How to Add an Instagram Account to Ads Manager
An Instagram account can be linked to Facebook but still not appear in Ads Manager. In this answer, we explain what to check before adding it, where to find Instagram in Business Settings, which permissions to assign, and why the profile may not appear when creating an ad campaign.
Adding an Instagram account to Ads Manager is not about linking Facebook and Instagram in general. It is about making the profile available for advertising. An account can be linked to Facebook, visible in Accounts Center or connected to a Page, but still not appear in the ad account because of permissions, business settings, or the wrong connection.
This page answers the specific question of how to make Instagram available for ads in Ads Manager. If you need to link Instagram with Facebook first, use the separate answer: how to link an Instagram business account and Facebook. If the task is to connect Instagram to a specific Page, use this guide: how to link a Facebook Page to an Instagram business account correctly.
How adding Instagram to Ads Manager differs from regular linking
A regular Facebook and Instagram connection only shows that the profiles are linked. For advertising, this may not be enough. Ads Manager needs to see Instagram as an advertising asset with the correct permissions.
If Instagram is linked to Facebook but not assigned in Business Settings or not connected to the required ad assets, it may not appear when creating a campaign. That is why it is important to check not only the connection itself, but also the access inside Business Manager.
What to check before adding Instagram
First, make sure the Instagram profile is switched to a professional format. For ad tasks, a Business or Creator account may be used, but Instagram Business is usually more suitable for stable work with business tools.
Then check which Facebook Page Instagram is linked to. If the profile is already connected to the wrong Page, adding it to Ads Manager may not work as expected. For this case, use the separate guide: Instagram account is already linked to a Facebook Page — what to do.
Also check access to Business Manager. The user who adds Instagram should have permissions for the required business asset, Page, ad account, and Instagram profile. If the rights are not enough, the profile may be visible in one section but unavailable for ads.
How to add an Instagram account through Business Settings
Open Business Manager and go to Business Settings. In the menu, find Instagram accounts or a similar section where Instagram profiles connected to the business are shown.
Choose to add an account, log in to the required Instagram profile, and confirm the connection. At this step, carefully check the Instagram username, especially if several profiles are already saved in the browser or on the device.
After adding, Instagram should appear in the list of business assets. If it does not appear, check whether the profile has already been added to another Business Manager, whether the Page is connected to another business, and whether you have enough permissions to connect it.
Which permissions to assign after adding
After adding Instagram, assign access only to users who actually need to work with ads, insights, or messages. It is better not to give permissions to everyone, because it becomes harder to control who can change settings, launch ads, or work with the profile.
Check that the required users have access not only to Instagram, but also to related assets: Facebook Page, ad account, pixel, or other elements used in the campaign. If one element is missing, Instagram may not appear in the right place.
If you are not sure how Business Manager roles work, use the separate instruction: how to give access to Business Manager: roles and levels.
Why Instagram does not appear in Ads Manager
Most often, Instagram does not appear in Ads Manager because of access rights. For example, the profile is added to the business, but the user has not received permission to work with it or does not have access to the ad account.
The second reason is that Instagram is connected to another Facebook Page or another Business Manager. In this case, the profile may be linked to Meta, but not to the advertising environment where you are trying to create the campaign.
The third reason is an incomplete connection between Instagram, Facebook Page, and the ad account. If Instagram is needed for ads, check the full chain: Instagram profile, Facebook Page, Business Manager, ad account, and user roles.
Useful context for Instagram and ad assets
Adding Instagram to Ads Manager is often connected not with one action, but with the full structure of advertising assets. To understand the setup better, it is useful to read separately what a Facebook Fan Page is and why Facebook Business Manager is used.
As reference context, you can also review the Instagram accounts, Facebook Fan Page, and Facebook Business Manager categories. These sections do not replace Ads Manager setup, but they help explain which elements are involved in the advertising connection.