In this Article:
With Auto Publish enabled, Later can automatically post to your social profiles on your behalf.
Auto Publish is automatically enabled for Twitter/X, LinkedIn, YouTube, Facebook, and Pinterest; however, for Instagram and TikTok, a few extra steps are required. This article will walk you through that process.
Note: Even if you enable Auto Publish, you’ll still have the option to use notification publishing for Instagram and TikTok if you prefer. Learn more
Important:
- Auto Publish for Instagram Multi-Photo (carousel) posts and Stories is only available on current paid plans
- Due to API limitations, only Instagram business profiles can Auto Publish Instagram Stories (not supported for creator profiles)
- Auto Publish for Instagram single-image posts, Reels, and TikTok posts is available on all plans, including Free
- You can enable Auto Publish for Instagram through Later on the web or Later’s mobile apps
- Auto Publish isn’t currently supported for Instagram creator profiles on Android
- You can only enable Auto Publish for TikTok through Later on the web
- You'll have to enable Auto Publish for TikTok on desktop before you can schedule TikTok posts for Auto Publish via mobile
Auto Publish Requirements
First, you’ll need to make sure you meet the requirements to enable Auto Publish. These requirements are set by the social platforms, not by Later.
Note: Remember, these requirements apply to Instagram and TikTok only—Auto Publish is automatically enabled for Twitter/X, LinkedIn, YouTube, Facebook, and Pinterest.
For Instagram
Important: Due to API changes from Instagram, these requirements apply to connect any Instagram profile to Later.
To enable Auto Publish for Instagram, you must have all of the following:
- An Instagram business or creator profile
- Due to API changes from Instagram, no new Instagram personal profile connections are supported. If you need to switch your Instagram profile type, see Instagram Profile Types & How to Switch →
- Your Instagram profile must be connected to a Facebook Page
- This is a requirement from Meta. If you need to make this connection, see Connect Instagram to a Facebook Page →
- You must have Facebook access with full control to the connected Facebook Page
Tip: You don’t need to use your Facebook Page, or promote it to your audience. Instagram just requires that your profile be connected to a Page in order to unlock certain features in their API (and therefore in Later!).
Once these requirements are met, proceed to Enable Auto Publish For Instagram for next steps!
For TikTok
To enable Auto Publish for TikTok, you must have at least one public TikTok video on your profile. (Your TikTok account type can be either Personal or Business.)
Once this requirement is met, proceed to Enable Auto Publish For TikTok for next steps!
Enable Auto Publish
Note: Once Auto Publish is enabled for Instagram and/or TikTok, future posts scheduled to those profiles will be set to Auto Publish by default. Any existing scheduled posts will still be set to notification publishing, unless you change it. To learn more, see Auto Publish vs. Notification Publishing & How to Switch →
If you’re having trouble enabling Auto Publish, please refer to Troubleshooting Auto Publish for solutions to the most common issues we come across.
For Instagram
Follow the steps below to enable Auto Publishing for Instagram:
Important: Due to API changes from Instagram, you must log into the Facebook profile that manages the Page connected to your Instagram profile in order to connect that Instagram profile to Later. If you’re already logged in to Facebook on your browser window, Later will automatically try to connect with that account during this process. Ensure that you’re logged in to the right Facebook account, or try from an Incognito/private browsing window instead.
