# Instagram

> Connect an Instagram Business or Creator account to publish posts, carousels, stories and reels.

Last updated: 2026-10-11 | Canonical: https://omnisocials.com/help-center/integrations/instagram

OmniSocials publishes to Instagram through Instagram's official API. This article covers what you can publish, how to connect your account and the Instagram settings in the post editor.

## What you can publish

| Format | Details |
|---|---|
| Post | One image, one video or a carousel of up to 10 images and videos. A post with a single video publishes as a Reel. |
| Story | Up to 10 slides, each one image or one video |
| Reel | One video |

Instagram direct messages, comments and mentions can also come into your [Social Inbox](/help-center/engagement/social-inbox).

## Requirements

- An Instagram Business or Creator account. [Instagram's help center](https://help.instagram.com/2358103564437429) explains how to switch.
- The **Manage social channels** permission in your OmniSocials workspace.
- To receive mentions in the Social Inbox: the Facebook Page linked to your Instagram account, connected in the same workspace. Publishing doesn't need it.

Each workspace connects one Instagram account. To manage several accounts, use a workspace for each.

## Connect Instagram

1. Click the workspace name at the top of the sidebar, then click the channels button under the workspace. The **Channels** window opens.
2. Under **Add a channel**, click **Instagram**.
3. Sign in to Instagram and allow OmniSocials access.

![The Instagram tile (Posts, Stories & Reels) under Add a channel in the Channels window of the OmniSocials workspace, with the pointer on it.](https://cdn.omnisocials.com/file/omnisocials-website-assets/help-center/integrations/instagram/connect.webp)

You return to OmniSocials, and the Channels window shows your account under **Connected**, marked **Just added**. You can also connect channels in Settings: under **Organisation**, click **Workspaces**, open the workspace and use **Social channels** on its **General** tab.

OmniSocials connects the Instagram account you're signed in to in your browser. To connect another account, sign out on instagram.com or switch accounts there first.

## Instagram options in the editor

Click the Instagram icon in the channel bar to see and edit the Instagram version of your post. Type @ in the Instagram editor to mention an account.

![The Instagram post preview in the editor with an image and caption](https://cdn.omnisocials.com/file/omnisocials-website-assets/help-center/integrations/instagram/preview.webp)

Instagram's settings are post options. The bar under the editor has chips for **Location**, **Collaborators**, **First comment** and **AI label** (for reels also **Share to feed** and **Music**). Click the arrow at the end of the bar to see all of them on Instagram's page in the options panel. See [Set post options](/help-center/creating-content/create-post#set-post-options).

![The post options panel open above the options bar on the Instagram page: the channel icons to switch channel, Done, and the rows Location, Collaborators, Tag people, First comment, AI info label and Comment to DM.](https://cdn.omnisocials.com/file/omnisocials-website-assets/help-center/creating-content/create-post/options.webp)

| Setting | For | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| **Location** | Posts and reels | Tags a place. Search for it, or paste a Facebook Place ID. Only Facebook places with an address can be tagged. |
| **Collaborators** | Posts and reels | Co-authors the post with up to 3 other public accounts. They get an invite in Instagram and become co-authors once they accept. |
| **Tag people** | Photo posts | Tags public accounts on the photo: click the photo where the person is. |
| **First comment** | Posts and reels | Posts a comment right after the post goes live, for example to keep hashtags out of the caption |
| **AI info label** | Posts and reels | Adds Instagram's "AI info" label when AI made or changed the post |
| **Comment to DM** | Posts and reels | Sends a DM to people who comment a keyword on the post, once it's live. Set the **Keywords**, **The DM**, an optional **Reply under the comment** and a limit under **Stop after**. One DM per person, within 7 days of the comment. |
| **Image fit** | Posts with an image Instagram would cut | Crops the Instagram version to 4:5 (or 1.91:1) so you choose what stays. See below. |
| **Share to feed** | Reels | Also shows the reel in your main feed |
| **Music** | Reels | Adds a licensed track from Meta's catalog to the reel |
| **Trial reel** | Reels | Shows the reel to people who don't follow you first. Under **After the trial**, choose **I decide** to decide yourself in Instagram, or **Share it when it does well** to let Instagram share it with your followers within 72 hours. |

Trial reels need at least 1,000 followers and aren't available for every account.

### Image fit

Instagram shows feed images between 4:5 and 1.91:1, and Meta can't boost a post outside that range. When an image of an Instagram post is taller, for example 9:16, OmniSocials crops the Instagram version to 4:5 around the subject before it publishes. A wider image is cropped to 1.91:1. Stories, reels and your other channels keep the whole image.

Click the **Cropped to 4:5** chip, or **Image fit** on Instagram's page, to drag the picture and choose what stays. Choose **Keep the original** to let Instagram cut the image itself, around the center. Meta can't boost the post then.

![Image fit in the Instagram options of a post with a 9:16 image: Crop to 4:5 is chosen, Keep the original is the other choice, and the 4:5 frame below shows the part of the picture that stays; drag the picture to change it.](https://cdn.omnisocials.com/file/omnisocials-website-assets/help-center/creating-content/create-post/image-fit.webp)

## Limits

| | Limit |
|---|---|
| Caption | 2,200 characters and up to 5 hashtags |
| First comment | 2,200 characters |
| Carousel | Up to 10 images and videos |
| Feed images | Between 9:16 (portrait) and 1.91:1 (landscape) |
| Image files | JPEG, PNG or WebP, up to 8 MB |
| Video files | Up to 300 MB |
| Video length | Up to 15 minutes for posts and reels, 60 seconds per story slide |
| Alt text | Published for images, not for videos |

A post needs a caption and at least one image or video.

## Troubleshooting

**The Instagram row says Expires in a few days.** Instagram connections need a refresh from time to time. Click **Reconnect** in the **...** menu of the Instagram row and sign in again.

**The channel shows under Needs attention with Expired and a date.** Click **Reconnect** and sign in to Instagram again. Scheduled posts can't publish to Instagram until you do.

**The wrong account connected.** Sign out on instagram.com or switch to the right account there, then click **Connect** again.

**An image is rejected.** Feed images must be between 9:16 and 1.91:1. Crop the image, or remove it from the Instagram version of the post.

**Mentions don't show up in the Social Inbox.** Connect the Facebook Page that's linked to your Instagram account. Until you do, the Instagram row in the Channels window shows **Connect Facebook for mentions**.

## Up next

- [Facebook](/help-center/integrations/facebook)
- [Create a reel](/help-center/creating-content/create-reel)
- [Social Inbox](/help-center/engagement/social-inbox)