How to Log Into Instagram With Facebook (Phone and Computer)

If you've got both a Facebook and an Instagram account, signing in to one with the other can save you a lot of password typing. It's also where people get stuck, because the option only works when the two accounts have been connected beforehand. It's easy to get stuck if you run a Page on Facebook and a profile on Instagram and can't remember which email you used for which. Below is what Instagram's help centre says about logging in with Facebook details, why the option sometimes isn't there, and what to do when it fails.

Log into Instagram with Facebook: what the help centre says

According to Instagram's help centre article on logging in, the login screen lets you sign in with your Facebook details. You enter the phone number or email address and the password that belong to your Facebook account. The help article doesn't ask you to do anything clever; it's the same login screen, just with the Facebook details typed in.

The catch is the connection. Instagram's help pages on logging in across accounts explain that this works when your Facebook and Instagram accounts have been added to the same Accounts Center and are allowed to log in to each other. If the two were never connected, there's nothing for Instagram to match your Facebook details against.

Steps to log into Instagram with Facebook on your phone

1. Open the Instagram app and go to the login screen. If you're already signed in to another account, look for the option to switch accounts or add an account.
2. Look at the accounts shown on the screen. Instagram's help centre says the login screen can show saved accounts, including ones linked in the same Accounts Center. If your account is listed, tap it to log in with one tap.
3. If it isn't listed, choose the option to log in with Facebook if you see one, or type the phone number or email address and password from your Facebook account into the login fields.
4. Follow any security prompts, such as a confirmation code, until you reach your feed.

Button names and where they sit vary by app version and by whether you've logged in on that device before, so treat the wording above as a guide rather than a script.

Why the Instagram login with Facebook option might not appear

If the option is missing for you, the first thing to check is whether the accounts are connected at all. The help centre points to a few reasons a saved account might not show up on a login screen:

• You haven't logged in on that device recently, so there's no saved account to offer.
• The accounts aren't in the same Accounts Center, or they're not allowed to log in to each other.
• The device is a fresh one, a new browser or a phone you've just reset.
• You removed the saved account from the login screen earlier. The help centre says you can remove saved accounts from the login screen at any time.

If you can log in to Instagram some other way, that's the easiest place to fix the connection. Open Accounts Center from your settings and check which accounts are listed and whether logging in with the other account is switched on. Instagram's help pages also say that settings for logging in between accounts are changing, so what you see in Accounts Center may differ slightly from older guides. If you ever want to separate two accounts again, my guide to unlinking two Instagram accounts walks through it.

Instagram login with Facebook and two-factor authentication

Instagram's help article carries a warning I'd keep in mind. If you've got two-factor authentication switched on for either your Facebook account or your Instagram account, you may not be able to use your Instagram login details to log in to Facebook on a device that neither account recognises. In plain terms, security settings can block a login on a device that's new to the account. That's the system doing its job, so don't try to switch two-factor off just to get past it.

If you hit a wall, a code step or a request to confirm who you're talking to is normal. My explainer on why Instagram asks for ID verification covers what those checks are for and what to do when one appears.

What to do when your Facebook details won't log you into Instagram

Work through these in order:

1. Check the email or phone number. Use the details attached to your Facebook account, not an old one.
2. Check the password by trying it on the Facebook login screen. If that fails, reset it there first.
3. Try an account you've logged into on that same device before. Saved accounts are the easiest route.
4. Update the Instagram app, as older versions show older login screens.
5. If you can't get in at all, use Instagram's I Can't Log In help page, which covers recovering your password and confirming your identity.

Don't type your details into any website that promises to log you in for you. Instagram's own help centre is the place for recovery, and anything else is a risk to your account.

Using Facebook to log into Instagram for a business account

If you run a business, connecting the two accounts through Accounts Center means one person can move between your Facebook Page admin account and your Instagram profile without hunting for passwords. Keep a few habits in place:

• Know which email and phone number sit on each account before you need them.
• Don't share a password with a freelancer. Add them in a way that lets you remove them later.
• Log out on shared computers and remove the saved account from the login screen when you're done.
• Keep the number of accounts you manage to something you can keep track of. My piece on how many Instagram accounts you can create with one email explains the limits.

Log out or remove a saved Instagram login with Facebook

Instagram's help centre says you can remove saved accounts from the login screen whenever you like, and removing login information from a device only takes the account off that phone or computer. It won't deactivate or delete the account. That's worth remembering if you use a shared or borrowed device.

Frequently asked questions

Can I log into Instagram with my Facebook account?

Yes, if your Facebook and Instagram accounts have been added to the same Accounts Center and are allowed to log in to each other. Instagram's help centre says you can then sign in using the phone number or email and password from your Facebook account.

Why is there no Log in with Facebook option on my Instagram?

The accounts may not be connected, you may not have logged in on that device before, or you may have removed the saved account from the login screen. Check Accounts Center from a device where you're already signed in.

Does Instagram login with Facebook work with two-factor authentication on?

Instagram's help article warns that two-factor authentication on either account can stop you using Instagram login details to log in to Facebook on a device that isn't recognised. Expect a confirmation step.

Will removing a saved account from the login screen delete my Instagram?

No. Instagram's help centre says removing login information from a device only removes it from that device and doesn't deactivate or delete the account.

What if I can't log in to either account?

Use Instagram's I Can't Log In help page, which covers recovering a password and confirming your identity, and avoid any third-party site that offers to log in for you.