Why you might want to connect Facebook and Instagram
Connecting your Facebook account to Instagram lets you share posts to both platforms at once, manage both accounts from one place, and use Facebook's login to access Instagram. If you run a business or personal brand across both platforms, the connection saves time on cross-posting. You can also use Facebook's audience insights to see how your Instagram content performs.
The connection works best if you already have both accounts set up. If you only have one, you'll need to create the other first — but you don't need to use the same email address for both.
Key Takeaways
- You can link Facebook and Instagram through your Instagram settings by going to Accounts Center, then selecting both accounts and linking them.
- Once linked, you can share Instagram posts directly to Facebook without posting them separately, though you control which posts go where.
- You can use your Facebook login to access Instagram, and manage both accounts' passwords and security settings from one dashboard.
- The connection is reversible — you can unlink the accounts at any time without deleting either one.
- If you use Instagram for business, connecting to Facebook lets you run ads and access insights across both platforms from Ads Manager.
How to link your accounts through Accounts Center
Open Instagram on your phone or go to Instagram.com on a computer. Tap or click the menu icon (three horizontal lines) in the bottom right corner on mobile, or the hamburger menu in the top right on desktop. Select Settings and privacy, then tap Settings.
Scroll down and tap Accounts Center. If you don't see it, your account may not be may be able to access yet — this feature rolls out gradually to all users. Tap Add account and select Facebook. Log in with your Facebook credentials when prompted. Instagram will show you which Facebook account it found. Confirm the connection, and the two accounts are now linked.
On a computer, the path is the same: Settings and privacy > Settings > Accounts Center > Add account > Facebook. You'll log in through a browser window, and the connection completes once you confirm.
Sharing Instagram posts to Facebook after linking
Once your accounts are linked, you can share new Instagram posts to Facebook without creating a separate post. When you create an Instagram post, scroll down before you hit Share. You'll see an option to Share to Facebook with a toggle switch. Turn it on, and the post will go to your Facebook profile or page at the same time it publishes to Instagram.
You control this for each post — turning it on for one post doesn't mean every future post will share automatically. If you want most posts to cross-post, you can set a default in Accounts Center settings, but you can still override it on individual posts.
The post appears on Facebook with the same caption and image, though Facebook may crop or resize it slightly. Comments and likes on Facebook are separate from Instagram engagement, so you'll see activity on both platforms independently.
Using Facebook login to access Instagram
After linking, you can log into Instagram using your Facebook account instead of your Instagram password. On the Instagram login screen, tap or click Login with Facebook. Enter your Facebook email and password, and Instagram opens without needing a separate password.
This is optional — you can still log in with your Instagram username or email if you prefer. The Facebook login option just gives you another way in. If you forget your Instagram password, using Facebook login is a quick alternative while you reset it.
Managing both accounts from Accounts Center
Accounts Center is a dashboard where you can see and manage both accounts in one place. From there, you can change your password, update your email address, set up two-factor authentication, and review login activity — all without switching between apps.
To access Accounts Center on mobile, go to Settings and privacy > Settings > Accounts Center. On desktop, use the same path. You'll see both your Instagram and Facebook accounts listed. Tap or click on either account to change its settings, or use the menu to manage security features for both at once.
If you run a business account on Instagram, Accounts Center also connects to Facebook Ads Manager, letting you create and track ads across both platforms from a single dashboard.
Unlinking your accounts
If you decide you don't want Facebook and Instagram connected anymore, you can unlink them without deleting either account. Go to Settings and privacy > Settings > Accounts Center. Find the account you want to remove and tap or click the menu icon next to it. Select Remove account. Confirm the removal, and the connection is broken.
After unlinking, you'll need to log into Instagram with your Instagram password again — Facebook login won't work. Any posts you shared to Facebook while the accounts were linked stay on Facebook; unlinking doesn't delete them. You can link the accounts again later if you change your mind.
Troubleshooting common connection problems
If Accounts Center doesn't appear in your settings, your account may not have access yet. Meta rolls out this feature gradually, so it can take weeks or months to reach all users. Check back periodically, or try logging out and back in to refresh your account status.
If you see an error when trying to link, make sure you're using the correct Facebook login credentials and that both accounts are in good standing — accounts with violations or security holds may not link. If the link fails, try again in a few minutes; temporary server issues sometimes cause connection errors.
If you're trying to use Facebook login but it's not working, check that your Facebook account hasn't changed its email or password recently. Clear your browser cache and cookies, then try again. On mobile, try logging out of the Instagram app completely, closing it, and logging back in.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need the same email for both accounts?
No. Your Facebook and Instagram accounts can use different email addresses. The link connects the accounts themselves, not the emails. You can use one email for Facebook and a different one for Instagram without any problem.
Will connecting Facebook to Instagram change my privacy settings?
Linking the accounts doesn't automatically change who can see your posts. Your Instagram privacy settings stay the same, and your Facebook privacy settings stay the same. When you share an Instagram post to Facebook, it follows your Facebook privacy rules on that platform — so if your Facebook profile is public, the shared post will be public there.
Can I share Instagram Stories to Facebook?
Stories don't have the same cross-posting option as regular posts. You can share a Story to Facebook manually by using the share button within the Story creation tool, but it won't happen automatically like regular posts do. The manual share creates a one-time post on Facebook rather than a linked Story.
What happens to my posts if I unlink the accounts?
Posts you already shared to Facebook stay on Facebook. Unlinking just stops future posts from cross-posting automatically. You can still manually share Instagram posts to Facebook after unlinking if you want to — you'll just have to do it one at a time instead of with a toggle.
Can I link Instagram to multiple Facebook accounts?
No. One Instagram account can link to one Facebook account at a time. If you want to switch which Facebook account is linked, you'll need to unlink the current one first, then link a different Facebook account.