How to Unsync Facebook and Instagram: A Step-by-Step Guide

If you’ve ever connected your Facebook and Instagram accounts for convenience but now want to separate them — you’re not alone. Many users initially link the two for easy cross-posting and logins, only to later realize that privacy concerns, content control, or business management needs make unsyncing Facebook and Instagram a better option.

Table of Contents

In this detailed guide, we’ll show you exactly how to unsync Facebook and Instagram, step by step — on mobile, desktop, and business accounts. You’ll also learn what happens after you disconnect them and how to manage each platform independently.

🔍 Summary: Key Takeaways

Action	Description
Unsync via Instagram App	Go to Settings → Accounts Center → Connected Experiences → Remove Facebook account
Unsync via Facebook App	Go to Settings → Accounts Center → Accounts → Remove Instagram
Effect of Unsyncing	Stops cross-posting, ad sharing, and account login links
Applies To	Personal, creator, and business accounts
Reconnecting Later	You can reconnect anytime using the same Accounts Center

What Does It Mean to Unsync Facebook and Instagram?

When Facebook and Instagram are synced, they share data through the Meta Accounts Center. This means your activities, login info, ad preferences, and even posts can be automatically shared across both platforms.

Unsyncing simply disconnects them — making each account function independently.

You’ll still keep both accounts, but:

Posts won’t auto-share.
You’ll log in separately.
Meta won’t combine your ad preferences.

Why Unsync Facebook and Instagram? (Top Reasons)

There are several reasons why you might want to unsync your accounts. Let’s look at the most common ones:

Privacy Control – Keep your Instagram activity separate from your Facebook friends and vice versa.
Different Audiences – Many creators have a personal audience on Facebook and a professional one on Instagram.
Avoid Cross-Posting Mistakes – Accidentally sharing personal Instagram posts to Facebook can be embarrassing.
Simpler Account Management – Each app’s settings, notifications, and ads can be managed independently.
Switching to a New Facebook Account – If you want to connect a different Facebook account later, you’ll need to unsync first.
Business and Personal Separation – Many users manage multiple brands or business pages. Keeping them separate prevents confusion.

How to Check If Facebook and Instagram Are Linked

Before you unsync, it’s wise to confirm whether your accounts are actually connected.

On the Instagram App

Open Instagram.
Tap your profile picture (bottom-right corner).
Tap the ☰ (three lines) in the top-right corner.
Go to Settings and Privacy → Accounts Center.
Tap Accounts — if you see your Facebook listed here, they’re linked.

On the Facebook App

Open Facebook.
Tap the ☰ menu icon (top-right on Android, bottom-right on iPhone).
Scroll to Settings & Privacy → Settings.
Tap Accounts Center.
Under “Accounts,” check if your Instagram handle appears.

If your accounts appear together — congratulations, they’re synced. Now, let’s get to unsyncing.

How to Unsync Facebook and Instagram (Step-by-Step)

Below, we’ll cover three methods depending on where you’re managing your accounts — through Instagram, Facebook, or desktop.

🧭 Method 1: Unsync Using the Instagram App

This is the simplest and most common way.

Step 1: Open Instagram Settings

Tap your profile picture → tap the three lines → choose Settings and Privacy.

Step 2: Go to Accounts Center

Scroll down and select Accounts Center (Meta’s control hub).

Step 3: Select “Accounts”

Tap Accounts → you’ll see both your Instagram and Facebook listed.

Step 4: Remove Facebook Account

Tap your Facebook profile → choose Remove from Accounts Center → confirm.

Step 5: Confirm the Disconnection

Instagram will show a message like:
“Removing this account will unlink it from connected experiences such as sharing and login.”
Tap Continue → Remove Account.

✅ Done! Facebook and Instagram are now unsynced.

💻 Method 2: Unsync Using the Facebook App

If you use Facebook more often, you can also unsync from there.

Step 1: Open Facebook

Tap the ☰ menu (top-right or bottom-right corner).

Step 2: Go to Settings

Tap Settings & Privacy → Settings.

Step 3: Access Accounts Center

Scroll down to Meta Accounts Center.

Step 4: Tap “Accounts”

You’ll see your linked Facebook and Instagram.

Step 5: Remove Instagram Account

Select your Instagram handle → Remove from Accounts Center → confirm the action.

✅ Once confirmed, both platforms will operate separately.

🖥️ Method 3: Unsync via Desktop Browser

Prefer using a PC or laptop? You can also disconnect from the web.

Step 1: Go to Meta Accounts Center

Visit: https://accountscenter.facebook.com/
(Note: Do not include links in the final version if you prefer “no links.” Just mention the site name.)

Step 2: Log In

Use your Facebook or Instagram credentials.

Step 3: Go to “Accounts” Section

From the left menu, click Accounts.

Step 4: Remove the Linked Account

Select either Facebook or Instagram → click Remove Account → confirm.

✅ Done! Your accounts are officially unsynced.

How to Stop Instagram Posts from Sharing to Facebook Without Unsyncing

Don’t want to completely unlink, but just stop auto-sharing? You can easily turn off cross-posting.

