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

# Connect Instagram and Configure Reels Publish Settings

> Link your Instagram professional or creator account to Hivra to publish Reels, add collaborators, and cross-post Stories — all from the Composer.

Hivra connects to Instagram through the platform's official authorization flow, which requires a professional account. Personal Instagram accounts cannot be connected. Once your account is linked, the Composer exposes Instagram-specific settings — including Reels surfacing, collaborators, and a Stories companion — that give you control over how each post appears on the platform.

## Prerequisites

Before you connect, make sure your Instagram account meets these requirements:

* Your account is set to **Professional** (Business or Creator). To switch, go to Instagram **Settings → Account → Switch to professional account**.
* The account is connected to a Facebook page.
* The account is not currently restricted by Instagram for policy violations.
* You are logged into the correct Instagram account in your browser before starting the OAuth flow.

<Info>
  Personal Instagram accounts are not supported by the Instagram Graph API. Hivra cannot connect to them. Your Instagram account should also be connected to a Facebook page; otherwise, the connection will fail.
</Info>

## Connect your Instagram account

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open Integrations">
    In Hivra, go to **Dashboard → Integrations** and find the **Instagram** tile.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Start the redirect">
    Click **Connect** to start the authorization flow.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Authorize in Instagram">
    You are redirected to Meta's authorization page. Accept all requested permissions — these cover publishing Reels, reading your profile, and managing media. Declining any permission prevents the connection from completing.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Verify the connection card">
    After the redirect returns you to Hivra, your Instagram handle and profile picture appear on the integration card. The health chip reads **Healthy** once the monitoring job confirms the token is valid.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Instagram publish settings

When you add Instagram as a destination in the Composer, a settings panel appears with the following options.

### Reels surfacing

Toggle **Share to Feed** to control where your Reel appears:

* **On** — the Reel may appear in both the Feed and the Reels tab (subject to Instagram's own distribution decisions).
* **Off** — the Reel is emphasized in the Reels tab with reduced Feed prominence.

### Collaborators

Add up to three Instagram usernames in the **Collaborators** field. Each collaborator receives an invite notification and, if they accept, the Reel is credited to all accounts. Only public professional accounts can be tagged as collaborators.

<Tip>
  Only public professional Instagram accounts can be tagged as collaborators. If a username you enter is not resolved, confirm the account is public and set to Professional mode.
</Tip>

### Stories companion

Enable **Also post to Stories** to publish the same video as a Story alongside the Reel. The Story uses a separate media container and expires after 24 hours, as with all Instagram Stories. The Reel itself remains on your profile indefinitely.

### Per-platform caption override

By default, the Composer's shared caption is used for all destinations. To write a different caption specifically for Instagram, click the **Instagram** tile in the **Customize Caption Per Platform** section and enter your Instagram-specific text. Hashtags and mentions you include here apply only to the Instagram post.

## Reconnect your Instagram account

If the Instagram integration card in the dashboard overview shows **Attention/Issue**, your token has expired or been revoked.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open Integrations">
    Go to **Dashboard → Integrations** and locate the Instagram card.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Click Reconnect">
    Click **Reconnect** on the card. This opens the same OAuth flow used during initial connection.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Re-authorize in Instagram">
    Accept all permissions on Meta's authorization page to issue a fresh token.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Confirm the health chip">
    Wait for the monitoring job to run. The chip should return to **Healthy** after the check runs.
  </Step>
</Steps>