Before connecting your Instagram account to Archive, you must complete several setup steps to ensure Archive can properly monitor brand mentions, collect user-generated content, and access your Instagram messages. This guide covers all prerequisite configurations required for a successful connection.
Requirement 1: Have a Personal Facebook Account
To connect Instagram to Archive, you must have a personal Facebook account. Archive's integration relies on Meta's business infrastructure, which requires authentication through a personal Facebook profile.
Your personal Facebook account serves as the access point for managing business assets like Facebook Pages, Business Portfolios, and connected Instagram accounts. Without a personal Facebook account, you cannot access Meta's business tools or complete the Archive connection process.
⚠️ Important: Make sure your personal Facebook account has admin or full control access to the Facebook Page that will be linked to your Instagram account.
Requirement 2: Convert to an Instagram Professional Account
Archive requires an Instagram Professional account to function. Professional accounts come in two types:
Creator accounts are designed for public figures, content producers, artists, and influencers
Business accounts are tailored for businesses looking to grow and engage with customers
Switching to a Professional Account (Mobile App)
Navigate to your Instagram profile and tap the hamburger icon in the upper right corner
Select Account type and tools
Choose Switch to professional account
Tap Continue
Select a category that best describes your work and tap Done
Choose between Business or Creator and tap Next
Requirement 3: Link Your Instagram Account to a Facebook Page
Archive accesses your Instagram messages through Facebook to monitor when you've been tagged in Stories and detect brand mentions. Your Instagram account must be connected to a Facebook Page for this integration to work.
Connecting to a Facebook Page (Mobile App)
Go to your Instagram profile and tap Edit profile
Select Page under the public business information section
Choose Connect or Create
Tap Continue
Select Login to Facebook
Choose the Facebook Page you want to connect to your Instagram account, or create a new Page if needed
Tap Connect
Connecting to a Facebook Page (Desktop)
If your Instagram account isn't connected to a Facebook Page, you can establish the link via desktop:
Log in to Facebook and select Pages from the left tab menu
Select the desired Facebook Page you want to connect
Once you have accessed your Facebook page, click Settings from the left tab menu
Scroll down and click on Linked accounts from your left tab menu
Choose Instagram by clicking on the View button
To connect your Instagram account to your Facebook page, click the Connect account button
A pop-up screen will appear. Once you have confirmed all the details, click on Connect
Toggle "Allow access to Instagram messages in Inbox" and click the Confirm button
Enter the username and password for the desired Business or Creator account, then select Log In
Confirm details for adding the accounts to your business portfolio, then click the Continue button
A confirmation message will appear. To close this, click on Done
You'll return to the connection page and see that your Instagram account is now connected with "Allow access to Instagram messages in Inbox" enabled for your account
Verifying the Connection (Desktop)
To confirm whether your Instagram account is already connected to a Facebook Page:
Log in to Facebook and navigate to your public Page
Go to Settings & privacy
Scroll down the left menu and select Linked accounts
Choose Instagram and click View
If connected, you'll see your Instagram account listed here
Requirement 4: Allow Facebook to Access Your Instagram Messages
Archive monitors your Instagram direct messages to detect when you've been tagged in Stories. You must enable Facebook's access to your Instagram messages for this functionality to work.
Enabling Message Access (Mobile App)
Go to your Instagram profile
Select Settings and activity
Under How others can interact with you, select Messages and story replies
Tap Message controls
Under Connected tools, enable Allow access to messages
Enabling Message Access (Desktop)
Log in to Facebook and select Pages from the left tab menu
Select the desired Facebook Page you want to connect
Once you have accessed your Facebook page, click Settings from the left tab menu
Scroll down and click on Linked accounts from your left tab menu
Choose Instagram by clicking on the View button
Toggle "Allow access to Instagram messages in Inbox"
Log in to your Instagram account when prompted to confirm the permission
⚠️ Critical: This permission is essential for Archive's core functionality. Without it, Archive cannot detect Stories where your brand has been mentioned.
Requirement 5: Allow Story Replies and Message Requests from Anyone
Archive detects brand mentions by monitoring your Instagram direct messages for Story tags. To ensure Archive can identify all Stories mentioning your brand, you must configure your account to accept Story replies and message requests from anyone, not just people you follow.
Allowing Story Replies from Anyone (Mobile App)
Go to your Instagram profile
Select Settings and activity
Under How others can interact with you, select Messages and story replies
Tap Story replies
Select Allow story replies from anyone
Allowing Message Requests from Anyone (Mobile App)
Go to your Instagram profile
Select Settings and activity
Under How others can interact with you, select Messages and story replies
Tap Message requests
Tap Everyone from the Who can send you message requests
