Connect Accounts

Connecting your social media accounts is the first and most important step in setting up ContentMate. Once connected, you can schedule posts and access available analytics for your Facebook Pages, professional Instagram accounts, TikTok accounts, and YouTube channels. Messaging and comments depend on the platform; TikTok is not connected to the ContentMate inbox. This guide walks you through the connection process for each platform.

Detailed platform guides: Instagram, Facebook, TikTok.

Prerequisites

Before you begin connecting accounts, make sure the following conditions are met for each platform you want to use.

Facebook

• You have a Facebook account with access to the intended Page and the required tasks for content, messaging, or moderation.
• If your Page is managed through a Meta Business Portfolio, you must have the appropriate Page access assigned there.

Instagram

• Your Instagram account is a Business or Creator account (not a personal account)
• For a Facebook connection, the Instagram account must be linked to a Facebook Page and you need the appropriate Page access.
• A direct Instagram connection does not require a Facebook Page.

TikTok

• You can sign in to the intended TikTok account and grant the requested permissions.
• An existing published video or a Business account is not required to connect. Without available videos, there are initially no video metrics.

Tip: Choose the connection method that fits how you manage your accounts. Features depend on account type, permissions, and the data Meta provides. See Connect your Instagram account.

YouTube

• You have a Google account with access to the YouTube channel you want to connect.
• You can manage that channel and grant the requested permissions.
• If you manage several channels, select the one intended for this workspace.

Navigate to the Accounts Page

1. Sign in to ContentMate
2. Select the workspace you want to work with (or create a new one)
3. If no account is connected yet, you will be automatically redirected to the Settings page
4. Alternatively, click Settings in the sidebar at any time

On the Settings page, scroll down to the Connected Social Media Accounts section. You will see cards for Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. Each card has a description and a connection button.

Connect a Facebook Page

Connecting a Facebook Page gives you access to post scheduling, Messenger messages in your inbox, comment management, and full analytics for your Facebook Page. It also automatically detects any linked Instagram Business Accounts.

Step 1: Start the Facebook Connection

1. On the Settings page, find the Facebook card
2. Click the blue "Connect Facebook" button
3. You will be redirected to Facebook's authorization page
4. If you are not signed in to Facebook, you will be prompted to log in

Step 2: Select Facebook Pages

In the first step of the Facebook dialog:

1. Select "Opt in to current Pages only" to share only specific pages
2. Place a checkmark next to each Facebook Page you want to connect to ContentMate
3. You can select multiple pages
4. Click "Continue"

Note: The selection depends on your Page access and granted permissions. If a Page is missing, check the tasks assigned in Page or Business settings. See Connect your Facebook Page.

Step 3: Select Business Portfolio

If Meta displays a Business Portfolio selection:

1. Select "Opt in to current Businesses only"
2. Place a checkmark next to the business portfolio linked to your Facebook Page
3. Click "Continue"

Step 4: Select Instagram Accounts (Optional)

If your Facebook Page is linked to an Instagram Business Account, an additional step appears:

1. Select "Opt in to current Instagram accounts only"
2. Place a checkmark next to the Instagram account you want to connect
3. Click "Continue"

Tip: This step only appears if your Facebook Page is linked to an Instagram Business or Creator Account. If you do not see your Instagram account here, refer to the section Link Instagram to Facebook.

Step 5: Review and Confirm Permissions

Facebook displays a summary of all requested permissions:

• Access Page and App insights -- for analytics and statistics
• Manage your business -- for business portfolio integration
• Access profile and posts from the Instagram account -- for Instagram integration
• Upload media and create posts for the Instagram account -- for Instagram posting
• Manage comments for the Instagram account -- for comment management
• Access insights for the Instagram account -- for Instagram analytics
• Manage and access Page conversations in Messenger -- for the inbox
• Create and manage content on your Page -- for Facebook posting
• Manage comments on your Page -- for comment management
• Manage accounts, settings, and webhooks for a Page -- for real-time notifications
• Read user content on your Page -- for analytics
• Show a list of the Pages you manage -- for account selection

Click "Save" to confirm all permissions.

Step 6: Confirmation and Redirect

After successful authorization, Facebook displays a confirmation message. Click "Got it" and you will be automatically redirected back to ContentMate's Settings page.

