Instagram API (token) / 4 December 2024

This guide will help you create an Instagram access token in 2 simple steps, using only your Instagram account and Facebook Developers. You will learn how to create an app on the Facebook Developer site, configure Instagram on the app, and generate your Instagram access token.

This document follows a new Instagram token generation flow as per META's announcement:

Step 1: Add a New App on Facebook Developers

First, go to the Facebook Developers site and sign in using your Facebook profile credentials. Next, click on the 'My Apps' button at the top-right of the page. This will take you to a new page where you can click on the 'Create App' button to add a new app on Facebook Developer.

Give the App a name and click the Next button

Select the "Other" option and click the Next button.

Once you click this button, you'll be asked to choose the purpose of your app. This determines the permissions your app will require. In this case, select the "Business" option as shown below. Click the next button.

Next, re-check the name for your app in the 'App name' input field. Select a Business portfolio (optional) if you have one. When you're finished, click on the 'Create app' button.

Congratulations! You've successfully created a new app on Facebook Developers. Now it's time to set up the Instagram connection, which allows your app to access your profile information, photos, and videos from your Instagram account. Proceed to the next step to learn how to set up Instagram.

Step 2: Configure Instagram & create token

Upon creating your app on Facebook Developer, you will be directed to a new page with several options, as shown below. Click on the 'Set Up' button under Instagram.

You will be taken to the Instagram API setup page. From here press the "Add account" button in the "Generate access token" section

After adding your account, we'll proceed and generate a token for it

A pop-up will appear asking you to log in to your Instagram account and allow the App you've just created.

Then, your Instagram access token will appear as soon as you click the "I Understand" checkbox. Copy this token to your clipboard, and you'll be able to display your Instagram posts by adding the token to the  Flatsome → Instagram → Accounts.

In the  Flatsome → Instagram section enter the generated/copied token and press the '+' button. After validation, the account will appear in the account list. Press 'Save All Changes' at the bottom to save the account(s).

Requirements

• 3.16.8 or greater
• Public Instagram account

Deprecated Instagram Graph API integration (pre 3.16.8)

From Flatsome 3.16.8 or greater use the above-tokenized connection method instead! The app is prone to error out with "Cannot call API for app xxxxxxxxxx on behalf of user xxxxxxxxxx" if the Instagram Graph API app is in review mode.

Flatsome 3.9+ is using the new Instagram Graph API to connect to Instagram. To use it, you'll need an Instagram Business or Creator account. This is a new limitation made by Facebook / Instagram and not by the Flatsome theme.

The theme will connect by an older method with Instagram by default, for backward compatibility reasons. This older method can stop working for anyone at any time due to Instagram restrictions, so we highly encourage you to connect your Instagram as explained in this document.

If an error is shown "Instagram has returned invalid data" this means the theme is trying to connect with the older method and the new method is not setup/connected correctly.

1

You'll need at least Flatsome v3.9 installed.

2

Follow these steps to set up an  Instagram Business Account https://www.facebook.com/help/502981923235522

Steps should be performed from a mobile device as some settings are not available from a desktop.

3

Connect your Instagram Business Account to a Facebook Page.

4

Navigate to  Flatsome → Advanced → Instagram and connect to your account and select your Facebook Page.