How to Know if Facebook and Instagram Are Linked

Ever tried to cross-post an Instagram Story to Facebook only to find it didn't work? Or maybe you've been digging through settings trying to run an ad on both platforms at once. Wondering if your accounts are properly connected is a common headache, but confirming that link is the first step to unlocking some of Meta's most powerful, time-saving features. This guide will walk you through exactly how to check the connection status from both platforms and fix common issues you might run into.

Why a Proper Link Between Facebook and Instagram Matters

You might think "linking" just means you can share an Instagram post to your Facebook feed. While that's part of it, the real benefits come from a deeper, official connection through Meta's Accounts Center. When your Instagram Business or Creator account is correctly paired with a Facebook Business Page, you open up a much smoother workflow.

Here’s a look at what a proper connection lets you do:

• Streamlined Cross-Posting: Effortlessly share posts, Stories, and Reels to both platforms simultaneously from the Instagram app. You can create content once and push it to both audiences, saving you a ton of time.
• Unified Inbox Management: Manage all your Instagram DMs, Facebook messages, and comments from one central location - the Meta Business Suite inbox. No more bouncing between apps trying to keep up with your community.
• Smarter Advertising: Run ad campaigns that target users across both Facebook and Instagram from one dashboard in Ads Manager. This allows you to reach a wider audience and lets Meta optimize your budget by showing ads where they're most likely to perform well.
• Synced Profile Information: You can choose to sync your profile picture, name, or username across platforms, creating a more cohesive brand identity for your followers.
• Integrated Shopping Tools: If you use e-commerce, linking your accounts is essential for setting up Instagram Shopping and Facebook Shops, creating a seamless customer experience from product discovery to checkout.

Simply put, a correct link isn't just a gimmick, it’s the foundation for managing your presence on Meta’s platforms efficiently and professionally.

How to Quickly Check Your Connection Status

The good news is that you don't have to guess. Meta’s Accounts Center is the single source of truth for confirming the connection. You can access it from either the Instagram or Facebook app.

Method 1: Checking from the Instagram App (Easiest)

For most people, checking from your phone is the fastest way to get an answer. Follow these steps:

1. Open the Instagram app and go to your profile page.
2. Tap the hamburger menu (☰) in the top-right corner.
3. At the top of the menu, select Settings and privacy.
4. Under "Your account," tap on Accounts Center. This is your command hub for all connected Meta accounts.
5. At the very top, you'll see a section called Profiles.

If your accounts are linked, you will see both your Instagram profile and your Facebook profile listed together. The small profile icons and names will appear side-by-side. If you only see your Instagram profile, they are not linked.

Method 2: Checking from Facebook (Desktop)

If you primarily manage your business from a desktop, checking through Facebook or Meta Business Suite is the way to go. This method is especially useful for confirming that your Instagram account is linked to the correct Facebook Business Page.

1. Navigate to your Facebook Business Page.
2. In the left-hand menu under "Manage Page," click on Settings.
3. On the next menu, find and click Linked Accounts.
4. You'll see options for Instagram and WhatsApp. Click on Instagram.

If your Instagram account is correctly connected to that specific page, you'll see your Instagram handle and a summary of what you can manage. If it says "Connect Account," then your profile is not linked to that Facebook page.

Checking via Meta Business Suite:

For a more comprehensive look at all your business assets, use the Business Suite:

1. Go to business.facebook.com.
2. Click the All tools menu (hamburger icon) on the left sidebar.
3. Choose Page settings.
4. From there, you'll see the same menu as above. Select Linked Accounts and then Instagram to confirm the connection.

Method 3: Checking from the Facebook App

The process on the Facebook mobile app is almost identical to using Instagram, since they both point to the same Accounts Center.

1. Open the Facebook app and tap your profile picture or the menu icon (☰) in the corner.
2. Scroll down and tap Settings & Privacy, then select Settings.
3. You will see the Accounts Center box right at the top. Tap into it.
4. Just like on Instagram, check the Profiles section to see if both your Facebook and Instagram profiles are listed.

Troubleshooting Common Linking Issues

Sometimes you’ll find that the accounts are "sort of" linked - you can share posts but not access professional features. Other times, the connection seems to break for no reason. Here are solutions to the most frequent problems.

Problem: "My Instagram is linked to my personal Facebook profile, not my Business Page."

This is easily the most common mistake. When this happens, you lose access to the unified inbox, advertising, and other business tools. It’s because Meta requires agency and communication between professional assets.

• The Symptom: You can share an Instagram post to your personal Facebook timeline, but you don't get Instagram DMs in your Business Suite inbox, and you can't create ads for both platforms.
• The Fix: You need to remove the connection to your personal profile first, then re-link to the correct Business Page. Go into Accounts Center > Accounts, select your personal Facebook profile, and tap Remove. Once it's unlinked, you can go back through the process of linking your Instagram account again, this time making sure to select your professional Business Page when prompted.

Problem: "The connection keeps dropping, and I have to re-authenticate."

Losing the connection between platforms is incredibly frustrating, especially for social media managers running campaigns.

• The Symptom: Features that were working suddenly stop. Meta Business Suite might show an error message asking you to re-confirm your connection. Often, this happens after a password change or a security log-in.
• The Fix: This is a security feature, not necessarily a bug. When passwords change or Meta sees a new device log-in, it often revokes permissions to confirm your identity. The solution is to proactively re-authenticate. Navigate to Accounts Center, where you may see a prompt to review your account connection. Following the steps to re-enter your password will typically restore the link.

Problem: "I don't have permission to link the accounts."

You might follow all the steps perfectly but get stonewalled by an error message about a lack of permissions.

• The Symptom: During the linking process, Instagram tells you that you don't have permission to connect to a specific Facebook Page, even if you’re able to post on it.
• The Fix: To link an Instagram account to a Facebook Business Page, you must have Admin access to that Page. Being an Editor, Moderator, or Analyst isn’t enough. You need the person who owns the Business Page or another Admin to go into Page Settings > Page Roles (classic view) or Page Access (new Pages experience) and grant you full admin privileges. Once you have admin access, the linking process should work smoothly.

Problem: “I can see they’re connected, but features are still missing.”

If Accounts Center confirms the link but you’re still missing tools, the problem might be your Instagram account type.

• The Symptom: The accounts are linked, yet you don’t have access to analytics, an integrated inbox, or ad creation tools.
• The Fix: Ensure your Instagram profile is set to a Business or Creator account. A Personal account can be linked to Facebook but won't give you access to any of Meta's professional tools. To check, go to your Instagram profile > Edit Profile. The setting is usually called "Switch to Professional Account" if you are currently on a personal one. Switching is free and immediately unlocks all the business integrations.

Final Thoughts

Confirming your Facebook and Instagram are linked is a simple check that takes less than a minute through Meta's Accounts Center. When done correctly, this connection transforms two separate platforms into a cohesive marketing ecosystem, saving you time with features like cross-posting, a unified inbox, and integrated advertising.

Once you’ve confirmed your accounts are correctly linked, managing them shouldn't feel like wrestling with software designed a decade ago. At our company, we built Postbase because we were tired of tools that constantly disconnect or struggled with modern content like Reels and Stories. We prioritize rock-solid account connections and a clean interface, so you can plan and schedule your content across all your platforms with confidence and get back to what matters.