Step 7: Activate Accounts in ContentMate

Back in ContentMate, you will see the detected accounts listed under your Facebook Page:

1. Each detected account (Facebook Page, Instagram Business Account) has a toggle switch
2. Enable the toggle for each account you want to connect -- the status changes to "Activated / Will be connected"
3. Click the blue "Connect Selection" button

Note: You can choose to activate only the Facebook Page or only the Instagram account -- you do not have to connect both.

After connecting, you will be redirected to the Dashboard where your new accounts appear in the Connected Accounts section with a green status indicator.

Connect an Instagram Account

There are two ways to connect an Instagram account to ContentMate:

Option A: Via Facebook

If your Instagram Business Account is linked to a Facebook Page, it will be automatically detected during the Facebook connection process (see Step 4 above). Available features still depend on granted permissions, account type, and the data Meta provides for that account.

Option B: Direct Instagram Connection

You can also connect Instagram directly:

1. On the Settings page, find the Instagram card
2. Click the "Connect Instagram" button
3. You will be redirected to Instagram's authorization page
4. Log in to Instagram if prompted and authorize ContentMate
5. After authorization, you are redirected back to ContentMate

Important: The direct connection requires a professional Instagram account, but no Facebook Page. For a missing feature, check the specific permission and the Instagram connection guide.

Connect a TikTok Account

Connecting a TikTok account lets you schedule and publish videos and photos directly from ContentMate. TikTok analytics (views, likes, comments, shares) will also become available.

Step 1: Start the TikTok Connection

1. On the Settings page, find the TikTok card
2. Click the "Connect TikTok" button
3. You will be redirected to TikTok's authorization page

Step 2: Authorize on TikTok

1. Log in to your TikTok account if prompted
2. Review the permissions ContentMate is requesting:
   • Access to your basic profile information
   • Access to your profile statistics
   • Ability to publish videos and photos
   • Access to your video list for analytics
3. Click "Authorize" to grant access

Step 3: Confirmation and Redirect

After successful authorization, you are automatically redirected back to ContentMate's Settings page. Your TikTok account now appears under the Already Connected Accounts section.

Note: TikTok uses OAuth 2.0 with PKCE for enhanced security. Access tokens are refreshed automatically in the background, so you should not need to reconnect frequently.

Connect a YouTube Channel

1. Click Connect YouTube on the YouTube card.
2. Select the Google account and YouTube channel in the Google dialog.
3. Review and grant the permissions for the channel connection, uploads, analytics including available revenue reports, and comment management. ContentMate requests them together during the initial connection.
4. After returning to ContentMate, the channel appears among connected accounts. Analytics are then imported automatically in the background.

You normally do not need a separate connection for analytics. If individual permissions were declined or later revoked, ContentMate indicates the affected features; grant the missing permissions through Reconnect YouTube.

See Connect a YouTube channel for the full guide.

Features Available After Connecting

Manage Connected Accounts

View Connected Accounts

After connecting accounts, you can view them in the Already Connected Accounts section on the Settings page. Each account shows:

• A profile picture (or platform icon as fallback)
• The display name of the account
• The platform (Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, or YouTube)
• A partially masked account ID (click the eye icon to reveal it)

Connect Additional Accounts

In the same Settings area, you can connect additional accounts at any time:

• Facebook: Click "Reconnect" if you already have a Facebook account connected, or "Connect Facebook" for a new connection
• Instagram: Click "Connect Instagram" for a direct Instagram connection
• TikTok: Click "Connect TikTok" for a new TikTok account
• YouTube: Click Connect YouTube or Reconnect YouTube and select the intended channel.

Disconnect an Account

To remove a connected account:

1. Navigate to Settings > Connected Social Media Accounts
2. Find the account under "Already Connected Accounts"
3. Click the three-dot menu next to the account
4. Select "Disconnect"
5. Confirm the action in the dialog

Warning: Disconnecting an account stops all scheduled posts for that account and removes access to its messages and analytics data. This action cannot be undone.

Reconnect Facebook (Renew Token)

Facebook access tokens have a limited validity period (approximately 60 days). When ContentMate shows a warning about expired permissions:

1. Go to Settings > Connected Social Media Accounts
2. Click "Reconnect" on the Facebook card
3. Go through the Facebook authorization process again
4. Your existing accounts will be preserved -- only the access token is renewed

Link Instagram to Facebook

For your Instagram account to be detected through the Facebook connection, it must be a Business or Creator account and linked to a Facebook Page.

