# How to connect LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram to Swashi

> Connect LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram to Swashi Social Studio. Learn the Facebook Page and Instagram professional account you need, and what Connected means.

Source: https://swashi.io/docs/social/connect-social-networks
Section: Social Media
Last updated: 2026-10-10

To connect a social network to Swashi, open **Social Studio**, click **+ Connect** on the network's card, sign in on that network's own page and approve access. You can connect **LinkedIn**, **Facebook** and **Instagram**. Once a card shows **Connected**, Swashi can publish there for you.

This guide is for anyone setting up Social Studio for the first time, or fixing a network that stopped posting. It follows the "Connect your networks" steps in the EP3 video tutorial, "How to Automate Social Media with Swashi."

## Before you start

- **LinkedIn:** you need the LinkedIn account you want Swashi to post from.
- **Facebook:** you need to be an admin of the Facebook Page you want to post to.
- **Instagram:** your Instagram account must be a professional account linked to a Facebook Page you manage. Instagram connects through Facebook.

You never type a social media password into Swashi. Each network uses its own secure sign-in, and Swashi never stores your password.

## Network status at a glance

The **Connected Networks** panel at the top of Social Studio shows one card per network.

![Social Studio Connected Networks panel with cards for LinkedIn, X / Twitter, Facebook and Instagram highlighted](https://swashi.io/docs/img/ep3-create-networks.webp "The Connected Networks panel shows one card per network.")

| Network | How it connects | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| **LinkedIn** | Sign in with LinkedIn | Text and image posts |
| **Facebook** | Sign in with Facebook | Posts to a Facebook Page you manage |
| **Instagram** | Connects via Facebook | Every post needs an image or video |
| **X / Twitter** | — | Shown as **Coming Soon** in the app |

Each card shows one of these statuses:

| Status | Meaning |
|---|---|
| **Connected** | Ready. Swashi can publish here. |
| **Not Connected** | Click **+ Connect** to set it up. |
| **Reconnect needed** | Access expired or was removed. Click **Reconnect**. |
| **Coming Soon** | Not available yet. |

## Connect a network

1. Click **Social Studio** in the sidebar.
2. Under **Connected Networks**, find a card that shows **Not Connected**.
3. Click **+ Connect Facebook**, **+ Connect Instagram** or the LinkedIn connect button. One click starts the secure connection with the network.

   ![Facebook and Instagram cards highlighted in Social Studio, both marked Not Connected](https://swashi.io/docs/img/ep3-create-more.webp "A card marked Not Connected starts the secure connection with one click.")

4. Sign in on the network's page and approve the access Swashi asks for.
5. You return to Swashi. The message **Connected** reads "Your account is connected and ready to post," and the card now shows **Connected**.

   ![LinkedIn card highlighted in Connected Networks with a check mark and the Connected status](https://swashi.io/docs/img/ep3-create-linkedin.webp "A connected network shows Connected and is ready to post.")

Connect each network once. After that, click the cards to toggle where each post goes. See [create and schedule posts](https://swashi.io/docs/social/social-studio).

### Connect Instagram

Instagram connects through Facebook, so the card reads **Connects via Facebook**.

1. Make sure your Instagram account is a professional account linked to a Facebook Page you manage.
2. Click **+ Connect Instagram**.
3. Sign in with the Facebook account that manages that Page and approve access.

> **Important:** Instagram posts always need an image or a video. Add one with **Add Image** or **Generate Image** before you schedule.

## Disconnect or reconnect

- **Disconnect:** click **✕ Disconnect** on the network's card. Swashi stops posting there.
- **Reconnect:** if a card shows **Reconnect needed**, click **Reconnect** and approve access again.

Swashi also flags a social connection that is **expiring soon** or has **expired — reconnect**. Reconnect when you see it so your scheduled posts are not held up.

## Troubleshooting

| Message | What it means and what to do |
|---|---|
| "Facebook returned no Page you manage." | Instagram and Facebook posting need a Facebook Page, with Instagram as a professional account linked to it. Create or get admin access to a Page, then connect again. |
| "The network refused or cancelled the authorisation." | You may not be an admin of a Facebook Page, or a permission was declined. Connect again and approve every permission requested. |
| "This sign-in link had expired." | Click **Connect** again to start a fresh sign-in. |
| "Connection did not complete" / "The network could not complete the connection." | Try again. If it keeps failing, contact support from the **Support Center** in the sidebar. |

You can also review your connected accounts in your account security settings. See [security and privacy](https://swashi.io/docs/account/security-and-privacy).

## Next steps

- [Create and schedule your first post](https://swashi.io/docs/social/social-studio).
- [Turn trending news into posts](https://swashi.io/docs/social/trending-and-autodraft).
- See the network-specific pages for [LinkedIn](https://swashi.io/automations/linkedin-automation), [Facebook](https://swashi.io/automations/facebook-automation) and [Instagram](https://swashi.io/automations/instagram-automation) automation.

## Frequently asked questions

**Which social networks can I connect to Swashi?**

LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram. X / Twitter is shown as Coming Soon in Social Studio.

**Does Swashi store my social media passwords?**

No. You sign in on the network's own page and approve access. Swashi never sees or stores your social media password.

**Why do I need a Facebook Page to post to Instagram?**

Instagram connects through Facebook. Posting to Instagram and Facebook needs a Facebook Page you manage, with Instagram set up as a professional account linked to that Page.

**What does Reconnect needed mean?**

The network's access has expired or been removed. Click Reconnect on the card and approve access again; your scheduled posts can then publish.

**How do I disconnect a network?**

Click ✕ Disconnect on the network's card in Social Studio. You can connect it again at any time.