> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://www.ayrshare.com/docs/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Instagram Linking

> Authorizing Instagram with Ayrshare

## How to Link Instagram

<Tip>
  The following is a guide for linking Instagram. There are two ways to link Instagram:

  1. [Directly link Instagram account to Ayrshare.](#linking-instagram-directly)
  2. [Link Instagram account to Ayrshare through a Facebook page.](#linking-instagram-through-facebook-facebook-page-required)

  Option 1 is the default option. If option 2 is preferred, in the dashboard settings, disable [Instagram Login](/docs/multiple-users/manage-user-profiles#instagram-login) to use the authentication flow that requires a Facebook Page to be associated with the Instagram account.

  **Attaching music to a Reel requires option 2.** Meta's Audio API is not available to accounts linked with Instagram Login, so if you plan to use [`audioConfiguration`](/docs/apis/post/social-networks/instagram#adding-music-to-a-reel), choose option 2 now rather than relinking later. See [Music Attach Eligibility](/docs/dashboard/connect-social-accounts/instagram#music-attach-eligibility-facebook-login-required).
</Tip>

Instagram does not support Personal Facebook accounts, Creator Studio accounts, and publishing to IGTV.

[See below](/docs/dashboard/connect-social-accounts/instagram#enabling-an-instagram-business-or-creator-account) for details.

<h3 id="linking-instagram-directly">
  Linking Instagram Directly
</h3>

<Steps>
  <Step title="Click To Link Instagram">
    Click the Instagram icon on the Social Accounts page.

    <img class="center" width="500" src="https://mintcdn.com/ayrshare-docs/BkNwRAXLA9nG0LQA/images/dashboard/instagram-click-to-link.webp?fit=max&auto=format&n=BkNwRAXLA9nG0LQA&q=85&s=759fa4b1069a59bb8c484ce9128197d9" alt="Instagram Click to Link" data-path="images/dashboard/instagram-click-to-link.webp" />
  </Step>

  <Step title="Instagram Login">
    Input your credentials and click **Log in**.

    <img class="center" width="500" src="https://mintcdn.com/ayrshare-docs/BkNwRAXLA9nG0LQA/images/dashboard/instagram-direct-login.webp?fit=max&auto=format&n=BkNwRAXLA9nG0LQA&q=85&s=7d3ed0d1a118b9b4abe13ad804f1d4df" alt="Instagram Login" data-path="images/dashboard/instagram-direct-login.webp" />
  </Step>

  <Step title="Instagram Permissions">
    Toggle on all permissions for Instagram and click **Allow**.

    <img class="center" width="500" src="https://mintcdn.com/ayrshare-docs/BkNwRAXLA9nG0LQA/images/dashboard/instagram-permissions.webp?fit=max&auto=format&n=BkNwRAXLA9nG0LQA&q=85&s=8d0e21537a65161ee1c88f65ff6bd133" alt="Instagram Permissions" data-path="images/dashboard/instagram-permissions.webp" />
  </Step>

  <Step title="Confirmation">
    Your Social Accounts page will now be updated with your Instagram account.

    <img class="center" width="500" src="https://mintcdn.com/ayrshare-docs/BkNwRAXLA9nG0LQA/images/dashboard/instagram-linked.webp?fit=max&auto=format&n=BkNwRAXLA9nG0LQA&q=85&s=ca60cc1c3cd9057da433dc5f446f671d" alt="Instagram Confirmation" data-path="images/dashboard/instagram-linked.webp" />
  </Step>
</Steps>

<h3 id="linking-instagram-through-facebook-facebook-page-required">
  Linking Instagram through Facebook (Facebook Page required)
</h3>

<Warning>
  Please be sure you are the admin of Facebook Page and **grant all
  permissions** to Pages, Instagram accounts, and selections. Failure to do so
  might prevent successful posting.
</Warning>

This Instagram linking process authenticates through Facebook, so when you
click the Instagram icon on the Social Accounts page, a Facebook sign-in will
pop-up - *please be sure you allow pop-ups*.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Click To Link Instagram">
    Click the Instagram icon on the Social Accounts page.

