accounts Center, and find the Facebook page listed under your Instagram account. Tap it, then tap Remove. Instagram will ask you to confirm. Tap Remove again, and the accounts will be disconnected.
Disconnecting does not delete any posts or messages from either account. Everything you posted while the accounts were connected stays on both platforms. You will just stop being able to cross-post new content, and messages will go back to separate inboxes. If you want to reconnect later, you can follow the same steps as the initial connection.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if I see an error message when I try to connect?
The most common error happens when you do not have admin access to the Facebook page. Double-check that you are listed as an admin in the page settings, not just as a member. If you are an admin and still see an error, try logging out of both Instagram and Facebook completely, then logging back in and trying again. If the error persists, wait a few hours — sometimes Facebook's servers need time to sync.
Can I connect one Instagram account to multiple Facebook pages?
Yes. In Accounts Center, you can add multiple Facebook pages to the same Instagram account. Each page will appear as a separate option when you create a post, and you can choose which page to share to for each post. This is useful if you manage several pages for different businesses or communities.
Will connecting the accounts affect my privacy settings?
Connecting the accounts does not change who can see your posts. If your Instagram account is private, posts you share to Facebook will still respect your Instagram privacy settings. However, the Facebook page itself has its own privacy settings, which are usually public. Check your Facebook page settings to make sure you are comfortable with who can see the posts that appear there.
What happens to old posts when I connect the accounts?
Old posts from before the connection was made do not automatically appear on the other platform. Only new posts created after the connection is active can be cross-posted. If you want old content to appear on both platforms, you will need to share it manually or repost it.
Can I schedule posts to both platforms at the same time?
Yes, if you use a scheduling tool like Meta Business Suite or a third-party scheduler. These tools let you write a post once and schedule it to appear on both Instagram and Facebook at a specific time. You can also schedule posts directly in the Instagram app if you have a business or creator account.