Instagram connection and posting problems

Nearly every Instagram problem is one of three things: the account type, a permission that was declined, or a token that expired.

The account does not appear when connecting

Check the account type first. Instagram’s publishing API only works with Business or Creator accounts. A personal account authorizes fine and then simply does not appear in the list.

Switch it in the Instagram app under Settings → Account type and tools, then wait a few minutes — the change takes a moment to reach Instagram’s API — and connect again.

If it is already Business or Creator:

1. Make sure you approved every permission on the authorization screen.
2. Remove Postbean from Instagram’s Apps and websites settings and connect from scratch.
3. If you are connecting through Facebook rather than Instagram, the account also has to be linked to a Facebook Page — see Why can’t I connect my Facebook Page?.

The post failed at publish time

Open the post and read the message on the Instagram row; it is Instagram’s own.

“The channel needs reconnecting” — the token expired or was revoked. Reconnect from Connections.

Media rejected — Instagram is stricter than the composer. Check that:

• images are JPG or PNG (WebP is accepted on upload but Instagram prefers the other two),
• the aspect ratio is between 4:5 and 1.91:1 — see Instagram aspect ratios,
• a Reel is vertical and within Instagram’s duration limit,
• a carousel has 10 images or fewer.

Rate limited — Instagram allows 25 posts per day per account. Everything scheduled beyond that fails until the window resets.

Publishing worked but the first comment did not

First comments need the comment permission, which is part of what you approve when connecting. If you declined it, reconnect the account and approve everything.

Stories and Reels

Placement is a per-network option: open the Instagram tab in the composer and choose Feed, Story or Reel. A carousel of several images can only go to the feed.