How do I connect my Instagram account to Meta ads?
Switch Instagram to a professional account, then in Meta Business Suite settings click Instagram accounts, Add, and log in to Instagram. New campaigns then include Instagram as a placement. When you build an ad, choose that account under Identity at the ad level, or use your Facebook Page to represent you on Instagram.
To have your Instagram account represent your business in your ads, Meta needs that account linked to the business that runs your ads. The usual route is to add it to your business portfolio in Meta Business Suite, then pick it as the identity on each ad. Only professional Instagram accounts can be connected this way, so you may need to switch your account type first.
What do you need before you start?
| Requirement | Detail from Meta |
|---|---|
| Account type | A professional (business or creator) Instagram account; personal accounts can’t be connected |
| Your access | Full control of the business portfolio |
| Portfolio limit | The Instagram account can only be in one business portfolio |
| Who can advertise with it | Only people with access to its ad accounts |
How do you switch to a professional account?
- Open Instagram and go to Settings.
- Tap Account type and tools.
- Tap Switch to professional account and choose Business or Creator.
How do you add Instagram to your business portfolio?
- Go to Settings in Meta Business Suite for your business portfolio.
- Click Instagram accounts under Accounts in the left menu.
- Click Add, review the information, then click Add Instagram account.
- Enter your Instagram username and password in the new window and click Log in.
- Enter your security code if you use two-factor authentication.
- Click Confirm.
Meta shows a confirmation once it’s added. From then on, new campaigns and ad sets automatically include Instagram as a placement, and you can link new ads to this account.
How do you choose it when building an ad?
- In Ads Manager, create or edit the ad.
- At the ad level, go to Identity.
- Choose your Instagram account, or click Connect profile to add one.
- Check that the Instagram ad preview appears before you publish.
If you have no Instagram account for your business, select a Facebook Page instead. Meta says the Page then represents your business in the Instagram ad.
Why does “Connect an Instagram account” appear?
Meta shows this error when you use Instagram as a placement but your ad has no Instagram account connected and no Facebook Page associated with it. Without either, there’s no identity to represent your business, so the ad can’t show on Instagram. Edit the ad, choose an account or Page under Identity, and click Publish.
FAQ
My Instagram account is in another business portfolio. What can I do?
Meta says each Instagram account can only be in one business portfolio. You can still be given access to it by that portfolio, or you can add it to yours once it has been removed from the other one.
Can I connect Instagram through my Facebook Page instead?
Yes. In Business Suite settings, click Pages under Accounts, select the Page and click Connect assets, then follow the prompts. Meta says this also restores access to business support options such as live chat and email support.
Do I need an Instagram account to appear on Instagram?
Meta says an Instagram account is required to run ads on Instagram, but you can use your Facebook Page as the face of those ads. At the ad level, the connected Page is selected automatically under Instagram account until you connect one.
Sources
- How do I add an Instagram account to my business portfolio in Meta Business Suite? (Meta, checked 2 Oct 2026)
- Connect your Instagram account to a business asset in Meta Business Suite (Meta, checked 2 Oct 2026)
- Troubleshoot the connect an Instagram account error message in Meta Ads Manager (Meta, checked 2 Oct 2026)
- Run ads on Instagram with your Facebook Page (Meta, checked 2 Oct 2026)
Drafted with AI and checked claim by claim against the pages linked under Sources. Found a mistake? Tell us via the corrections policy.