Connect Facebook and Instagram
You connect a Facebook Page, and the Instagram account linked to it comes along. You sign in on Facebook's own screens; ContentPilot never sees your password.
Before you start
- You need a Facebook Page (not a personal profile) that you manage.
- For Instagram, the account must be a Business or Creator account linked to that Page.
- Instagram posts need an image, so every post going to Instagram needs a photo or an AI image.
Steps
- In ContentPilot, open the business (or client) and press Connections.
- Next to Instagram + Facebook, press Connect. Facebook opens.
- Sign in to Facebook if it asks, and continue as yourself.
- Facebook asks which Pages to give access to. Choose Opt in to all current and future Pages. Facebook shares none by default, and if you pick none, ContentPilot cannot see your Page.
- If Facebook asks about businesses or Instagram accounts, opt in to those as well.
- Facebook lists the permissions ContentPilot is asking for (below). Leave them all switched on and press Save.
- Back in ContentPilot: if you manage one Page, it connects straight away. If you manage several, ContentPilot asks Which Facebook Page should we publish to? Pick one and press Connect this Page within ten minutes.
The card then shows Connected. If a Business or Creator Instagram account is linked to that Page, Instagram is connected at the same time.
Facebook changes the wording of these screens from time to time, so yours may look a little different.
What each permission is for
These are the only permissions ContentPilot asks Facebook for. It does not ask to read your messages, and it never posts to your personal profile.
| Permission | What ContentPilot uses it for |
|---|---|
pages_show_list | See the list of Facebook Pages you manage, so you can pick the one to post to. |
pages_manage_posts | Publish posts and photos to the Page you picked, when you approve and schedule them. |
pages_read_engagement | Read basic details of that Page, such as which Instagram account is linked to it. |
instagram_basic | Find the Instagram account linked to your Page, and read its follower count and the likes and comments on the posts ContentPilot published. |
instagram_content_publish | Publish photos with captions to that Instagram account. |
business_management | Pages owned through a Meta business portfolio only show up with this. Without it, Facebook hands back an empty list of Pages. |
To disconnect, press Disconnect on the Connections page. You can also remove ContentPilot in Facebook, under Settings, then Business integrations. More in our privacy policy and on deleting your data.
FAQ
Common problems
It says Facebook connected, but no Page was shared.
Facebook shares no Pages unless you choose them. Press Connect again, and on the screen that asks which Pages to give access to, choose Opt in to all current and future Pages. Leave every permission switched on and press Save.
Facebook connected, but Instagram did not.
Instagram connects only if it is a Business or Creator account linked to the Facebook Page you picked. Check the account type in the Instagram app, check the link in your Page settings, then press Reconnect.
It says my Instagram is a personal account.
Instagram does not let apps post to personal accounts. Switch to a Business or Creator account in the Instagram app (it is free), then reconnect.
The connection timed out.
The whole connection has to finish within ten minutes, in the same browser you started in. Press Connect again and pick your Page straight away.
Can my client connect their own accounts?
Yes. On the Connections page press Send link via email. Your client gets an email with a Connect My Accounts button and goes through the same Facebook screens themselves. You never see their password.