The fastest way to link Instagram to Facebook
If you own both accounts, you can link them through Facebook's settings in about two minutes. Open Facebook on a computer or phone, go to Settings & Privacy > Settings, then scroll to find "Instagram accounts" or "Connected apps". Select the Instagram account you want to link, confirm you own it, and Facebook will connect the two. The connection lets you cross-post content, manage both accounts from one place, and use Facebook's business tools across both platforms.
You need to be the account owner of both Facebook and Instagram to make this connection work. If someone else created either account, you'll need them to grant you permission first, or you'll need to recover access to the account using your email or phone number.
Key Takeaways
- Go to Facebook Settings & Privacy > Settings, then look for "Instagram accounts" to find the linking option.
- You must own both the Facebook and Instagram accounts, or have admin access to them, before you can link them.
- Once linked, you can post to both platforms at the same time and manage both accounts from Facebook's dashboard.
- If you manage multiple Instagram accounts, you can link up to five of them to a single Facebook account.
Step-by-step linking on a phone or computer
On a phone, open the Facebook app and tap the three horizontal lines in the bottom right corner (on Android) or top right corner (on iPhone). Tap "Settings & Privacy", then "Settings". Scroll down until you see "Instagram accounts" — the exact location varies depending on your phone's operating system, but it's usually in the middle section of settings. Tap it.
On a computer, go to facebook.com, click the downward arrow in the top right, select "Settings & Privacy", then "Settings". On the left side, you'll see a menu. Look for "Instagram accounts" or "Connected apps" — if you don't see it immediately, scroll down the left menu. Click it, then select "Add Instagram account".
When you tap or click to add an account, Facebook will ask you to enter your Instagram username and password. Type them in exactly as they appear — Instagram usernames are case-sensitive. Facebook will confirm that you own the account, then show you a list of permissions it's asking for. Review these (they usually include permission to post and manage messages), then confirm. Your accounts are now linked.
What you can do once accounts are linked
The main benefit is cross-posting: when you create a post on Facebook, you can check a box to automatically post the same content to Instagram at the same time. This saves time if you share similar content on both platforms. You can also manage both accounts' messages from Facebook's inbox, see insights and performance data for both accounts in one dashboard, and use Facebook's advertising tools to run ads across both platforms simultaneously.
Linked accounts also let you use Facebook's business features on Instagram — things like scheduling posts in advance, adding contact buttons, and accessing detailed analytics about who sees your posts and when they engage with them. If you run a business or creator account, this integration can reduce the time spent switching between apps.
Unlinking accounts if you need to disconnect them
If you want to unlink your Instagram account from Facebook later, the process is just as straightforward. Go back to Settings & Privacy > Settings, find "Instagram accounts", and look for the account you want to remove. You'll see an option to disconnect or remove it — click that, and confirm when Facebook asks you to verify. The accounts will no longer be connected, but both accounts themselves will remain active and unchanged.
Unlinking doesn't delete either account or erase any posts you've made. It simply stops the connection between them, so you'll no longer be able to cross-post or manage them from one dashboard. You can re-link them anytime by following the same steps.
Troubleshooting: account won't link or shows an error
The most common reason linking fails is that you're not actually the owner of one of the accounts. If you created the Instagram account with a different email address than the one you use for Facebook, or if someone else set up either account, Facebook won't let you link them. Check that you're logged into the correct Facebook account — the one that matches the email or phone number associated with your Instagram account.
If you see an error message saying the account is already linked, it may be connected to a different Facebook account. Go to Instagram's settings (the gear icon in your profile), tap "Accounts Center" or "Linked accounts", and check which Facebook account is connected. If it's the wrong one, you can disconnect it there and try linking to the correct Facebook account instead.
If you've forgotten your Instagram password, reset it through Instagram's login page before attempting to link. Facebook will need your current password to verify you own the account. Two-factor authentication on Instagram won't block linking, but make sure you have access to the phone number or authentication app you set up, in case Instagram asks you to verify during the linking process.
Linking multiple Instagram accounts to one Facebook account
If you manage more than one Instagram account — for example, one for a business and one for a personal brand — you can link up to five Instagram accounts to a single Facebook account. Go through the linking process for each account separately, entering each Instagram username and password when prompted. Facebook will list all linked accounts in the "Instagram accounts" section of your settings, and you can switch between them when posting or managing content.
This is useful if you run multiple businesses or manage accounts for clients, because you can see all of them in one place without logging out and back in. However, each Instagram account still needs its own separate password — you can't use the same login credentials for multiple Instagram accounts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I link an Instagram account I don't own?
No. Facebook requires you to be the account owner or have admin access to link it. If someone else created the account, ask them to grant you admin rights through Instagram's settings, or have them link it to their own Facebook account first.
Will linking Instagram to Facebook let other people see my private account?
No. Linking only connects your accounts for management purposes. Your Instagram privacy settings stay exactly as they are — if your account is private, it remains private. Linking doesn't change who can see your posts or follow you.
What happens to my posts if I unlink the accounts?
Nothing. All your posts stay on both Facebook and Instagram. Unlinking just stops the connection between the accounts — it doesn't delete anything. Posts you made before linking stay up, and posts you made after linking stay up too.
Do I need to link my accounts to cross-post?
Yes. Without linking, you have to post separately to each platform. Linking is the only way to post to both at the same time from Facebook's interface. You can still post directly through Instagram's app without linking.
Can I link a business account and a personal account?
Yes. You can link any type of Instagram account — personal, creator, or business — to Facebook. The linking process is the same regardless of account type, and you can link different types to the same Facebook account if you manage multiple accounts.