What Does Linking Instagram to TikTok Do?
Linking your Instagram account to TikTok provides several key benefits:
It allows easy cross-posting of content between the platforms. You can quickly share TikTok videos to Instagram Stories or Instagram posts to TikTok (https://influencermarketinghub.com/how-to-link-tiktok-to-instagram/). This makes it simple to reach your audience across multiple apps.
Connecting the accounts also provides access to additional effects, filters, and editing tools. For example, linking unlocks TikTok’s editing features to enhance Instagram content before sharing.
Linking provides deeper analytics and insights by combining data from both platforms. You can see total audience reach, likes, comments, and more in one place.
Overall, linking Instagram and TikTok allows for wider distribution of content, saves time, and gives a more complete picture of audience engagement across apps.
Common Reasons Instagram Can’t Be Added to TikTok
There are a few common reasons why you may not be able to link your Instagram account to your TikTok account. These include having a private Instagram account, using a business Instagram account, age restrictions, and regional restrictions.
If your Instagram account is set to private, you won’t be able to link it to TikTok. TikTok requires your Instagram account to be public in order to connect the two profiles. You’ll need to go to your Instagram settings and change your account from private to public to be able to link it to TikTok.
TikTok also does not allow business Instagram accounts to be linked. If you’re trying to connect a business Instagram profile, it will not work. TikTok only allows personal Instagram accounts to be linked.
There are also age restrictions when linking Instagram to TikTok. If your Instagram account belongs to someone under the age of 18, you may not be able to connect it to TikTok due to Coppa compliance rules. Both platforms require users to be at least 13 years old.
Additionally, there are regional restrictions that prevent users in certain countries from being able to link Instagram and TikTok. For example, users in China cannot connect an Instagram profile to TikTok. This is due to restrictions placed by the Chinese government.
Checking these common issues can help troubleshoot why you may be unable to link your Instagram account to your TikTok profile.
Fixing a Private Instagram Account
One of the most common reasons you may not be able to link your Instagram account to your TikTok account is if your Instagram profile is set to private. TikTok requires your Instagram account to be public in order to link the two profiles.
To fix this and link your Instagram, you need to make sure your Instagram account is set to public. To do this:
- Open the Instagram app and go to your profile page.
- Tap the three dot menu icon in the top right corner.
- Go to Settings > Privacy > Account Privacy.
- Under “Posts”, switch the setting from “Private” to “Public”.
Once your Instagram account is public, you should be able to successfully link it to your TikTok profile.
Additionally, TikTok only allows you to link personal Instagram accounts – not business accounts. So if you are trying to link an Instagram business profile, you will need to switch it to a personal account first before linking.
Using a Business Instagram Account
One potential reason you may not be able to link your Instagram account to TikTok is if you have an Instagram business account. TikTok’s linking feature is designed for personal Instagram accounts and currently does not support Instagram business accounts.
If you try to link an Instagram business profile to your TikTok account, you’ll get an error saying “Linking to business accounts is currently unsupported.” This is because TikTok wants to link personal profiles together, not business pages.
If you have an Instagram business profile and want to be able to cross-post between Instagram and TikTok, you’ll need to consider switching your Instagram account to a personal profile or creator account. Instagram business accounts are meant for brands, businesses and creators to have access to analytics and promoting posts. But regular personal profiles work better for linking with other social platforms like TikTok.[1]
You can go to your Instagram profile settings and switch your account type to a personal profile. Just keep in mind you’ll lose access to some of the specific business profile features. However, having a personal Instagram account will allow you to seamlessly link it to TikTok and cross-utilize both platforms.
Age Restrictions on Linking Accounts
Both TikTok and Instagram have minimum age requirements that must be met in order to use their platforms and link accounts between the two services.
According to their terms of service, users must be at least 13 years old to create an account on TikTok or Instagram. This age requirement is in place to comply with the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act in the United States.
TikTok and Instagram do not allow users under the age of 13 to link their accounts between platforms. Any account that appears to belong to someone under 13 cannot be connected to another social media profile.
This age restriction is due to legal requirements and safety concerns. Social media platforms want to prevent sharing personal information of minors without parental consent. Users must properly verify their age before merging accounts across different services.
