Connect Instagram & Facebook
Link your Meta accounts so ChatGenius can answer your DMs and comments. One connection covers both Facebook Messenger and Instagram, and you log in through Meta's official sign-in, so you never share your password.
Overview
Connecting is the step that takes ChatGenius live. Once you have set up and tested your AI, you connect a channel and the assistant starts answering real messages. You do this from Connect › Channels › Meta in your ChatGenius portal.
There are two ways to connect, and you only need one:
Connect with Facebook
Recommended. Covers Facebook Messenger and Instagram in a single sign-in. Best for any business that has a Facebook Page.
Connect with Instagram
Instagram only. For businesses that run on Instagram and do not have a Facebook Page.
Only the account owner can connect or reconnect Meta. Team members can work conversations once a channel is connected, but they will not see the connect button.
Before You Start
Make sure you have the right kind of account before you begin. Most failed connections come down to one of these.
- For Facebook and Messenger: you need to be an admin of a Facebook Page. A personal profile is not enough. If you do not manage a Page yet, create one first at facebook.com/pages/create.
- For Instagram: your Instagram account must be a Professional account (Business or Creator). You can switch for free in the Instagram app under Settings › Account type and tools.
- To connect Instagram through Facebook: your Instagram Professional account should be linked to your Facebook Page (Page Settings › Linked accounts). This is what lets one sign-in cover both platforms.
- You are signed in to ChatGenius as the account owner.
Have a Facebook Page with an Instagram account linked to it? Use Connect with Facebook. It picks up both in one step.
60-Second Walkthrough
Here is the whole thing start to finish. Most businesses are connected in under a minute.
How to connect your Meta account to ChatGenius.
Which Login to Choose
Pick the path that matches your setup.
| Your situation | Use | You get |
|---|---|---|
| You have a Facebook Page (with or without Instagram) | Connect with Facebook | Messenger plus Instagram, if an Instagram account is linked to the Page |
| You run on Instagram and have no Facebook Page | Connect with Instagram | Instagram DMs and comments only |
| You want both platforms automated | Connect with Facebook | The single sign-in that covers both |
If you are unsure, start with Connect with Facebook. It is the option marked Recommended in the portal.
Connect with Facebook
- In your portal, go to Connect › Channels › Meta.
- Click Connect with Facebook.
- A Facebook window opens. Log in if needed, then review and allow the requested permissions. Keep every box checked, because turning permissions off stops features like messaging or comment replies from working.
- If you manage more than one Facebook Page, ChatGenius shows a Choose Your Page screen. Each Page shows whether an Instagram account is linked to it. Select the Page you want this workspace to use and click Connect Selected Account.
- If you manage only one Page, ChatGenius connects it automatically and skips the picker.
- You land back on the Meta panel with a Connected badge and your Facebook Page and Instagram account shown under Connected assets.
The Page you choose is the one tied to this workspace. To switch to a different Page later, use Reconnect and pick another one.
Connect with Instagram
Use this only if you do not have a Facebook Page. Your Instagram account must be a Professional account.
- Go to Connect › Channels › Meta.
- Click Connect with Instagram (the option below the Facebook button).
- Log in to Instagram and allow the requested permissions.
- ChatGenius saves the connection, subscribes your account to receive messages, and returns you to the Meta panel showing your Instagram account as connected.
Instagram-only connections do not include Facebook Messenger. If you later add a Facebook Page, use Reconnect with the Facebook option to cover both.
What ChatGenius Can Access
When you connect, Meta asks you to approve a set of permissions. In plain terms, they let ChatGenius do the following on the Page and Instagram account you choose:
- Send and receive DMs on Messenger and Instagram.
- Read and reply to comments, which powers comment-to-DM automations.
- Publish and schedule posts through Content Studio.
- Read analytics on your posts and account.
- See the list of Pages you manage so you can choose one.
A few things worth knowing about how this is handled:
- You sign in through Meta's official screens. ChatGenius never sees your password.
- Access tokens are encrypted before they are stored.
- You can revoke access at any time, either with Disconnect in ChatGenius or from your Facebook and Instagram security settings.
If ChatGenius adds a new capability later, you may be asked to reconnect once to approve the new permission. Existing automations keep running in the meantime.
After You Connect
On the Meta panel you will now see:
- Connected assets: your Facebook Page and Instagram account, each with its name and ID.
- Test connection: a button that confirms ChatGenius can reach your accounts. Run it once after connecting.
- AI Assistant toggle: turns automatic replies to DMs on or off. Leave it on to let the AI answer when your team is away.
- Automation toggle: controls comment triggers and quick replies.
- Connection info: when you connected and when the last message came in.
Send your Page or Instagram account a test DM from another account to watch the AI respond. Nothing is live to your audience until you are happy with the replies.
Reconnect or Disconnect
Once a channel is connected, the Meta panel header shows a Connected badge and a menu (the three-dot icon, owner only) with two actions:
- Reconnect: runs the sign-in again. Use this to approve new permissions, switch to a different Facebook Page, or fix a connection that has expired or been revoked.
- Disconnect: removes the connection and stops ChatGenius from sending or receiving messages on those accounts.
If a connection ever drops, usually after a password change, a Meta security check, or removing ChatGenius from your business settings, ChatGenius emails the account owner and flags it in your dashboard so nothing goes unnoticed. While a connection is down, new DMs do not get AI replies, comment triggers do not fire, and scheduled posts do not publish. Reconnecting takes about 30 seconds and the AI picks up right where it left off.
Troubleshooting
"No pages found"
You are not an admin of any Facebook Page, or you unchecked the Pages permission during sign-in. Make sure you have admin access to at least one Page, then click Connect again and allow every permission.
My Instagram account is missing or shows "No Instagram"
Instagram only appears when it is a Professional account that is linked to the Facebook Page you selected. Switch your Instagram account to Professional in the Instagram app, link it to your Page in Page Settings › Linked accounts, then reconnect.
The AI connected but is not receiving Instagram DMs
In the Instagram app, open Settings and privacy › Messages and story replies › Connected tools and make sure Allow access to messages is turned on. Confirm the account is a Professional account, then use Reconnect. This resolves most cases where messages are not arriving.
"Your session expired" or "Security validation failed"
This is a safety check that timed out. Just click Connect again and complete the sign-in in one go.
"Connection request was cancelled"
The sign-in was closed or a permission was declined. Reconnect and accept all the requested permissions.
FAQ
Do I need a Facebook Page to use Instagram?
No. Use Connect with Instagram for an Instagram-only setup. You will need a Facebook Page only if you also want to automate Facebook Messenger.
Is it safe? Does ChatGenius see my password?
No. You sign in on Meta's own screens and approve permissions there. ChatGenius receives an access token, which is encrypted before storage, and never your password.
Can my team connect the account?
No. Connecting and reconnecting Meta is limited to the account owner. Team members can handle conversations after a channel is connected.
I manage several Pages. Which one gets connected?
The one you pick on the Choose Your Page screen. Each workspace connects one Page. To change it, use Reconnect and select a different Page.
Will connecting post anything or message my followers?
No. Connecting only links your accounts. The AI replies to people who message you, and it posts only content you schedule yourself in Content Studio.
How do I disconnect?
Open the three-dot menu on the Meta panel and choose Disconnect, or revoke access from your Facebook and Instagram security settings.
Next Steps
With your account connected, here is where to go next:
- Build a flow to automate multi-step conversations.
- New to the product? Start with What is ChatGenius.
- Browse every guide in the documentation hub.