How to schedule Instagram posts
Facebook and Instagram connect through one Facebook Login. Personal profiles are not supported by Meta's publishing API, so you need a Page, and Instagram needs to be a professional account linked to that Page. The steps below are from the Facebook and Instagram help guide and the scheduling guide.
- Use a Facebook Page you manage, with permission to publish. For Instagram, use a professional Business or Creator account linked to that Page. Check the link under the Page's Linked accounts settings before you connect.
- You need the Owner role in the Sync Socials workspace.
- Open Connections and choose Connect through Facebook under Facebook or Instagram.
- Review the Pages and Instagram accounts Facebook offers. Select the ones Sync Socials should publish to, and approve the requested permissions. If more than one was shared, choose which to add. Each one becomes its own destination.
- In the composer, pick a photo post or a video. Instagram needs media. Text-only posts are not possible, and a text-only composer will not offer Instagram.
- Enter a date and time, or use the suggested slots. Times use the workspace timezone shown beside the field. Schedule queues the post. Publish now sends it immediately. Save draft keeps it with no time.
A background worker publishes each destination separately and retries temporary platform errors. Instagram Reels finish on Instagram's side after Sync Socials hands them over. A few minutes is normal. If a post is still processing after an hour, open it from Posted. See why a post fails.
Scheduled posts show on the Calendar. Drag one to reschedule it, or edit it from Home or Drafts until it starts publishing. See timezones and scheduled times.
If the account does not appear
Facebook remembers which Pages you shared the first time. On a later connect it can reuse that choice, so a newer account may not appear. During Facebook Login, select Edit previous settings and tick the Page or Instagram account you want.
Two other causes: you are signed in to Facebook with a profile that does not manage the Page, or the Instagram account is personal or is not linked to the Page you shared. Removing a Page from the shared list disconnects it in every workspace that used the same Facebook profile.
If an account shows Needs reconnect, the token could not be refreshed. Choose Reconnect on that account. Scheduled posts to that account resume once it is back.
Instagram posts, Reels, and media limits
These limits are the ones in the connect guide and the media requirements.
- Photo posts. Up to 10 images. Text-only posts are not possible on Instagram.
- Image shape. Between 4:5 and 1.91:1. The composer flags images outside that range and lets you choose a crop focus. The crop applies only to the Instagram copy.
- Video. Videos publish as Reels when they meet the platform's rules. Show all options includes a custom thumbnail for videos on Instagram.
- Per-destination copy. Show all options can set a different caption for the Instagram account. Blank fields fall back to the shared caption. Tags are appended as hashtags where the platform supports them.
- Upload types. JPEG, PNG, WebP, GIF, up to 25 MB per image. Video: MP4, M4V, MOV, up to 250 MB. MOV files are converted to H.264 MP4. Up to 10 files per upload.
The help center does not document Instagram Stories, in-app music, stickers, product tags, collaborative posts, or scheduling a first comment. This page only describes photo posts of up to 10 images and videos that publish as Reels.
Views, reach, and interactions for Instagram appear under Analytics after the first sync. The billing guide includes Instagram analytics on Growth, together with Facebook and YouTube.
Sync Socials does not ask for your Instagram password. The account connects through Facebook Login.
Draft and schedule Instagram with ChatGPT, Claude, or MCP
The ChatGPT app, the Claude plugin, and the hosted MCP server can schedule a connected Instagram professional account. The MCP server guide describes Instagram as image and video posts to a business or creator account linked to a Facebook Page. Connecting an assistant does not connect Instagram. Add the account in Connections first.
A free account can connect ChatGPT or Claude with no API key and can save drafts. Scheduling and publishing start the 7-day trial. API-key clients need a trial or paid plan and a workspace API key. See the agent overview.
Save this caption as an untargeted Sync Socials draft: “A small update that makes the everyday easier.” Name it “Instagram draft.” Do not schedule or publish it.
Schedule my approved “Instagram draft” to the Instagram account I selected on October 15, 2026, at 2:30 p.m. America/New_York. Keep the caption and media unchanged. Show me the saved schedule.
Claude uses existing images and videos. It does not generate images, footage, speech, or music. ChatGPT concept and media generation may need a workspace AI provider, billed by that provider, and can finish asynchronously. Check the saved post before you schedule it.
Content Studio can produce a vertical video from library clips or footage you upload and save it as a draft. Nothing is scheduled until you approve it. Whether that video meets Instagram's Reel rules is something to check in the composer before you schedule it. See Content Studio and your own AI key.
A file attached in ChatGPT or Claude is not automatically in the Sync Socials media library. Use a library asset, upload in the dashboard, or provide a downloadable HTTPS URL you are allowed to use.
Pricing
Instagram scheduling uses the same plans as the rest of Sync Socials. There is no per-post fee. See homepage pricing and billing, the trial, and cancellation.
Free account, no card
Connect one account per platform (X excluded). Unlimited drafts and a media library. Scheduling and publishing are not included yet.
7-day trial, then Growth
Scheduling and publishing. The trial needs a card and costs $0 today, then $19.95/month or $199.50/year unless you cancel first. Unlimited scheduling, no per-post fees, up to 20 accounts per platform. Includes the calendar, delivery tracking, and analytics for Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
Agency
$39.99/month or $399/year. Adds team invitations, 50 accounts per platform, and three API keys.
If Agency is not offered on your Billing page yet, the billing guide says it is still rolling out. Email [email protected] and support can set it up. Cancel before the trial ends to avoid a charge.
FAQ
How do I schedule Instagram posts and Reels?
Connect a professional Instagram account that is linked to a Facebook Page you manage. Add up to 10 images, or a video, select that account, and choose Schedule with a date and time in the workspace timezone. Videos to Instagram publish as Reels when they meet the platform's rules. Text-only posts are not possible.
Can I schedule Instagram from a personal account?
No. Personal Instagram accounts cannot be connected. The account must be a professional Business or Creator account linked to a Facebook Page. Connect it with Facebook Login from Connections. You need the Owner role in the Sync Socials workspace.
What image sizes can I schedule to Instagram?
Images must be between 4:5 and 1.91:1. The composer flags images outside that range and lets you choose a crop focus. The crop is applied only to the Instagram copy. Uploads accept JPEG, PNG, WebP, and GIF up to 25 MB per image, and up to 10 images in one photo post.
Can I schedule Instagram Stories?
The help center does not document Instagram Stories. It documents photo posts with up to 10 images, and videos that publish as Reels. This page does not claim Story scheduling.
Can ChatGPT, Claude, or an MCP agent schedule Instagram?
Yes, after the Instagram account is connected in Sync Socials. A free workspace can save drafts. Scheduling and publishing start the 7-day trial. Claude schedules existing images and videos and does not generate them. Content Studio can save vertical video drafts for you to approve before anything is scheduled.
How much does the Instagram scheduler cost?
Exploring is free and needs no card: one account per platform, except X, and unlimited drafts. Scheduling starts a 7-day trial at $0 today, then Growth is $19.95 per month or $199.50 per year unless you cancel first. Agency is $39.99 per month or $399 per year. There is no per-post fee. Growth includes Instagram analytics.