Regional Restrictions
In some countries, TikTok and Instagram are partially or fully banned or restricted. This means users in these regions may not be able to link their Instagram account to TikTok.
For example, TikTok is currently banned in India, and access is restricted in Bangladesh, Indonesia, and Pakistan 1. Instagram is blocked in China. If you are located in one of these countries, you will not be able to link your Instagram account to TikTok due to the regional restrictions.
One potential workaround is to use a VPN service. VPNs allow you to access the internet through servers located in other countries, effectively bypassing regional restrictions. However, using VPNs violates the terms of service of many social media platforms and may carry legal risks depending on local laws. Proceed with caution if attempting to use a VPN to link restricted services.
The best solution is to use social media platforms that are permitted in your region. There are many alternatives to Instagram and TikTok that provide similar functionality without violating regional restrictions.
Updating Your TikTok and Instagram Apps
One reason you may be unable to link your Instagram account to TikTok is if you don’t have the latest versions of the apps installed. Both apps are periodically updated with bug fixes and new features that could affect linking.
Make sure you have installed the most recent updates for both the TikTok and Instagram apps on your device. You can update the TikTok app by going to the App Store (iOS) or Play Store (Android) and looking for any available updates. On iOS, you can also go to Settings > General > Software Update to check for any pending app updates. For more details, see this guide on how to update TikTok.
After ensuring both apps are fully updated, try to link your Instagram account in TikTok again. If it still doesn’t work after updating, you may need to contact TikTok or Instagram support for further troubleshooting.
Contacting TikTok and Instagram Support
If you’ve tried all the troubleshooting steps and still can’t link your Instagram account to TikTok, the next step is to reach out to their support teams for assistance. Both TikTok and Instagram offer ways to contact them and report issues you’re having with linking accounts.
For TikTok, you can contact their support team directly through their website. Select the “Report a problem” option and fill out the form with details on the issues linking Instagram. Be sure to include your TikTok username, steps you’ve tried already, and any error messages you received. The more information you provide, the better they can assist you.
You can also contact TikTok via Twitter by tweeting @TikTokSupport or sending a direct message. Explain that you’re unable to link your Instagram account and provide your username. This gives them a public record of the issue that they can reference.
For Instagram, access the Help Center and submit a request regarding linking your account to TikTok. Clearly describe the problem you’re encountering and what troubleshooting you’ve done. Include screenshots if possible. This creates a support ticket for their team to investigate.
Supplying detailed information to both companies’ support teams increases the chances they can resolve the linking issues you’re facing. With their help, you may finally be able to connect your Instagram and TikTok accounts.
Alternative Ways to Cross-Post Content
If you are unable to directly link your Instagram and TikTok accounts, there are a couple alternative options for cross-posting content between the platforms:
One option is to manually repost content. You can download videos, images, or captions from one platform and upload them directly to the other platform. While this takes more effort than direct linking, it allows you to reuse content across multiple accounts.
Another alternative is using third-party social media management tools. Services like Hootsuite, Buffer, and Planoly allow you to connect multiple social accounts and schedule posts to go out across different platforms. This streamlines cross-posting, though some third-party tools have limitations.
Manually sharing or scheduling social posts through tools like these allow you to work around direct link issues. The process may be more time-consuming than direct linking, but it still lets you repurpose content across Instagram and TikTok.
When Linking Instagram and TikTok Isn’t Possible
In some cases, linking your Instagram account to TikTok simply won’t be possible due to restrictions put in place by the platforms. The most common reasons linking can’t be done include having a private Instagram account, being under the minimum age required by Instagram, and regional restrictions that prevent accounts from certain countries from being linked.
If you’ve tried all the troubleshooting steps but Instagram still cannot be added to your TikTok account, here are some alternative ways to cross-post content between the platforms:
- Manually re-upload your Instagram photos and videos to TikTok.
- Use a third-party app like Buffer or Hootsuite to schedule posts to both Instagram and TikTok.
- Download your Instagram photos and re-edit them with effects/overlays before uploading to TikTok.
- Screen record your Instagram feed and upload the video to TikTok.
While linking accounts is ideal for easily expanding your audience, cross-posting content manually between the apps can accomplish similar goals. Stay up-to-date on any changes to restrictions that may allow linking in the future.