Desktop
- Log in to app.later.com on desktop
- Select Settings > Social Sets & Access Groups (or click here)
- Select Edit next to the Access Group that contains your Instagram profile (or the one you’d like to add it to)
- If you haven’t yet added your Instagram profile to Later, select Add Social Profile and select an empty Instagram slot
- If you have already added your Instagram profile to Later, select Refresh or Enable next to your Instagram profile:
- Log in to Facebook as prompted, or if you were automatically logged in, confirm you’re in the correct account by verifying the username
Note: At this stage, you’ll be prompted to connect your Instagram profile to a Facebook page if you haven’t yet. This is required to enable Auto Publish. You’ll need Facebook access with full control of the Page in order to connect it to Instagram. For detailed instructions and troubleshooting, see Connect Instagram to a Facebook Page →- If you aren’t being prompted to log in to Facebook at this stage, please see Troubleshooting Auto Publish →
- Make sure all of the permissions are toggled on
Important: You must grant Later all permissions to avoid connection issues. If this hasn’t been done, you may experience posts failing to publish, social profile connections disconnecting, a constant need to refresh your connection, and missing analytics data. If you’re having trouble enabling the correct permissions, see Troubleshooting Auto Publish → - In the pop-up from Instagram, select Allow without disabling any permissions:
- You’ll be redirected back to Later—follow any remaining prompts to complete the process
- If you run into any trouble along the way, please see Troubleshooting Auto Publish →
Once complete, your Instagram profile should be in the Connected state:
This means Auto Publish has been successfully enabled! 🎉
iOS
iOS
- In Later’s iOS app, tap Account > Social Sets
- If you haven’t yet added your Instagram profile to Later, select Connect next to an empty Instagram slot:
- If you have already added your Instagram profile to Later, tap it, and then tap Refresh or Enable:
- Follow the prompts to log in to the Facebook account linked to your Instagram profile to complete setup
Note: At this stage, you’ll be prompted to connect your Instagram profile to a Facebook page if you haven’t yet. This is required to enable Auto Publish. You’ll need Facebook access with full control of the Page in order to connect it to Instagram. For detailed instructions and troubleshooting, see Connect Instagram to a Facebook Page →
Android
Android
Important: On the Facebook app, you must already be logged in to the Facebook account that manages the Page connected to your Instagram profile before connecting Instagram via Later's Android app.
- In Later’s Android app, tap Account > Social Sets
- If you haven’t yet added your Instagram profile to Later, select Connect next to an empty Instagram slot
- If you have already added your Instagram profile to Later, tap it, and then tap Refresh or Enable
- Follow the prompts to log in to the Facebook account linked to your Instagram profile to complete setup
- If you're not already logged in to this Facebook account, please do so via the Facebook app and then try these connection steps again
Note: At this stage, you’ll be prompted to connect your Instagram profile to a Facebook page if you haven’t yet. This is required to enable Auto Publish. You’ll need Facebook access with full control of the Page in order to connect it to Instagram. For detailed instructions and troubleshooting, see Connect Instagram to a Facebook Page →
If you’re having trouble at any step, please see Troubleshooting Auto Publish →
For TikTok
Follow the steps below to enable Auto Publishing for TikTok:
Important: If you’re already logged in to TikTok on your browser window, Later will automatically try to connect with that account during this process. Ensure that you’re logged in to the right account, or try from an Incognito/private browsing window instead.
- Log in to app.later.com on desktop
Note: Enabling Auto Publish for TikTok isn’t supported on Later’s mobile apps. You can still schedule TikTok posts for Auto Publish via mobile after enabling Auto Publish on desktop. - Select Settings > Social Sets & Access Groups (or click here)
- Select Edit next to the Access Group that contains your TikTok profile (or the one you’d like to add it to)
- If you haven’t yet added your TikTok profile to Later, select Add Social Profile and select an empty TikTok slot
- If you have already added your TikTok profile to Later, select Refresh next to your TikTok profile:
- Log in to TikTok as prompted, or if you were automatically logged in, confirm you’re in the correct account by verifying the username
- If not, log out of TikTok first and try again (or try from an Incognito/private browsing window)
- If you aren’t being prompted to log in to TikTok at this stage, please see Troubleshooting Auto Publish →
- Make sure all of the permissions are toggled on
- Select Continue without disabling any permissions:
You’ll be redirected back to Later and shown a success banner if your TikTok profile was successfully connected:
Once complete, your TikTok profile should be in the Connected state:
This means Auto Publish has been successfully enabled! 🎉
Having trouble? Please see Troubleshooting Auto Publish →
Troubleshooting Auto Publish
If you’re having trouble enabling Auto Publish, please see our dedicated troubleshooting guide which contains solutions to the most common issues we come across: Troubleshooting Auto Publish →