This article helps you fix problems connecting Instagram to Mobal. Use it when Instagram will not connect, even after you try both login options (Instagram login for business and Standard Instagram login), or when your Instagram data has stopped showing in Mobal. In almost all cases the cause is a setting in Meta (Facebook and Instagram), not in Mobal: the account type, the linked Facebook Page or your access.
How the connection works
Mobal does not talk to Instagram directly. It goes through Meta, and Meta manages Instagram business accounts through a Facebook Page.
So the Facebook Page is the key. Instagram must be linked to the correct Page, and the Facebook account that logs in must have full access to that Page and to the Instagram account. If one link is wrong, the connection fails, even when Instagram itself looks fine.
Most common causes
Check them in this order, because the first ones happen most often.
# | Cause | What you see | Fix |
1 | The person who connects lacks access to the Facebook Page or the Instagram account | "Missing tasks" or "Pending setup" in Mobal | Give full control on both the Page and the Instagram account |
2 | Access comes only through a business portfolio | Instagram login for business finds the account, but setup cannot finish | Check the access on the Page and the Instagram account in Business Suite, not only the portfolio role |
3 | Instagram is linked to the wrong Page, or to no Page | Mobal cannot find the account, or shows two similar Pages | Instagram → Settings → Professional account → Facebook, and relink |
4 | A different portfolio (old agency, previous owner) owns the Page | The customer cannot choose the Page, or Meta says someone else controls it | The owner gives access or moves the Page |
5 | The Instagram account is personal | "You can't connect to Mobal with this account" | Switch to a Business or Creator account |
6 | Permissions were unticked in Meta's dialog | Connection completes, but data or posting fails | Remove Mobal in Facebook → Business integrations, then connect again |
7 | The wrong Meta account is logged in, or Meta does not redirect | Wrong accounts in the list, or a blank page | Use an incognito window and the correct Facebook account |
8 | The Standard Instagram login connection expired | "Connection expired" on a profile that worked before | Connect again, and consider Instagram login for business for teams and chains |
Before you start
The fix takes about 20 to 30 minutes. If a Mobal specialist helps you, share your screen in the call.
Use a computer, not a phone.
Have your Facebook login and your Instagram username and password ready.
If a colleague or a former agency manages your Facebook Page or Instagram, make sure that person can help during the fix.
Log in to Facebook with the account that manages the business.
Step-by-step fix
Do the steps in this order. The orange boxes in the screenshots show where to look. The Finnish menu name is in brackets after the English name.
Step 1: Check the Instagram account type and the linked Page
In Instagram on a computer, go to Settings → Professional account. This one screen shows both checks:
Account type: the menu Professional account exists only for Business and Creator accounts. If it is missing, the account is personal. Switch it to a Business account.
Linked Page: the Facebook row shows the Page that Instagram is linked to. Write down the Page name. You will choose this Page later in Meta's dialog. It can have a different name than the location in Mobal.
If the Facebook row is empty or shows a Page you do not manage, click Change and choose the correct Page.
Step 2: Find out where the Page access is managed
There are two possible setups. Log in to Facebook with the account that manages your business, then open Meta Business Suite (business.facebook.com).
The Page is in a business portfolio (the portfolio name shows at the top of Business Suite settings): continue with step 3.
The Page is not in a portfolio: on Facebook, switch to the Page, then open Settings & privacy → Settings (Asetukset ja yksityisyys). Type Page access (käyttöoikeudet) in the settings search box, and make sure you have full control. Then go to step 5.
Step 3: Check the role in the business portfolio
In Business Suite, go to Settings → Users → People (Asetukset → Käyttäjät → Ihmiset). Find your Facebook account. It has a small Facebook icon. A person can also appear with an Instagram icon, which is an Instagram login, not the Facebook account.
The column Business portfolio access (Yritysportfolion käyttöoikeus) should show Full access (Täysi käyttöoikeus). Then you are an admin and can change all access in the next steps yourself.
Important: this column shows the role in the portfolio only. It does not show what the person can do on the Page or the Instagram account. This is the most common trap.
Step 4: Give full access to the Instagram account
Go to Settings → Accounts → Instagram accounts (Tilit → Instagram-tilit) and select the Instagram account. The People tab lists who has access, in two groups: full access and partial access.
If your Facebook account is under partial access, click Manage (Hallinnoi) on that row. Turn on full control and click Save (Tallenna).
Partial access, even with Content and Insights, can still give "Missing tasks" in Mobal. Give full control to be sure.
Watch out: click Manage on the correct row. The dialog below opened for the Instagram login, not for the Facebook account. It already had full access, so Save was grey. Click Cancel (Peruuta) and do not change the toggle. Turning off full access for the Instagram login can cause new problems.
Step 5: Give full access to the Facebook Page
Go to Settings → Accounts → Pages (Tilit → Sivut) and select the Page from step 1. Make sure your Facebook account is under full access. If not, use Manage the same way as in step 4.
The portfolio can hold several Pages with similar names. Always check the Page that Instagram is linked to.
Step 6: Remove old Mobal permissions (only if needed)
On Facebook, go to Settings → Business integrations. If Mobal is in the list, remove it. Old or unticked permissions can block a new connection. If Mobal is not in the list, skip this step.
The permissions Mobal needs are listed in Understanding Instagram Insights Permissions in Mobal.
Step 7: Connect in Mobal
Open an incognito window and log in to Mobal.
Go to Profiles in the left menu and open the location.
Select the Connections tab, find Instagram and click Connect.
Choose Instagram login for business. Log in with your Facebook account, the same one that has full access in steps 4 and 5.
Meta may show Connect to Instagram (Yhdistä Instagramiin). Click Start (Aloita), log in to Instagram, confirm the Page from step 1 and accept all permissions.
Do not click Cancel or the back arrow during the flow.
Back in Mobal, complete Setup preferences: choose the correct Instagram account from the drop-down menu and connect it.
How to check it worked: Instagram shows as Connected on the location's Connections tab. To see your data, go to Analytics in the left menu and select the Instagram tab. If it still doesn’t connect, contact our support team with a screenshot of the error.
Quick checklist
Instagram is a Business or Creator account
Instagram is linked to the correct Facebook Page (write down its name)
Your Facebook account has full access to the Page
Your Facebook account has full access to the Instagram account
Old Mobal integration removed in Facebook (if it was listed)
Connected in an incognito window with Instagram login for business, all permissions accepted
Instagram shows Connected in Mobal
Related articles
Still need help? Contact our support team with a screenshot of the error and your Instagram handle, or browse related Help Center articles.