    <img class="center" width="500" src="https://mintcdn.com/ayrshare-docs/BkNwRAXLA9nG0LQA/images/dashboard/instagram-click-to-link.webp?fit=max&auto=format&n=BkNwRAXLA9nG0LQA&q=85&s=759fa4b1069a59bb8c484ce9128197d9" alt="Instagram Click to Link" data-path="images/dashboard/instagram-click-to-link.webp" />
  </Step>

  <Step title="First Time Instagram Linking">
    The first time you link Instagram, you will be asked to authenticate through Facebook.

    If you have previously connected Ayrshare with Facebook and don't see this image, skip to step 3.

    <img class="center" width="500" src="https://mintcdn.com/ayrshare-docs/BkNwRAXLA9nG0LQA/images/dashboard/insta-fb-login.webp?fit=max&auto=format&n=BkNwRAXLA9nG0LQA&q=85&s=b7ef9c22d6ca1359c161fa3661a22a90" alt="Instagram Login via Facebook" data-path="images/dashboard/insta-fb-login.webp" />
  </Step>

  <Step title="Edit Instagram Settings">
    Click **Edit Settings** during the initial set up.

    <img class="center" width="500" src="https://mintcdn.com/ayrshare-docs/BkNwRAXLA9nG0LQA/images/dashboard/edit%20settings.webp?fit=max&auto=format&n=BkNwRAXLA9nG0LQA&q=85&s=beab21a35da7b6b8b69ed8d569709d5e" alt="Continue and allow all permissions for Instagram" data-path="images/dashboard/edit settings.webp" />
  </Step>

  <Step title="Authorize Instagram Business or Creator Accounts">
    Check all the **Instagram Business Accounts** or **Instagram Creator Accounts**. Click **Next**.

    <img class="center" width="500" src="https://mintcdn.com/ayrshare-docs/BkNwRAXLA9nG0LQA/images/dashboard/all%20insta%20accounts.webp?fit=max&auto=format&n=BkNwRAXLA9nG0LQA&q=85&s=659c2a444f90ccab0f967ac2b21c9916" alt="Select all accounts" data-path="images/dashboard/all insta accounts.webp" />
  </Step>

  <Step title="Select Facebook Pages">
    Check all **Facebook Pages**. Click **Next**.

    <img class="center" width="500" src="https://mintcdn.com/ayrshare-docs/Nmrhj2Gh7WSf62Bh/images/dashboard/all%20FB%20pages.webp?fit=max&auto=format&n=Nmrhj2Gh7WSf62Bh&q=85&s=20e5601530b38c50129b0fe343eae975" alt="Select all Pages" data-path="images/dashboard/all FB pages.webp" />
  </Step>

  <Step title="Enable Permissions">
    Turn all permissions to **Yes**. Click **Done**. You will then be asked to
    select a specific Instagram account to link with Ayrshare. Once selected your
    link will be complete and you can start posting to Instagram.

    <img class="center" width="500" src="https://mintcdn.com/ayrshare-docs/Nmrhj2Gh7WSf62Bh/images/dashboard/all%20IG%20permissions.webp?fit=max&auto=format&n=Nmrhj2Gh7WSf62Bh&q=85&s=ec249d48ec67e2c9733b5e20bd6c36c9" alt="Allow all IG capabilities" data-path="images/dashboard/all IG permissions.webp" />
  </Step>

  <Step title="Confirmation">
    Your Social Accounts page will now be updated with your Instagram account.

    <img class="center" width="500" src="https://mintcdn.com/ayrshare-docs/BkNwRAXLA9nG0LQA/images/dashboard/instagram-linked.webp?fit=max&auto=format&n=BkNwRAXLA9nG0LQA&q=85&s=ca60cc1c3cd9057da433dc5f446f671d" alt="Instagram Confirmation" data-path="images/dashboard/instagram-linked.webp" />
  </Step>
</Steps>

<h2 id="enabling-an-instagram-business-or-creator-account">
  Enabling an Instagram Business or Creator Account
</h2>

Instagram requires that your account be an **Instagram Business** or **Instagram Creator** account.

