Connect Facebook and Instagram
Authorize once with Facebook or Instagram, and the bot answers your Page’s Messenger messages and your Instagram direct messages. It takes about 3 minutes, each step checks itself, and Chatbotta handles the tokens and webhooks.
Before you start
Section titled “Before you start”- You’re the Owner or an Admin of the Chatbotta project. Other roles see “Only the project owner or an admin can connect channels. Ask one of them to finish this step.”
- For a Facebook Page: you’re an admin of the Page and log in with your own Facebook account
- For Instagram: it must be a professional account (business or creator)
One project can connect several Pages, but a Page can be connected to only one project at a time.
Connect a Facebook Page
Section titled “Connect a Facebook Page”In “Channels”, select “Add channel” and choose “Facebook Messenger”. There are 3 steps. You can leave with “Do this later” and pick up at the first unfinished step.
Step 1: Check that you can manage the Page
Section titled “Step 1: Check that you can manage the Page”Check these two things first so your Page shows up when you connect. Each one has a “How do I check?”:
- You’re an admin of the Page: On Facebook, switch to your Page, then open Settings & privacy › Settings › Page access. If you’re listed with full control, you can connect it. If not, ask a Page admin to add you.
- Log in with your own Facebook account: Use your personal account, not the Page profile. Facebook lists the Pages you manage so you can pick which ones to connect.
Want Instagram too? Link your Instagram professional account to this Page first; it comes along when you connect the Page. Then select “All set, next”.
Step 2: Log in to Facebook and choose Pages
Section titled “Step 2: Log in to Facebook and choose Pages”The screen first lists the permissions Facebook will ask for and why: see the Pages you manage, send and receive Messenger messages as the Page, manage Page settings, read the Page’s basic info, and send and receive Instagram messages. Chatbotta never posts as you and never reads your personal messages.
- Select “Continue with Facebook” and log in in Facebook’s window. If your browser blocks the pop-up, it continues in the same tab.
- Facebook asks which Pages to allow: tick the Pages to connect and leave the other permissions on.
- Back in Chatbotta, tick the Pages under “Choose Pages to connect” (Pages already connected are marked “Connected”), then select “Connect selected Pages”.
To add more Pages later, open this step and select “Connect another Page”.
Step 3: Send a test message
Section titled “Step 3: Send a test message”Send your Page a message on Messenger, like “Hi”; “Open Messenger” takes you there. Once the bot answers, the channel is “Connected”. Select “Done” to finish.
If the bot doesn’t answer: make sure you’ve selected “Publish” in “Flows”, or added knowledge (it takes effect as soon as you save), then send another message.
Connect Instagram
Section titled “Connect Instagram”In “Channels”, select “Add channel” and choose “Instagram”.
Step 1: Choose how to connect
Section titled “Step 1: Choose how to connect”There are two ways. Pick one:
| Method | Best for |
|---|---|
| Log in with Instagram (Recommended) | No Facebook Page needed. Log in with your Instagram professional account. |
| Through a Facebook Page | Instagram is already linked to a Page you manage, and you want Messenger in the same place. |
Not sure? If you don’t have a Facebook Page, or Instagram isn’t linked to one, choose “Log in with Instagram”.
Then check:
- Your Instagram is a professional account (business or creator): In the Instagram app, open your profile › the menu at the top right › Settings and activity, then find Account type and tools. If you see Switch to personal account, you’re all set. If you see Switch to professional account, tap it and follow the steps. It’s free.
- If you chose “Through a Facebook Page”, also check that Instagram is linked to a Page you manage (on Facebook, switch to your Page, then open Settings & privacy › Settings › Linked accounts; or in Meta Business Suite, Settings › Accounts › Instagram accounts), and that you’re an admin of that Page.
Then select “All set, next”.
Step 2: Log in
Section titled “Step 2: Log in”- Log in with Instagram: Select “Log in with Instagram”, log in with your professional account and allow the permissions (read your Instagram name and picture, send and receive Instagram messages).
