> ## 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
> Link Instagram to Ayrshare directly or through a Facebook Page, switch to a Business or Creator account, and set up music attach eligibility for Reels.
## 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](https://www.ayrshare.com/docs/multiple-users/manage-user-profiles.md#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`](https://www.ayrshare.com/docs/apis/post/social-networks/instagram#adding-music-to-a-reel), choose option 2 now rather than relinking later. See [Music Attach Eligibility](https://www.ayrshare.com/docs/dashboard/connect-social-accounts/instagram.md#music-attach-eligibility-facebook-login-required).
Instagram does not support Personal Facebook accounts, Creator Studio accounts, and publishing to IGTV.
[See below](https://www.ayrshare.com/docs/dashboard/connect-social-accounts/instagram.md#enabling-an-instagram-business-or-creator-account) for details.
### Linking Instagram Directly
**1. Click To Link Instagram**
Click the Instagram icon on the Social Accounts page.
**2. Instagram Login**
Input your credentials and click **Log in**.
**3. Instagram Permissions**
Toggle on all permissions for Instagram and click **Allow**.
**4. Confirmation**
Your Social Accounts page will now be updated with your Instagram account.
### Linking Instagram through Facebook (Facebook Page required)
> [!WARNING]
>
> Please be sure you are the admin of the Facebook Page and **grant all
> permissions** to Pages, Instagram accounts, and selections. Failure to do so
> might prevent successful posting.
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*.
**1. Click To Link Instagram**
Click the Instagram icon on the Social Accounts page.
**2. 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.
**3. Edit Instagram Settings**
Click **Edit Settings** during the initial set up.
**4. Authorize Instagram Business or Creator Accounts**
Check all the **Instagram Business Accounts** or **Instagram Creator Accounts**. Click **Next**.
**5. Select Facebook Pages**
Check all **Facebook Pages**. Click **Next**.
**6. 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.
**7. Confirmation**
Your Social Accounts page will now be updated with your Instagram account.
## Enabling an Instagram Business or Creator Account
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:
-
Go to your profile and tap the menu icon ≡ in the upper right corner to go
to the **Settings and activity** page.
- Scroll down to the **For professionals** section.
- Click **Account type and tools**.
- Tap **Switch to professional account**.
-
Go through the steps to set up your account and select **Creator** or
**Business**.
### 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:
-
Go to your profile and tap the menu icon ≡ in the upper right corner to go
to the **Settings and activity** page.
- Scroll down to the **For professionals** section.
- Click **Creator (or Business) tools and controls**.
- Scroll down and tap **Switch account type**.
- Choose to switch to **Creator** or **Business**.
> [!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.
## Music Attach Eligibility (Facebook Login required)
> [!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](https://www.ayrshare.com/docs/apis/media/search-instagram-audio.md), [audio
> lookup](https://www.ayrshare.com/docs/apis/media/get-instagram-audio.md), and publishing a Reel with
> [`audioConfiguration`](https://www.ayrshare.com/docs/apis/post/social-networks/instagram#adding-music-to-a-reel).
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
- An Instagram **Business** or **Creator** account. Personal accounts cannot publish through the API at all.
- A **Facebook Page connected to that Instagram account**. This is what the Facebook Login flow authenticates against.
- Instagram linked to Ayrshare with **Instagram Login disabled**, so the Facebook Login flow is used.
### Setting it up
**1. Confirm the account is Business or Creator**
See [Enabling an Instagram Business or Creator
Account](https://www.ayrshare.com/docs/dashboard/connect-social-accounts/instagram.md#enabling-an-instagram-business-or-creator-account)
below. A Personal account cannot be used.
**2. 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](https://www.ayrshare.com/docs/dashboard/connect-social-accounts/instagram.md#connect-a-facebook-page-to-instagram)
below.
**3. Disable Instagram Login in Ayrshare**
In the Ayrshare dashboard, turn off [Instagram
Login](https://www.ayrshare.com/docs/multiple-users/manage-user-profiles.md#instagram-login). This switches linking to the
Facebook Login flow, which requires the connected Page.
**4. Relink Instagram**
Unlink the Instagram account in Ayrshare and link it again, following [Linking Instagram through
Facebook](https://www.ayrshare.com/docs/dashboard/connect-social-accounts/instagram.md#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.
**5. Verify**
Call [audio search](https://www.ayrshare.com/docs/apis/media/search-instagram-audio.md) with any keyword. A `200` with a
`status` of `success` confirms eligibility. A `514` means the account is still on Instagram
Login.
> [!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.
## Connect a Facebook Page to Instagram
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).
**1. 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.
**2. 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.
> [!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.
## Troubleshooting Instagram
If you're having issues with Instagram please see the [troubleshooting guide](https://www.ayrshare.com/docs/help-center/technical-support/facebook-or-instagram-linking-issues.md).
## Additional Instagram Information
> [!NOTE]
>
> 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.
* Please see here for details on [posting to Instagram](https://www.ayrshare.com/docs/apis/post/social-networks/instagram.md), [getting analytics](https://www.ayrshare.com/docs/apis/analytics/overview.md), [managing comments](https://www.ayrshare.com/docs/apis/comments/overview.md), or [retrieving history.](https://www.ayrshare.com/docs/apis/history/overview.md)
* For more information on recommended image sizes, please see:
> [card] [Image and Video Guidelines](https://www.ayrshare.com/docs/media-guidelines/instagram.md)
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