Guide 3 of 15 in Level 1: Get set up
Connect your Instagram account to Blackbox
To connect Instagram to Blackbox (blackbox.plus), the Instagram account must be a Business or Creator account linked to a Facebook Page, and you sign in with a Facebook login that manages that Page. In Blackbox, open Data, click Connect a channel, choose the Instagram tile and Continue to Meta. Do not pick Meta Ads, which is the separate advertising connection. Log in with Facebook, then choose the Business, the Facebook Page and the Instagram account to share, and leave the permissions switched on. Back in Blackbox, tick your Instagram account and save; it appears under Social & search, and your last 30 days of posts start loading within a few minutes. The connection reads your posts and reels with their reach, views, likes, comments, saves and shares, plus follower growth. It cannot reach your ad account, reply to comments or messages, or see your password, and it never publishes unless you press Publish yourself.
- You'll need
- A Professional account — Your Instagram must be a Business or Creator account. Check in Instagram under Settings, then Account type and tools.
- Linked to a Facebook Page — Check in Instagram under Settings, then Accounts Center, or on the Page under Linked accounts.
- A Facebook login that manages the Page — No ad account needed — this works even if you never run ads.
- Time
- About 2 minutes 5 steps Updated
- You'll end with
- Your Instagram account connected, with its last 30 days of posts loading into Blackbox
How to connect your Instagram account to Blackbox
Step 1:Open Data
In Blackbox, click Data in the left menu.
You'll see: Your channels, with Connect a channel at the top right.
Step 2:Pick the Instagram tile
Click Connect a channel, then the Instagram tile under Social & search. Not Meta Ads, which is a separate connection.
You'll see: What you need and what happens next, with Continue to Meta below.
Step 3:Log in with Facebook
Click Continue to Meta and sign in with the Facebook login that manages your Page.
You'll see: Meta’s screen, asking what to share with Blackbox.
Step 4:Choose your Page and Instagram account
Pick the Business, the Facebook Page your Instagram is linked to, and the Instagram account. Leave every permission switched on and continue.
You'll see: You’re back on Data, with the Instagram accounts this login can see.
Step 5:Tick your account and save
Tick your own Instagram account and click Save. Leave Pages you manage for other businesses unticked.
You'll see: Your account under Social & search, with its posts starting to load.
Blackbox can read
- Your published posts and reels, with their reach, views, likes, comments, saves and shares
- Your follower growth, profile views and website clicks over time
Blackbox will not
- Publish or delete a post unless you press Publish or Delete from Instagram yourself
- Reply to comments, send messages or change a setting on your account
- Reach your ad account or spend a single dollar through this connection
- See your password — it goes to Facebook, never to Blackbox
Good to know
- New to Blackbox? Setup connects your first channel as one of its steps — see How to get started with Blackbox.
- Meta reaches an Instagram business account through the Facebook Page it is linked to. Blackbox uses the Page only for that, and never posts to it.
- Turning a permission off on Meta’s screen stops that part of your reporting or publishing working.
- With more than one brand, the Connect dialog asks Which brand is this for? first.
- Your last 30 days of posts load within a few minutes of saving.
If something doesn't work
Meta does not show my Instagram account
It is most likely still a personal account, or not linked to a Facebook Page. In Instagram, switch it to Business or Creator under Settings, then Account type and tools, link it to a Page, and connect again.
Meta asks for a Facebook Page, but I only use Instagram
That is expected: Meta only lets apps reach an Instagram business account through its linked Page. Pick the Page while connecting. Blackbox uses it to reach Instagram and never posts to it.
I don’t want Blackbox touching my ads
This connection cannot. It covers organic Instagram only. Ads are the separate Meta Ads connection, which you approve on its own.
One of my Instagram accounts is missing
Don’t reconnect — Meta remembers your first choice and will not ask again. On the Data page, open the ⋯ menu on the Instagram row, choose Choose accounts and tick it there.
I want to disconnect it
On the Data page, open the ⋯ menu on the channel's row and choose Disconnect. Blackbox hands the access back to Meta at the same time. Your posts and follower history stay, and new numbers pick up again when you reconnect.
Previous: Set up your brand kit in Blackbox
Stuck at any step? Send us a message and we'll do it with you on a call. All of Level 1: Get set up