- Through a Facebook Page: Same as step 2 of connecting a Page: select “Continue with Facebook” and choose the Page your Instagram is linked to. The Page and its linked Instagram are connected together, so “Channels” shows two cards.
If the Page you chose has no Instagram professional account linked, this step stops and explains: link Instagram to the Page on Facebook and choose the Page again, or go back and choose “Log in with Instagram”.
Step 3: Send a test message
Section titled “Step 3: Send a test message”Send your account a message from another Instagram account, like “Hi”; “Open Instagram messages” helps. Use your personal Instagram account, not the one you’re connecting. Once the bot answers, the channel is “Connected”.
Reauthorize
Section titled “Reauthorize”Meta sometimes expires access. The channel card then shows “Needs reauthorization”: “Meta no longer accepts this account’s authorization, so the bot can’t reply. Reauthorize to fix it.”
- In “Channels”, select “Reauthorize” on the card. This opens the channel’s setup steps.
- Authorize again:
- A Page, or Instagram connected through a Page: Select “Continue with Facebook”. When you authorize again, select “Edit settings” in Facebook’s window first, tick the same Page and allow all permissions, then select “Connect selected Pages” back in Chatbotta.
- Instagram connected with Log in with Instagram: Select “Log in with Instagram” and log in again.
- A channel whose access expired has to prove it receives messages again: send another message in the last step, “Send a test message”. Once the bot replies, the channel is “Connected” again.
If something goes wrong while authorizing, the error message has an “Authorize again” button to try right away.
Manage and disconnect
Section titled “Manage and disconnect”In the “⋯” menu at the top right of the card in “Channels”:
- Check again: Look up the account’s status with Meta again.
- View setup steps: Opens the setup steps above.
- Disconnect: Disconnecting a Page also disconnects the Instagram account linked to it, and Chatbotta stops receiving their new messages. For an account connected with Log in with Instagram, only that Instagram account is disconnected. You can reconnect later.
Tokens are stored encrypted with AES-256-GCM, and webhooks from Meta are signature-checked; requests from anywhere else are rejected.
Messenger, Instagram and LINE
Section titled “Messenger, Instagram and LINE”Each platform has its own message formats. LINE’s rich menu corresponds to the persistent menu in Messenger and Instagram, and “LINE Flex message (JSON)” only shows on LINE. For what each step supports on each channel, see the step reference.
It says “Facebook didn’t share any Pages”?
Usually it’s one of three things. You’re not an admin of the Page: ask a Page admin to add you under Page access. The Page wasn’t ticked in Facebook’s window: select “Authorize again”, then “Edit settings” in that window and tick the Page. Or the Chatbotta business integration was removed or some permissions were declined: select “Authorize again” and allow everything.
It says authorization didn’t finish because the window was closed or access wasn’t allowed?
The authorization window was closed or permissions weren’t allowed. Try again when you’re ready and allow every permission it asks for.
It says the Page is already connected to another project?
A Page can be connected to only one project at a time. Disconnect it in that project first, then connect it here.
It says my Instagram is a personal account?
Only Instagram professional accounts (business or creator) can be connected. In the Instagram app, switch to a professional account under Settings and activity › Account type and tools (it’s free), then log in again.
It says my Instagram account is already connected through a Facebook Page?
That Instagram account is already connected along with its Page. To use Log in with Instagram instead, disconnect that Page first, then log in.
I connected a Page, but its Instagram wasn’t connected?
Make sure the Instagram account is a professional account linked to this Page on Facebook. If it was already connected with Log in with Instagram, only Messenger is connected this time; to manage it through the Page, disconnect the existing connection first, then connect the Page again.
I sent an Instagram test message, but nothing happened?
Send the message from a different Instagram account to the one you connected. The account you’re connecting can’t message itself.
If the channel is connected but the bot doesn’t reply, see Bot not replying?.