Facebook and Instagram are owned by the same company, so connecting them is straightforward
If you have a Facebook Page and an Instagram account, you can link them so that posts, stories, and messages flow between both platforms without logging into each one separately. Meta — the company that owns both — built this connection directly into both apps. You do not need a third-party tool or special permission. The process takes about five minutes and happens entirely within the Instagram app or Facebook's business tools.
Linking is useful if you want to post the same content to both platforms at once, manage messages from both accounts in one place, or see how the same post performs on each platform. It also means you can use one login to access both accounts, though you can keep them separate if you prefer.
Key Takeaways
- You link accounts through Instagram's settings or through Facebook's business tools, depending on which platform you use most.
- Both accounts must use the same email address or phone number, or one account must be converted to a business account first.
- Once linked, you can post to both platforms at the same time and manage messages from a single inbox.
- Linking does not merge your followers — people who follow you on Facebook will not automatically follow you on Instagram.
- You can unlink the accounts at any time without losing either account or its content.
How to connect accounts through Instagram
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, then go to Settings and Privacy, then Settings. Scroll down to Accounts Center and tap it. If you do not see Accounts Center, your account type may not support it yet — see the section below on business accounts.
Tap Accounts, then Add Account. Choose Facebook from the list. You will be asked to log into Facebook if you are not already logged in. Once you log in, Instagram will show you which Facebook Pages are linked to that account. Select the Page you want to connect, then confirm. Instagram will ask for permission to post to that Page on your behalf — tap Allow.
After you confirm, the connection is active. You can now post to both Instagram and that Facebook Page at the same time by tapping the share button when you create a post and selecting both platforms.
How to connect accounts through Facebook's business tools
If you use Facebook's business tools regularly, you can set up the connection there instead. Go to facebook.com and log in. Click the menu icon (three horizontal lines) in the top right, then go to All Tools. Search for "Accounts Center" and click it. Click Accounts, then Add Account, then Instagram. Log into Instagram if prompted, then select which Instagram account you want to connect.
This route is the same end result as connecting through Instagram, but it can be faster if you are already working in Facebook's business dashboard. Both methods create the same link between your accounts.
What to do if your accounts use different email addresses
If your Facebook account uses one email and your Instagram account uses a different email, you have two options. The first is to change one account's email to match the other. Go to your Facebook Settings and Privacy, then Settings, then Personal Information, then Email. Change it to match your Instagram email. Wait a few minutes for the change to take effect, then try linking again through Instagram's Accounts Center.
The second option is to convert your Instagram account to a business account first, which does not require matching email addresses. Go to Instagram Settings and Privacy, then Account Type and Tools, then switch to Professional Account. Choose a category that matches what you do. Once that is done, you can link to Facebook even if the emails do not match.
How to post to both platforms at the same time
Once your accounts are linked, create a post or story in Instagram as you normally would. Before you publish, look for the sharing options. For a regular post, tap the toggle next to your Facebook Page name to turn it on. For a story, tap the share icon and select your Facebook Page. When you tap Share or Post, Instagram will send the content to both Instagram and Facebook at the same time.
Keep in mind that Instagram's format does not always translate perfectly to Facebook. Captions work the same way, but Instagram Stories become Facebook Stories, and Instagram Reels become Facebook Reels. If you post a carousel (multiple images), Facebook will receive all the images but may display them differently than Instagram does. Test a post to both platforms first to see how it looks before you rely on this feature for important content.
How to manage messages from both accounts in one place
Once accounts are linked, you can see messages from both Instagram and Facebook in the Accounts Center. On Instagram, tap the menu icon, then go to Inbox. You will see a filter at the top that lets you choose Instagram messages, Facebook messages, or both. On Facebook, go to your inbox and you will see messages from both platforms listed together.
Replying to a message from either platform will send the reply back through that same platform — a Facebook message gets a Facebook reply, an Instagram message gets an Instagram reply. You cannot reply to an Instagram message through Facebook or vice versa. This feature is mainly useful for seeing all your conversations in one place rather than switching between apps.
How to unlink your accounts
If you want to disconnect your Facebook Page from your Instagram account, go to Instagram Settings and Privacy, then Accounts Center, then Accounts. Find the Facebook Page you want to unlink and tap it. Tap Remove Account, then confirm. The accounts will be unlinked when ready. Your posts, followers, and messages on both platforms will remain — unlinking does not delete anything.
You can also unlink from Facebook's side. Go to facebook.com, click the menu icon, go to All Tools, search for Accounts Center, then click Accounts. Find your Instagram account, click it, then click Remove Account. Either way works, and the result is the same.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will my Instagram followers automatically follow me on Facebook when I link the accounts?
No. Linking accounts does not transfer followers between platforms. Your Instagram followers stay on Instagram, and your Facebook followers stay on Facebook. You have to build an audience on each platform separately. Linking only affects where your new posts go, not who sees them.
Can I link multiple Instagram accounts to one Facebook Page?
No. One Instagram account can link to one Facebook Page, and one Facebook Page can link to one Instagram account. If you run multiple Instagram accounts, you would need multiple Facebook Pages to link them all. You can switch between linked accounts in Accounts Center, but each pairing is one-to-one.
What happens to my posts if I unlink my accounts?
Posts you made to both platforms while they were linked will stay on both platforms. Unlinking does not delete anything — it just stops new posts from going to both places automatically. If you relink the accounts later, old posts will not reappear on the platform where they were not originally posted.
Do I need a business account to link Facebook and Instagram?
Not always. Personal accounts can link through Accounts Center if both use the same email address. If your emails do not match, converting to a professional account removes that requirement. Business accounts have extra features like insights and scheduling, but linking itself works with personal accounts too.
Can I schedule posts to both platforms at the same time?
Through Instagram's native scheduling, yes — you can schedule a post to go to both platforms at once. Go to create a post, tap Advanced Settings, then Schedule, then pick your date and time. Make sure both your Instagram account and Facebook Page are toggled on before you schedule. The post will go live to both at the same time.