Guide 13 of 15 in Level 1: Get set up

How to reconnect, sync or disconnect a Facebook ad account

To reconnect, sync or disconnect a Facebook ad account in Blackbox (blackbox.plus), click Data in the left menu and click the channel’s name, such as Meta Ads. Its page shows what it tracks, when it last synced and when its access runs out. Sync now pulls the latest numbers straight away instead of waiting for the hourly sync. Change, next to Tracking, opens the list of accounts: tick the ones that belong to this brand and save; unticking one deletes its suggestions and imported data. The Automatic checks switch decides whether new numbers bring new suggestions on their own. When Meta signs a connection out, or its 90-day access is about to end, a yellow note at the top of every page says so: click Reconnect, sign in again, and pick the accounts if asked. Disconnect hands the access back and clears the synced numbers; Delete removes the connection and everything synced through it. Both are for admins.

You'll need
Time
About 3 minutes 8 steps Updated
You'll end with
A channel signed back in and syncing, or disconnected cleanly
Do it in Blackbox Open Data, after you sign in
Example
Signing Meta Ads back in: sign in, tick the accounts, and it syncs again

How to reconnect, sync or disconnect a Facebook ad account in Blackbox

  1. Step 1:Open the channel

    Click Data in the left menu, then the channel’s name, such as Meta Ads.

    You'll see: Its page, with Sync now, Tracking, Automatic checks and Details.

    Open this in Blackbox

  2. Step 2:Sync it now

    Click Sync now at the top right.

    You'll see: Syncing… on the button, then a note saying how many rows came in.

  3. Step 3:Change the accounts it tracks

    Next to Tracking 1 ad account, click Change.

    You'll see: Which ad accounts should we track?, with the ones tracked now ticked.

  4. Step 4:Save the accounts

    Tick the accounts that belong to this brand and click Save.

    You'll see: Saved, and those accounts listed under Tracking.

  5. Step 5:Turn automatic checks on or off

    Click the Automatic checks switch.

    You'll see: Automatic checks off, or Automatic checks on.

  6. Step 6:Reconnect when it’s signed out

    On the yellow note at the top of the page, click Reconnect.

    You'll see: Meta’s own sign-in, then Data again once you allow access.

  7. Step 7:Disconnect it

    At the bottom of the channel’s page, click Disconnect, then Disconnect again to confirm.

    You'll see: Disconnected, and Reconnect on the page to bring it back.

  8. Step 8:Delete it for good

    Click Delete, then Delete again to confirm.

    You'll see: Meta Ads deleted, and you’re back on Data.

Good to know

  • Anyone with access to the brand can sync, change the accounts, switch automatic checks and reconnect. Disconnect and Delete are for admins.
  • Every connection syncs on its own about once an hour. Sync now is for when you want the latest numbers straight away.
  • Unticking an account deletes its suggestions and imported data when you save. To stop tracking a channel altogether, disconnect it instead.
  • Meta asks you to sign in again every 90 days. In the last week the yellow note says by when, and the channel’s page offers Reconnect now.
  • After Meta signs a connection out, or after you disconnect it, you pick the accounts to track again; nothing syncs until you do. The brand and past suggestions stay.
  • Later on the yellow note hides it for now. The channel waits under Needs you on the Data page, with Reconnect on its row.
  • With automatic checks off the numbers keep syncing, and new suggestions come only when you click Check again in the Inbox.
  • To add another channel, see Connect your Meta ad account to Blackbox.

If something doesn't work

It says Meta Ads was signed out, so nothing syncs from it

Meta ended the session, often after a password change or a security check. Click Reconnect and sign in. Your picked accounts and your history stay, and syncing picks up where it stopped.

I need to sign in again but there’s no yellow note

Open the channel from Data, click the ⋯ button at the top right and choose Reconnect. It works on a channel that is still connected too, for example to allow a new permission.

Sync now says to pick which ad accounts to track first

Nothing syncs until you choose. Click Pick accounts on the channel’s page, tick this brand’s accounts and save.

The Save button stays grey

Tick at least one account. To stop tracking the channel altogether, disconnect it instead.

There’s no Disconnect or Delete

Only admins can disconnect or delete a channel. Teammates can still sync and reconnect it; ask an admin for the rest.

It says Last sync failed · retrying on schedule

A sync hit a passing error and tries again on the next hourly run. Click Retry sync on the channel’s page to try now. If it keeps failing, click Report a problem and we’ll look.

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