Convert Instagram to a Business Account

1. Open the Instagram app on your smartphone
2. Go to Profile > Settings and Privacy
3. Tap Account Type and Tools > Switch to Professional Account
4. Choose Business or Creator
5. Follow the instructions and select a category

Link Instagram to a Facebook Page

1. In the Instagram app, go to Profile > Edit Profile
2. Tap Page under "Public Business Information"
3. Select the Facebook Page you want to link to
4. Confirm the connection

After completing these steps, repeat the Facebook connection process in ContentMate. Your Instagram account should now appear in Step 4.

Privacy and Security

• No Password Storage: ContentMate never stores your Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, or Google passwords. Authentication is handled entirely through OAuth tokens.
• Encrypted Tokens: Access tokens are stored securely and encrypted on servers in Germany.
• Revocable at Any Time: You can disconnect any account through ContentMate or directly in the platform's settings (Facebook: Business Integrations; TikTok: Connected Apps).
• Privacy focused: Core application data is hosted at Hetzner in Germany; external providers and possible third-country processing are listed in the Privacy Policy.
• Minimal Permissions: ContentMate only requests the permissions necessary for its functionality.
• Automatic Token Refresh: Facebook tokens are refreshed before they expire (60-day cycle). TikTok tokens are refreshed automatically every 24 hours.

Troubleshooting

"No Facebook Pages Found"

Possible causes:

• You do not have administrator or editor rights for a Facebook Page
• You did not select any pages in the Facebook dialog

Solution: Check at facebook.com/pages whether you manage any pages. If not, create a new page or have yourself added as an administrator.

"Instagram Account Not Showing"

Possible causes:

• Your Instagram account is not a Business or Creator account
• The Instagram account is not linked to a Facebook Page
• You did not select the Instagram account in the Facebook dialog

Solution: Follow the steps under Link Instagram to Facebook and repeat the connection process.

"TikTok Authorization Failed"

Possible causes:

• You denied the authorization request on TikTok
• Browser cache or cookies are causing conflicts
• Temporary issues at TikTok

Solution:

1. Clear your browser cache and cookies
2. Disable popup blockers for ContentMate
3. Try a different browser
4. Wait a few minutes and try again

"TikTok Account Already Connected"

Possible cause: The TikTok account is already connected to this or another workspace.

Solution: Each TikTok account can only be connected to one workspace at a time. Disconnect it from the other workspace first, then try again.

"Authorization Failed" (General)

Possible causes:

• Browser cache or cookies are causing conflicts
• Popup blockers blocked the authorization window
• Temporary issues at the platform

Solution:

1. Clear your browser cache and cookies
2. Disable popup blockers for ContentMate
3. Try a different browser
4. Wait a few minutes and try again

"Permissions Missing"

Possible cause: You did not accept all permissions in the Facebook dialog.

Solution: Go to Settings and click "Reconnect" for Facebook. Make sure you click "Save" in the permissions dialog without removing any permissions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I connect multiple Facebook Pages?

Yes. During the Facebook authorization process, you can select multiple pages. Each page will be available as a separate account in ContentMate.

Do I need to reconnect my accounts regularly?

Facebook and Instagram tokens expire after approximately 60 days and are refreshed automatically. If automatic refresh fails, ContentMate will display a warning and you can manually reconnect. TikTok tokens are refreshed automatically every 24 hours.

What happens to my scheduled posts if I disconnect an account?

All scheduled posts for that account will be cancelled. Published posts on the platform are not affected.

Can I connect the same account to multiple workspaces?

Facebook and Instagram accounts can typically only be connected to one workspace at a time. TikTok accounts also have this restriction. If you need the same account in multiple workspaces, disconnect it from one workspace before connecting it to another.

Does ContentMate post on my behalf without my knowledge?

No. ContentMate only publishes posts that you explicitly create and schedule. It never posts automatically without your direct action.

Next Steps

After successfully connecting your accounts, you can:

• Explore the Dashboard -- See your statistics and connected account status
• Create and Schedule Your First Post -- Create your first scheduled post
• Explore the Inbox -- Manage your Facebook Messenger and Instagram messages
• Discover Analytics -- Analyze your reach and engagement