> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.overlap.ai/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Facebook & Instagram Publishing and Analytics

> Troubleshoot failed posts, permissions, video compatibility, reach settings, attribution labels, and demographic warnings.

> Start with the exact Social Calendar error, then check the destination account directly before retrying.

## A post failed

Use this order to narrow down the cause:

1. Open the post in [`Social Calendar`](/essentials/social-calendar) and read the full error.
2. Check the Facebook Page or Instagram account directly to confirm the post did not publish. A platform can occasionally return an error after accepting a Reel.
3. Confirm you can publish a simple original test post directly in the platform app.
4. Check **Account Status**, notifications, and security prompts in Facebook or Instagram.
5. Confirm the account still appears under **Accounts** in Overlap.
6. Compare the video against [`Posting Limits & Best Practices`](/essentials/limits).

If a manual post also fails, resolve the account or media issue in Facebook or Instagram. If manual publishing works but the Overlap post fails, continue with the permission and media checks below.

## Facebook permission errors or a missing Page

The authorization needs permission to create and manage Page content.

1. Open Facebook **Settings & privacy → Settings → Business integrations** or **Apps and websites**.
2. Open the publishing authorization created during the Overlap linking flow.
3. Confirm content-management access is enabled for every Page you intend to use.
4. Save the permissions, then disconnect and reconnect Facebook from **Accounts** in Overlap.

If permissions cannot be corrected, remove the existing authorization from Facebook and create a fresh connection. Approve every requested permission during the new authorization.

## Instagram permission or linked-account errors

Errors about an unsupported object, a missing object, account type, or permission usually mean Instagram is no longer connected to the Page used during authorization or a required permission was removed.

1. Confirm the Instagram account is still Business or Creator.
2. In the Facebook Page settings, confirm the correct Instagram account is connected.
3. In Facebook's business-integration settings, confirm the authorization can upload media, create Instagram posts, and access the intended Instagram account.
4. Reconnect Instagram from **Accounts** in Overlap.

## “Unsupported request”

If Facebook or Instagram returns an unsupported-request or unsupported-POST error after permissions have been checked:

1. From a desktop browser, open Facebook's **Off-Facebook activity** settings.
2. Make sure future off-Facebook activity is enabled. If it is already enabled, turn it off and back on.
3. Remove the existing publishing authorization, then reconnect the account in Overlap.
4. Grant every requested permission during reconnection.

This setting is controlled by Facebook and may move within **Accounts Center → Your information and permissions**.

## Facebook requires Page authorization

Some Pages must complete extra security checks before Facebook allows third-party publishing. Sign in to Facebook from a desktop browser and complete the prompt. Facebook may ask for two-factor authentication, location confirmation, Page-access review, or business verification.

The same authorization issue can block both the Facebook Page and an Instagram account connected to that Page.

## The video is rejected

A file can play normally on your computer and still contain an encoding profile the destination rejects. Export or re-encode the video with:

* MP4 container
* H.264 video
* AAC audio
* `yuv420p` pixel format
* web-optimized or fast-start metadata

For advanced users, FFmpeg can normalize a file:

```bash theme={null}
ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -c:v libx264 -preset medium -profile:v high -level 4.0 -pix_fmt yuv420p -c:a aac -movflags +faststart output.mp4
```

Upload the new file as a new post instead of repeatedly retrying the incompatible upload. Also confirm the aspect ratio, duration, resolution, and file size remain within the platform requirements.

## The post published but has limited reach

Page-level audience settings can override the audience expected for an individual post. In Facebook, review the Page's country and age restrictions. A country excluded at the Page level cannot see a post even if the post itself otherwise targets that country.

To review country restrictions, switch into the Page on Facebook, open the Page's settings, and find **Country restrictions**. Confirm that the Page is not excluding a country you intend to reach. Page-level restrictions take precedence over targeting selected for an individual post.

Restrictions, copyrighted material, duplicate content, repetitive captions, suspicious links, or unusually high frequency can also reduce distribution without causing a publishing error.

## Posting in multiple languages

Facebook does not allow third-party publishing tools to attach several language-specific versions to one post. Facebook may automatically translate a standard post for each viewer according to that person's language and translation preferences.

If you need to publish your own translations, create a separate post for each language. Keep in mind that publishing several near-identical posts to the same Page can be confusing for followers and may look repetitive. For a sustained multilingual strategy, consider separate Pages for distinct audiences.

Viewers control automatic translation in Facebook under **Settings & privacy → Settings → Language and region**. Those preferences determine which posts Facebook translates and which languages remain unchanged.

## Facebook shows “Published by” an integration

Facebook may show Page administrators a **Published by** label followed by the name of the publishing integration. Facebook adds this attribution in the Page's admin view; it is not normally shown to visitors.

To verify the public view, open the Page in a private or incognito window where you are not signed in as an administrator.

## Instagram demographic data is unavailable

Instagram may withhold an age, gender, or location breakdown until there is enough audience data in every category. A warning about needing more than 100 people in each breakdown is a privacy threshold, not a failed Overlap connection.

Data may also vary by location because of privacy rules and phased feature availability. Posting and other analytics can continue to work while that demographic breakdown remains unavailable.

## Still failing?

Contact Overlap support with the Social Calendar post link, destination account, full error, time of the attempt, and whether a manual platform post succeeded. Do not send passwords or authentication codes.