How to Connect Instagram to a Facebook Page

Why you need a Facebook Page

Instagram's official publishing API (the one any third-party tool has to use) only works with Business or Creator accounts that are connected to a Facebook Page. Personal Instagram accounts can't publish via the API — no exceptions. When you click “Connect Instagram” in PlanMyGrid and see no accounts, this is almost always the reason.

The good news: creating a Page takes about two minutes, and you don't need to post anything on the Page itself. It just has to exist and be linked to your Instagram account.

Checklist before you start

• • A Facebook account that you're logged into
• • An Instagram account switched to Business or Creator (not Personal)
• • Admin access to the Facebook Page you'll link to
• • If you use a Business Portfolio / Meta Business Suite: admin access there too

Step 1 — Switch Instagram to Business or Creator

1. Open the Instagram mobile app and go to your profile.
2. Tap the menu (three lines) → Settings and activity.
3. Scroll to For professionals → Account type and tools.
4. Tap Switch to professional account and pick Business or Creator. Either works for PlanMyGrid.

Switching is free and reversible. You keep your followers, posts, and username.

Step 2 — Create a Facebook Page (if you don't have one)

1. Go to facebook.com/pages/create.
2. Enter a Page name (your brand, your handle, anything — this doesn't have to match your Instagram exactly).
3. Pick a category (e.g. “Digital Creator”, “Brand”, “Artist”).
4. Click Create Page. You can skip profile photo, bio, etc. — they're not required for publishing.

Step 3 — Link Instagram to the Page

There are two ways to link them. The Meta Business Suite route is the most reliable.

Option A — Meta Business Suite (recommended)

1. Go to business.facebook.com/settings/instagram-accounts.
2. Click Add and log in with your Instagram credentials.
3. When prompted, connect the IG account to the Facebook Page you created in Step 2.

Option B — Instagram app

1. Go to your Instagram profile → Edit profile.
2. Tap Page under “Public business information”.
3. Pick the Facebook Page, or create one inline if prompted.

Step 4 — Connect from PlanMyGrid settings

1. Open PlanMyGrid → Settings and scroll to Instagram publishing.
2. Click Connect Instagram.
3. In the Meta popup, select the Business Portfolio (if any), then tick the Instagram account(s) you want to connect.
4. Grant the requested permissions. PlanMyGrid only uses them to publish on your behalf.

You can connect multiple accounts — useful for agencies managing several clients.

Using a Business Portfolio? Read this.

If your Instagram account lives inside a Meta Business Portfolio (often the case for agencies and multi-brand setups), the Facebook Page it's linked to has to live in the same portfolio. If the Page is on your personal Facebook account but the IG is inside a portfolio, Meta will show the IG account in the connection dialog but won't actually grant API access — and the connection will silently drop that account.

To fix it:

1. Open business.facebook.com/settings/pages under the correct portfolio.
2. Click Add → Add a Page (or create a new one here).
3. Back in Accounts → Instagram accounts, link the IG account to that portfolio-owned Page.

Troubleshooting

“No Instagram Business or Creator account found”

Your IG account is still Personal, or isn't linked to a Page. Revisit Steps 1 and 3.

The IG account appears in the Meta dialog but doesn't show up in PlanMyGrid

The linked Page isn't in a portfolio you admin, or isn't linked at all. See the Business Portfolio section above.

“Permissions declined”

During the consent screen, make sure every permission is enabled. If any are toggled off, Meta will let the connection succeed but publishing will fail later.

Token expired

Meta access tokens last 60 days. PlanMyGrid auto-refreshes them, but if you see “Token expired”, just click Connect Instagram again.