Learn more about [Instagram Business and Creator accounts](https://www.ayrshare.com/blog/understanding-the-difference-between-the-instagram-business-creator-and-personal-profiles/).

### Switching from a Personal to Business or Creator Account

If you have a personal Instagram account, open up the Instagram mobile app:

<ul class="custom-bullets">
  <li>
    Go to your profile and tap the menu icon ≡ in the upper right corner to go
    to the **Settings and activity** page.
  </li>

  <li>Scroll down to the **For professionals** section.</li>
  <li>Click **Account type and tools**.</li>
  <li>Tap **Switch to professional account**.</li>

  <li>
    Go through the steps to set up your account and select with **Creator** or
    **Business**.
  </li>
</ul>

### Switching from a Business to Creator or Vice Versa

If you want to switch from a Business account to a Creator account or vice versa:

<ul class="custom-bullets">
  <li>
    Go to your profile and tap the menu icon ≡ in the upper right corner to go
    to the **Settings and activity** page.
  </li>

  <li>Scroll down to the **For professionals** section.</li>
  <li>Click **Creator (or Business) tools and controls**.</li>
  <li>Scroll down and tap **Switch account type**.</li>
  <li>Choose to switch to **Creator** or **Business**.</li>
</ul>

<Note>
  If you do have a Business or Creator account, but when linking Ayrshare you
  receive an error saying your account isn't a Creator or Business, try
  switching your Instagram back to **Personal** and then back to **Creator** or
  **Business**. This often resets the account type and allows you to link
  Ayrshare.
</Note>

<h2 id="music-attach-eligibility-facebook-login-required">
  Music Attach Eligibility (Facebook Login required)
</h2>

<Warning>
  **Attaching music to a Reel only works when Instagram is linked through Facebook Login.** If your
  Instagram is linked with **Instagram Login** — the Ayrshare default — every audio request fails
  with `code: 514`, including [audio search](/docs/apis/media/search-instagram-audio), [audio
  lookup](/docs/apis/media/get-instagram-audio), and publishing a Reel with
  [`audioConfiguration`](/docs/apis/post/social-networks/instagram#adding-music-to-a-reel).
</Warning>

This is a restriction Meta places on its Audio API, not an Ayrshare limitation. Meta's documentation states the API "is only available on the Instagram API with Facebook Login. It is not supported on the Instagram API with Instagram Login." There is no permission, plan, or setting on the Ayrshare side that changes it.

### What you need

<ul class="custom-bullets">
  <li>An Instagram **Business** or **Creator** account. Personal accounts cannot publish through the API at all.</li>
  <li>A **Facebook Page connected to that Instagram account**. This is what the Facebook Login flow authenticates against.</li>
  <li>Instagram linked to Ayrshare with **Instagram Login disabled**, so the Facebook Login flow is used.</li>
</ul>

### Setting it up

<Steps>
  <Step title="Confirm the account is Business or Creator">
    See [Enabling an Instagram Business or Creator
    Account](/docs/dashboard/connect-social-accounts/instagram#enabling-an-instagram-business-or-creator-account)
    below. A Personal account cannot be used.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Connect a Facebook Page to the Instagram account">
    In Facebook, switch to the Page, then go to **Settings & privacy → Settings → Permissions →
    Linked accounts** and connect Instagram. The direct link is
    [facebook.com/settings/?tab=linked\_profiles](https://www.facebook.com/settings/?tab=linked_profiles).

    Full detail in [Connect a Facebook Page to
    Instagram](/docs/dashboard/connect-social-accounts/instagram#connect-a-facebook-page-to-instagram)
    below.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Disable Instagram Login in Ayrshare">
    In the Ayrshare dashboard, turn off [Instagram
    Login](/docs/multiple-users/manage-user-profiles#instagram-login). This switches linking to the
    Facebook Login flow, which requires the connected Page.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Relink Instagram">
    Unlink the Instagram account in Ayrshare and link it again, following [Linking Instagram through
    Facebook](/docs/dashboard/connect-social-accounts/instagram#linking-instagram-through-facebook-facebook-page-required).
    Grant **all** permissions, including `instagram_content_publish`.

