Linking your Facebook and Instagram accounts makes it easy to share content across both platforms. But this convenience comes at the cost of your privacy and control over what you post where.
If you want to compartmentalize these accounts, here is an in-depth guide on how to unlink Facebook and Instagram in just a few quick steps.
Top Reasons to Unlink Facebook and Instagram
Here are some of the top reasons you may want to unlink your Facebook and Instagram accounts:
- Separate personal and professional presences – Keep your personal Facebook account distinct from a business Instagram account. Mixing these can be confusing for your audiences.
- Avoid unwanted cross-posting – Prevent content being automatically shared from Instagram to Facebook if you want to customize it for each platform.
- Regain control over your content – Without linked accounts, you have full control over what gets shared and where. You can post different content on each platform.
- Enhance privacy – Linking means sharing data like your contacts, profile info and metadata between accounts. Unlinking compartmentalizes this information.
According to a Pew Research study, 61% of social media users are concerned about privacy issues on these platforms. Unlinking accounts can help address this concern.
Step-by-Step Guide to Unlink Accounts
Unlinking your Facebook and Instagram accounts only takes a few minutes. Here are the detailed steps to follow:
Unlink Facebook from Instagram on Mobile
- Open the Instagram app and go to your profile page.
- Tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) in the top right corner.
- Go to Settings > Account > Linked Accounts.
- Tap on Facebook and then select Unlink Account.
Unlink Instagram from Facebook on Mobile
- Open the Facebook app and go to your profile.
- Tap on the three-line menu icon and select Settings & Privacy.
- Go to Settings > Apps and Websites.
- Under Active, select Instagram and tap Remove.
Unlink Accounts on Desktop
The process is very similar on a desktop or laptop:
- Go to facebook.com or instagram.com and log into your account.
- Access account settings via the profile menu or settings icon.
- Locate Linked Accounts or Apps and Websites.
- Find the other social media account and click Unlink or Remove.
Troubleshooting Tips
- Log out and back in if you don‘t see the Unlink or Remove button.
- Update your apps and clear your browser cache before trying again.
- If you use the same password, you‘ll need to change one account‘s password first.
What Happens When You Unlink Facebook and Instagram?
Once you unlink Facebook and Instagram, here are some important things to note:
- You won‘t be able to log into either account using the other‘s credentials.
- Any previously auto-shared posts will remain up, but new posts won‘t cross-post.
- Your contacts, followers and friends will no longer be synced across accounts.
- Your information and metadata will stop being shared between accounts.
According to Instagram, unlinking accounts does not delete any content that was previously shared cross-platform. However, any new posts going forward will only appear on the platform they were posted on.
Going Beyond Unlinking for Better Privacy
While unlinking Facebook and Instagram is a good first step, here are some additional actions you can take:
- Adjust privacy settings – Limit the audience for your posts, stories and information to enhance privacy.
- Review third-party app permissions – Revoke access to any unfamiliar apps linked to your accounts.
- Update account credentials – Change your password and enable two-factor authentication.
- Monitor policy changes – Keep up-to-date with privacy policy updates from Facebook, Instagram and others.
In Summary
Unlinking your Facebook and Instagram accounts is a quick and easy process that can help you compartmentalize your information and regain control over what you post where.
Beyond unlinking, be sure to re-evaluate privacy settings, app permissions, account security and social media policies.
With these steps, you can balance the convenience of linked accounts with the privacy and customization benefits of unlinking as needed.
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