Connect once and Exerta works across every post and ad, 24/7. Instagram setup requires a few additional steps and may take 10-15 minutes, depending on your Meta setup.
💡 Why connect your Instagram account?
Connecting Facebook does not connect Instagram. These are independent setups. Without completing Instagram setup, Exerta cannot moderate your Instagram comments or DMs.
💡 Instagram is optional. Exerta works fully for Facebook without it.
✅ Before you start
Your Facebook account must be connected to Exerta before starting Instagram setup. See Connecting Your Facebook Account.
For Instagram moderation to work, all three of the following must be true:
Your Instagram account is added to your Facebook Business Manager
Your Instagram account is linked to your Facebook Page
Your Instagram account is selected as the identity inside each ad you want moderated
If any one of these is missing, Exerta will not be able to access or moderate your Instagram comments and DMs.
📷 How to connect Instagram
Step 1: Add your Instagram account to your Business Manager
Before linking Instagram to your Facebook Page, your Instagram account needs to be part of your Business Manager.
Go to business.facebook.com
Click the Settings gear in the bottom-left sidebar
Select Business assets > Add assets > Instagram account
Follow the prompts to claim the account into your business portfolio
📋 Note: Meta's interface changes regularly. If these steps look different, follow Meta's guide: How do I add an Instagram account to my business portfolio?
✅ You are done with Step 1 when your Instagram account appears under Business assets in Meta Business Suite.
Step 2: Link your Instagram account to your Facebook Page
Adding Instagram to your Business Manager and linking it to a Facebook Page are two separate steps. The link between them is what allows Exerta to moderate Instagram comments on your ads.
Option A: From Facebook Page Settings (recommended)
On Facebook, switch into your Business Page profile
Go to Settings and Privacy > Settings
In the left sidebar, click Linked Accounts
Click Instagram > Connect Account and follow the prompts
Option B: Via Meta Business Suite
Go to business.facebook.com
Click the Settings gear in the bottom-left sidebar
Select Business assets, find your Instagram account, and follow the prompts to link it to your Page
📋 Note: Meta's interface changes regularly. If these steps look different, follow Meta's guide: Connect your Instagram to a business page.
✅ You are done with Step 2 when your Instagram account appears under Linked Accounts in your Facebook Page Settings.
Step 3: Select Instagram as the identity in your ads
Selecting your Instagram account as the ad identity is what allows Exerta to access and moderate comments on that specific ad. This step is required for each ad you want moderated and is not applied automatically.
Open the relevant ad in Ads Manager
Find the Identity section
Select your Instagram account from the dropdown
⚠️ Instagram account not appearing in the dropdown? When you're selecting Instagram as the identity in your ads and the Instagram is not working, the link from Step 2 may not have saved correctly. Go back to Linked Accounts in Facebook Page Settings, confirm the Instagram account is connected, then return to Ads Manager and try again.
📘 Note: Meta's interface changes regularly. If these steps look different, refer to Meta's guide: Create Instagram ads in Meta Ads Manager.
💡 Do not have an Instagram account yet? If you need to create an Instagram account, try to acquire an account that is at least a few years old. Newly created Instagram accounts are more likely to be flagged or restricted by Meta.
✅ You are done with Step 3 when your Instagram account is selected as the identity in each ad you want Exerta to moderate.
💡 What's next?
Connecting your account is the first step. Exerta will not start moderating until you set up rules. Without them, nothing is hidden, replied to, or sent to DMs, even if your account is fully connected. Your next step is Hiding Negative Comments.
❓ FAQs
📷 Q: My Instagram comments are not being moderated. What is wrong?
A: Instagram moderation requires three things to be set up correctly. If any one is missing, Exerta cannot access your Instagram comments.
Your Instagram account must be added to your Facebook Business Manager
Your Instagram account must be linked to your Facebook Page
Your Instagram account must be selected as the identity inside each ad you want moderated
Go through the three setup steps in this article to confirm all are in place. The most commonly missed step is selecting Instagram as the ad identity inside each individual ad in Ads Manager.
🔍 Q: Why is Exerta not moderating my Instagram ads after I connected Facebook?
A: Connecting Facebook does not connect Instagram. For Exerta to moderate Instagram ad comments, your Instagram account must be set up separately and selected as the identity inside each ad you want moderated. Go through the three setup steps in this article to get started.
📷 Q: I set up Facebook, but my Instagram ads are still not being moderated. Why?
A: Connecting Facebook does not automatically cover Instagram. Instagram needs to be set up separately, and your Instagram account must be selected as the identity inside each individual ad you want moderated.
All three of the following must be in place:
Your Instagram account is added to your Facebook Business Manager. Go to business.facebook.com > Settings > Business assets > Add assets > Instagram account.
Your Instagram account is linked to your Facebook Page. Go to your Page Settings > Linked Accounts > Instagram > Connect Account.
Your Instagram account is selected as the ad identity. Open the ad in Ads Manager, find the Identity section, and select your Instagram account from the dropdown.
⚠️ The most commonly missed step is Step 3. If your Instagram account is not appearing in the dropdown, the link in Step 2 may not have saved correctly. Return to Linked Accounts in Page Settings to verify, then return to Ads Manager.
🔗 Q: How do I add my Instagram account after my initial setup?
A: To add your Instagram account after your initial setup:
Go to Integrations in the left-hand sidebar
Click Account
Click Add Account in the top right corner
This reopens the Meta authorization flow and lets you select your Instagram account. Your existing connections are not affected.
⛔️ Q: What happens if I revoke Exerta's access to my Instagram account?
A: If you revoke Exerta's access through Meta's settings, Instagram moderation will stop immediately. Comments will no longer be moderated, and no DMs will be sent.
To reconnect:
Go to Integrations
Click Account
Click Add Account and complete the authorization flow again
❌ Q: What if I connected the wrong Instagram account?
A: You can fix this from the Integrations page without reconnecting everything.
Go to Integrations in the left-hand sidebar
Click Account
Click Add Account and complete the authorization flow to add the correct Instagram account
Once added, click the triple-dot icon beside the wrong account and click Disable
Your existing correct connections are not affected.