Connecting Instagram and Facebook is the first thing to do in a new account. Once it's done, your posts, DMs, comments, and insights all show up in Ellipsend.
In this guide
What You'll Need Before You Start
A Facebook Business Page
A Professional Instagram account (Business or Creator)
Your Instagram account linked to that Facebook Business Page
Message access turned on in the Instagram app. It's usually on already, and Turn On Message Access in the Instagram App shows where to check.
The Facebook profile that has access to those accounts
Why do I need a Facebook Page? Can't I just login with Instagram?
Meta is still developing the "Login with Instagram" option, which lets you connect Instagram without a Facebook Page. Right now that path doesn't give access to some features, like story and ads insights.
How the Connection Works
Ellipsend is an Official Meta Tech Provider, so you never hand over your Facebook or Instagram password. You use Meta's "Login with Facebook" to give the Ellipsend app permission to act on specific accounts you control. You can review or remove that access anytime from Meta's Business Integrations.
A few pieces are involved, and knowing them makes the rest make sense.
Your Facebook profile is the key. It's how you give access to everything else. It isn't the same thing as your Facebook Business Page.
Your Meta Business (Meta calls it a business portfolio) is the container that owns your accounts.
Your Facebook Business Page is one of those accounts.
Your Instagram account is what most people want to connect. It needs to be a Professional account (Business or Creator) and linked to your Facebook Business Page.
Connecting Step by Step
You'll do this when you first sign up, or anytime from Settings → Connections.
On the Meta card in Settings → Connections, click Login With Facebook. A new tab or pop-up window opens. If nothing happens, check that pop-ups are allowed in your browser.
On "Continue as [Your Name]?", make sure it's the right Facebook profile. If it isn't, choose Log into another account. Otherwise, click Continue.
Meta shows a screen each for your Pages, Businesses, and Instagram accounts. On each one, choose "Opt in to current ... only" so you can see and select the exact account. Choosing "all current and future" hides the list, which is how people end up connecting nothing without realizing it. Pick the Business that owns both your Page and your Instagram account.
On "Review Ellipsend's access request," check that the lines show something selected, like "1 Page selected" or "1 Instagram account selected." Then click Save.
When you see "[Your Name] has been connected to Ellipsend," click Got it and give it a moment. The connection is still finishing, so don't close the window.
Back in Ellipsend, the Meta card shows your Facebook Page and your Instagram account. If either one is wrong, click its row and pick the right one. Both should show Connected. Each Ellipsend organization connects one Instagram account and one Facebook Page at a time.
Test it. Send your account a DM from a different Instagram account. Once it shows up in the inbox, reply from Ellipsend. If both work, you're set.
Common Questions + Troubleshooting
Why isn't my Instagram showing up in the "Login with Facebook" flow or on the Meta card?
It's almost always one of these.
Your Instagram isn't a Professional account (Business or Creator).
It isn't linked to a Facebook Page you own.
It wasn't selected during the flow. Refresh your Facebook permissions, choose "current only," and make sure it's checked.
It's already connected to another Ellipsend organization, yours or someone else's. Each social profile can only be connected to one organization at a time.
How can I connect an Instagram/Facebook that I don't own?
If you're a social media manager or agency connecting a client's accounts, your Facebook profile needs Admin access through Meta Business Manager. The Page and Instagram account also have to be assigned to you. Being added to the Business isn't enough on its own.
Worth knowing: your connection lives on your Ellipsend login, so the dropdowns show every Page and Instagram account you personally connected, whichever Ellipsend organization you're in. If an account is missing, it's usually already connected to another organization, or someone else did the original connection.
I connected my Instagram, but DMs aren't coming in
This is usually an expired connection or a setting on the Facebook Page or Instagram account. Start by refreshing permissions. If that doesn't fix it, check these.
If you've used another DM tool like ManyChat or GoHighLevel, follow How to Give Ellipsend Control of Your Conversations. It's the most common reason DMs don't show up.
Make sure message access is on in the Instagram app. Turn On Message Access in the Instagram App shows where.
For every check in order, see Messages Aren't Arriving: The Connection Checklist.
If you've checked everything and refreshed permissions, message us in the chat and we'll take a look.
Refresh Facebook Permissions
If something isn't working, go to Settings → Connections and click Refresh on the Meta card. On a narrow screen it shows as an icon, so hover it to see its name. It reopens the Facebook window and asks if you want to continue with your previous settings. Click Edit settings to double check which accounts are connected, then finish the flow. This pulls fresh access and clears up the most common issues, like a connection that quietly expired after a Facebook password change.
Refresh is also how you add a new Page later. If you connect or create a new Page and don't see it in Ellipsend, click it to pull the Page in.
If a refresh doesn't fix it, follow Reconnect After a Password Change, a Disconnect, or Expired Permissions.