> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.ocoya.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Instagram

> Connect an Instagram Business account to Ocoya, what you can post, and the limits Instagram applies.

Instagram is the channel people have most trouble connecting, almost always for the same reason: **Instagram does not allow personal accounts to be connected to any scheduling tool.** Your account must be a Business or Creator account.

## Before you start

<Steps>
  <Step title="Switch to a Business or Creator account">
    In the Instagram mobile app, go to **Settings → Account type and tools → Switch to professional account**. This is free, reversible, and done entirely in the Instagram app.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Link the account to a Facebook Page">
    Instagram publishes through Facebook's systems, so a Business account must be linked to a Facebook Page. In the Instagram app: **Edit profile → Page → connect or create a Facebook Page**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Check you administer that Page">
    You need an admin role on the linked Facebook Page. Without it the connection completes but no profile appears.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Connect Instagram

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open Channels">
    Select **Channels** in the left sidebar, then **Connect channel**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Choose Instagram Business">
    Pick **Instagram Business** from the **Add a connection** panel.

    <Frame caption="Instagram Business in the Add a connection panel.">
      <img src="https://mintcdn.com/ocoya/AXU_TbAvrsHP8A-m/images/screenshots/channels-connect-drawer.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=AXU_TbAvrsHP8A-m&q=85&s=fb49d994bcc630972a670a1277c36d2c" alt="Add a connection panel listing every channel Ocoya connects to, each with its category and an arrow to continue" width="864" height="2648" data-path="images/screenshots/channels-connect-drawer.png" />
    </Frame>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Sign in to Facebook and approve everything">
    You sign in through Facebook, not Instagram. Approve every permission and tick every Page and Instagram account in the list. Facebook's screens default to *not* selecting them, and skipping this is the single most common cause of "my profile isn't showing".
  </Step>

  <Step title="Select your Instagram profile">
    Choose the Instagram account to add. It appears on your Channels page.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## What you can post

| Post type    | Supported             |
| ------------ | --------------------- |
| Single image | Yes                   |
| Carousel     | Yes — up to 10 images |
| Video        | Yes — one per post    |
| Reel         | Yes — one per post    |
| Story        | Yes                   |
| GIF          | Yes — one per post    |

## Instagram's limits

|                        | Limit                                                 |
| ---------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------- |
| Caption                | 2,200 characters                                      |
| Hashtags               | 30 per post                                           |
| Images per post        | 10, maximum 8 MB each                                 |
| Video per post         | 1, maximum 100 MB, up to 1920px wide                  |
| Reel                   | 1 per post, 3 seconds to 15 minutes, maximum 1000 MB  |
| GIF                    | 1 per post, 3 to 60 seconds                           |
| Custom video thumbnail | Not supported for standard video; supported for Reels |

Ocoya checks these before publishing and tells you which one a post breaks.

## Image sizes and cropping

Instagram accepts a limited range of shapes. Ocoya crops images automatically to fit:

* **Landscape** — 1.91:1
* **Portrait** — 4:5

If an image comes out cropped differently than you expected, it fell outside that range and was adjusted. Crop it yourself before uploading to control exactly what's kept.

## Common problems

**"My Instagram account isn't in the list."** In order of likelihood: it's still a personal account; it isn't linked to a Facebook Page; you don't administer that Page; or you didn't tick it on Facebook's permission screen. Work through those in order.

**"Instagram keeps disconnecting."** Facebook and Instagram expire access more aggressively than other networks. See [Reconnect a channel](/help/reconnect-a-channel).

**"My Reel failed to publish."** Check length and size — 3 seconds minimum, 15 minutes maximum, 1000 MB cap.

**"My carousel only posted one image."** Instagram accepts up to 10 images. If a post had more, it breaks the limit and Ocoya reports it before publishing.

**"My account is restricted."** Instagram sometimes restricts accounts for activity it considers automated. Ocoya can't lift a restriction — you'll need to resolve it in the Instagram app, then reconnect.

## Related

<Columns cols={2}>
  <Card title="Reconnect a channel" icon="refresh-cw" href="/help/reconnect-a-channel">
    Fixing Instagram access when it expires.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Why didn't my post publish?" icon="triangle-alert" href="/help/post-didnt-publish">
    Diagnosing a post that didn't go out.
  </Card>
</Columns>