    An account that was already linked with Instagram Login **must be relinked**. Changing the
    dashboard setting alone does not convert an existing connection.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Verify">
    Call [audio search](/docs/apis/media/search-instagram-audio) with any keyword. A `200` with a
    `status` of `success` confirms eligibility. A `514` means the account is still on Instagram
    Login.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Note>
  **Instagram Login is the default and is the right choice for most accounts.** It is simpler and
  needs no Facebook Page. Only switch to Facebook Login if you need the Audio API or another
  Facebook-Login-only feature, since relinking interrupts posting until it completes.
</Note>

<h2 id="connect-a-facebook-page-to-instagram">
  Connect a Facebook Page to Instagram
</h2>

If you already have an Instagram Business or Creator Account and want to connect a Facebook Page, see [detailed instructions](https://www.facebook.com/business/help/898752960195806).

Or if you want to [create a new Facebook Page](https://www.facebook.com/pages/create/?ref_type=site_footer).

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open Linked accounts">
    Log into Facebook on desktop and switch to the **Facebook Page** you want to connect (not your
    personal profile). Go to **Settings & privacy → Settings**, then in the left-hand panel find the
    **Permissions** section and click **Linked accounts**.

    The direct link is
    [facebook.com/settings/?tab=linked\_profiles](https://www.facebook.com/settings/?tab=linked_profiles)
    while you have the Page selected.

    The panel lists **Instagram**. If a connection already exists it reads
    `Connected to @yourhandle`. If it reads `Not connected`, click the row.

    <img class="center" src="https://mintcdn.com/ayrshare-docs/8ei0WBUY6HOKGgBm/images/dashboard/instagram-fb-linked-accounts.webp?fit=max&auto=format&n=8ei0WBUY6HOKGgBm&q=85&s=4c3d4925036e9968454413a1758473e9" alt="Facebook Settings and privacy, Permissions section, Linked accounts panel showing Instagram not connected" width="1643" height="848" data-path="images/dashboard/instagram-fb-linked-accounts.webp" />
  </Step>

  <Step title="Connect the account">
    Click **Connect account** and complete the Instagram login prompt.

    Note Facebook's own wording here: it connects your Facebook Page to a **professional** Instagram
    profile. A personal Instagram profile is switched to professional as part of connecting, which
    is the Business or Creator account type Ayrshare requires.

    <img class="center" src="https://mintcdn.com/ayrshare-docs/8ei0WBUY6HOKGgBm/images/dashboard/instagram-fb-connect-account.webp?fit=max&auto=format&n=8ei0WBUY6HOKGgBm&q=85&s=9d4eea98aeacead6fec7c9082d0f19ec" alt="No Instagram connected screen with the Connect account button" width="1643" height="848" data-path="images/dashboard/instagram-fb-connect-account.webp" />
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Warning>
  Facebook has moved this setting. Older guides (including earlier versions of this page) tell you
  to open **Settings → Instagram** from a "Manage Page" menu. That path no longer exists. The
  setting now lives under **Permissions → Linked accounts**, as described above.
</Warning>

## Troubleshooting Instagram

If you're having issues with Instagram please see the [troubleshooting guide](/docs/help-center/technical-support/facebook_or_instagram_linking_issues).

## Additional Instagram Information

<Info>
  Instagram has very strict requirements on image sizes. Images must have a width of at least 1080 pixels with an aspect ratio between 1.91:1 and 4:5.

  Ayrshare will detect if your image size is not correct and respond with an error.
</Info>

* Please see here for details on [posting to Instagram](/docs/apis/post/social-networks/instagram), [getting analytics](/docs/apis/analytics/overview), [managing comments](/docs/apis/comments/overview), or [retrieving history.](/docs/apis/history/overview)
* For more information on recommended image sizes, please see:

<Card title="Image and Video Guidelines" icon="link" href="/docs/media-guidelines/instagram" horizontal />