Steps:

Open Instagram → tap Profile → ☰ → Settings and Privacy.
Go to Accounts Center → Sharing Across Profiles.
Choose your Instagram account.
Under “Automatically Share,” toggle off:
- Your Instagram Stories
- Your Instagram Posts
- Your Reels

This keeps your accounts connected for login or ad purposes but stops automatic content sharing.

How to Unsync a Business or Creator Account

If you use Meta Business Suite or Creator Studio, follow these additional steps:

Open Meta Business Suite on desktop or app.
Go to Settings → Business Assets → Instagram Accounts.
Click on your Instagram → Remove from Business Account.
Confirm the disconnection.

You can also check Ad Accounts to ensure Instagram is no longer connected for ad sharing.

What Happens After You Unsync Facebook and Instagram?

Here’s what changes once you disconnect the two:

Feature	Before Unsyncing	After Unsyncing
Cross-posting	Automatically shares posts	You must post manually
Login	One login for both	Separate logins
Ad Management	Shared across both	Managed independently
DM Integration	Messages synced	Each app’s inbox is separate
Story Sharing	Shared instantly	Must share manually
Profile Suggestion	Facebook may suggest your IG	No more linked recommendations

💡 Pro Tip: Unsyncing does not delete your content or affect followers on either platform.

How to Reconnect Facebook and Instagram Later

Changed your mind? Reconnecting is simple.

Go to Accounts Center from either app.
Tap Add Accounts → Log in with Facebook/Instagram.
Follow the prompts to reconnect.

You’ll once again be able to cross-post, log in using one platform, and share ads between them.

Troubleshooting: Can’t Unsync Facebook and Instagram?

If you’re having trouble removing the accounts, try these fixes:

Update both apps – Outdated versions sometimes hide the Accounts Center.
Clear cache – Go to your phone’s app settings → clear cache for both apps.
Log out and back in – Refreshes your Meta session.
Use desktop browser – Some users find it easier via [accountscenter.facebook.com].
Contact Meta Support – Use the in-app Help Center if you encounter persistent issues.

Privacy Tip: Review What’s Still Shared After Unsyncing

Even after unsyncing, some data might remain shared through Meta systems like ads or login history. To fully ensure privacy:

Check Ad Preferences in both apps.
Turn off “Personalized ads across Meta platforms.”
Review Login with Facebook apps and remove unwanted connections.

Alternative: Limit Data Sharing Without Full Unsync

If your goal is data control rather than separation, consider these tweaks instead:

Disable “Connected Experiences” (for story sharing, etc.).
Turn off “Login with Facebook” for Instagram.
Adjust ad data sharing in Meta Accounts Center → Ad Preferences.

This gives you more privacy while keeping some convenient cross-platform tools.

Best Practices After Unsyncing

Once you’ve unsynced, here are a few things to keep in mind:

Use unique passwords for each app.
Update your login recovery options — add email and phone separately on both.
Customize privacy settings — hide online status, story visibility, etc.
Manually share posts when desired (to keep engagement consistent).
Review notifications — they may change after unsyncing.

SEO and Content Strategy Tip for Businesses

If you manage brand pages, unsyncing can help customize your content strategy.
Here’s why:

Platform	Best for	Suggested Posting Style
Facebook	Community building, long-form posts, events	Detailed posts, links, polls
Instagram	Visual storytelling, brand awareness	Reels, stories, carousel posts

By managing them separately, you can better target each audience without overlapping or confusing followers.

Conclusion: Take Control of Your Social Accounts

Unsyncing Facebook and Instagram gives you greater control, flexibility, and privacy.
Whether you want to stop cross-posting, separate personal and business accounts, or just manage ads differently — the process is simple and reversible.

All it takes is a few taps in the Meta Accounts Center, and your accounts will function independently again.

Take a moment to customize your settings after unsyncing — and enjoy managing your online presence on your own terms!

FAQs About Unsyncing Facebook and Instagram

1. What happens when I unlink my Facebook and Instagram accounts?

Your accounts will function separately — no automatic post sharing, combined logins, or ad data sharing.

2. Can I still log in to Instagram using Facebook after unsyncing?

No. You’ll need to use your Instagram username or email instead.

3. Will unsyncing delete my posts or followers?

Not at all. Your existing content and followers remain unaffected.

4. Can I reconnect my accounts later?

Yes, simply go back to Accounts Center → Add Accounts and follow the prompts.

5. Is it possible to keep auto-sharing turned off but stay linked?

Yes! Just disable “Sharing Across Profiles” in Accounts Center to stop auto-sharing while keeping accounts connected.

Final Summary

Unsyncing Facebook and Instagram is done through the Meta Accounts Center on either app or desktop.
You can remove one account from the connected list to separate them completely.
It’s reversible — you can reconnect later anytime.
After unsyncing, check your privacy settings, ad preferences, and login options to ensure full control.

Taking this step helps you protect your privacy, improve account management, and tailor your social strategy for each platform.