If you've been searching for what you actually need to connect a comment moderation tool to Instagram, you've probably run into vague answers, outdated documentation, or guides that assume you already know how Meta's permission system works. This post gives you the precise checklist — account types, page requirements, permissions — so you can connect in one sitting.
The Short Answer
To connect a comment moderation tool to Instagram, you need:
- 1An Instagram Business or Creator account (not a personal account)
- 2A Facebook Page linked to that Instagram account
- 3Admin access to that Facebook Page
- 4The comment moderation tool authorised via Meta's OAuth (a standard login flow — no developer setup required)
That's it. If you have all four, you can be connected and moderating in under 5 minutes. If any of these are missing, read on — each one is straightforward to fix.
Requirement 1: Instagram Business or Creator Account
Comment moderation tools use the Meta Graph API to read and manage Instagram comments. This API is only available to Business and Creator accounts — personal accounts don't expose comments to third-party apps.
How to check your account type:- 1Open Instagram on your phone
- 2Go to your profile → Settings → Account
- 3Look for "Switch to Professional Account" — if you see this option, you're on a personal account
- 4If you're already on a Business or Creator account, you'll see "Switch account type" instead
Go to Settings → Account → Switch to Professional Account → choose "Business" (recommended for advertisers — gives you access to all Meta Business Suite features).
The switch is instant and free. You keep all your followers, posts, and content.
Requirement 2: A Facebook Page Linked to Your Instagram Account
Instagram's API routes all third-party app access through a linked Facebook Page. Even if you never post to Facebook, you need a Page connected to your Instagram account for the API to work.
Why: Meta built Instagram's API on top of the existing Facebook Pages API infrastructure. The Facebook Page acts as the credential holder — permissions granted to the Page flow through to the linked Instagram account. How to link a Facebook Page to Instagram:- 1Go to your Instagram profile → Edit Profile
- 2Scroll to "Page" → tap it
- 3Select an existing Facebook Page or create a new one
- 4Follow the prompts to link them
If you don't have a Facebook Page at all, create a simple business page (you don't need to use it actively — it just needs to exist and be linked).
How to verify the link is working:In Meta Business Suite (business.facebook.com), go to Settings → Accounts → Instagram Accounts. Your Instagram account should appear there with "Connected" status.
Requirement 3: Admin Access to the Facebook Page
The OAuth permission grant (Step 4) needs to come from someone with Admin or Editor role on the Facebook Page. If you're the page owner, you already have this. If not:
- 1Have the Page admin go to the Page → Settings → Page Roles
- 2Ensure your account has Admin or Editor access
- 3Then proceed with connecting the comment moderation tool under your account
pages_manage_engagement and instagram_manage_comments). Lower permission levels can read data but can't hide, reply to, or manage comments.
Requirement 4: The OAuth Login Flow
When you connect a tool like MyComments.io, you'll be directed through Meta's standard OAuth login — the same "Log in with Facebook" flow you've seen on other apps.
During this flow, you'll be asked to grant specific permissions. For Instagram comment moderation, the relevant permissions are:
| Permission | What It Does |
|---|---|
| pages_read_engagement | Read comments on your Page and linked Instagram |
| pages_manage_engagement | Hide, delete, and reply to comments |
| instagram_basic | Access Instagram account info |
| instagram_manage_comments | Read and manage Instagram comments |
| ads_read | Read your ad account data (for campaign-level filtering) |
You'll see these listed during the OAuth flow. Grant all of them — the tool can't moderate comments if it can only read them.
Note on business verification: For some permission levels, Meta requires your app to be used by a verified business. Reputable comment moderation tools (including MyComments.io) have already gone through Meta's app review process, so you don't need to do anything extra — the permissions are pre-approved for the app, not per-user.What If You Run Ads From a Different Ad Account?
Your ad account and your Facebook Page don't need to be in the same Business Manager, but they do need to both have access to the same Facebook Page.
If you run ads through an agency ad account:
- •The agency runs ads using your Page as the ad identity
- •Comment moderation connects to the Page directly
- •You don't need the agency involved in the moderation setup
Comments on ads always appear on the underlying Page post — the ad account itself doesn't "own" comments. So as long as your comment moderation tool is connected to the Page, it will see and manage comments on all ads running from that Page, regardless of which ad account placed them.
What About Multiple Instagram Accounts?
If you manage multiple Instagram accounts (e.g., you're an agency, or you run separate accounts for different brands):
- •Each Instagram account needs to be a Business/Creator account
- •Each needs its own linked Facebook Page
- •All Pages need to be accessible from your Facebook account (as admin)
When you go through the OAuth flow, you'll see a list of Pages you manage — you can select all of them. Each connected Page brings along its linked Instagram account.
Common Setup Problems and Fixes
"I don't see my Instagram account in the list during OAuth"→ The Instagram account isn't linked to a Facebook Page, or the Page you selected doesn't have the Instagram account linked. Go back and check the link in Meta Business Suite.
"I connected but comments aren't appearing"→ Usually a permissions issue. Disconnect and reconnect, making sure to grant all requested permissions during the OAuth flow (don't skip any by clicking "Not Now").
"I get an error saying my account isn't eligible"→ You're likely on a personal Instagram account. Switch to Business or Creator (Settings → Account on the Instagram app).
"I connected my Page but it says 0 Instagram accounts"→ The Facebook Page and Instagram account aren't linked. Go to your Instagram profile → Edit Profile → Page, and link the Page there.
Full Setup Checklist
- •[ ] Instagram account is Business or Creator type
- •[ ] Facebook Page created and linked to the Instagram account
- •[ ] You have Admin or Editor access to the Facebook Page
- •[ ] Facebook Page is connected to Meta Business Suite (business.facebook.com)
- •[ ] Comment moderation tool connected via OAuth with all permissions granted
- •[ ] Test comment: post a comment on one of your ads and verify it appears in the tool's dashboard
Once you've checked all six boxes, you're connected. The tool will begin pulling in comments from your Instagram ads in real time.
What Happens After Connection
Once connected, MyComments.io will:
- 1Pull in all comments on your Instagram ads (and organic posts, if enabled)
- 2Apply your keyword hide rules automatically as new comments arrive
- 3Trigger DM responses for any comment matching your auto-reply rules
- 4Show you a real-time dashboard of hidden vs. visible comments per campaign
The first setup (keyword list, DM templates) takes about 15 minutes. After that, moderation runs automatically. See our full guide on how to manage comments on Instagram ads for the complete workflow.