Maintaining a stable connection between ZoomSphere and your social media accounts is crucial for seamless operations like scheduling posts, tracking analytics, and managing interactions. If you're experiencing disruptions, it may be due to an expired connection-token. Here's how to refresh it and prevent future issues.
What is a Connection Token?
A connection token acts as a bridge between your Facebook account and ZoomSphere, granting the platform the necessary permissions to access your page and its associated features. Facebook enforces token expiration to ensure user account security, which can lead to disruptions in ZoomSphere if not promptly refreshed.
When Does the Token Expire?
Tokens can expire under the following conditions:
90-Day Expiration: Facebook automatically invalidates tokens every 90 days for security reasons.
Password Change: Changing the password for the Facebook account linked to the token will cause it to expire.
Account Permission Changes: Revoking or modifying app permissions in your Facebook account can invalidate the token.
Account Deactivation: Deactivating or deleting the personal Facebook account linked to the page results in token expiration.
Impact on Instagram Accounts
Since Facebook and Instagram accounts are often linked, a lost Facebook connection also impacts Instagram functionality in ZoomSphere. If you lose the connection to your Facebook page, all Instagram-related features, such as scheduling posts and accessing analytics, will stop working until the token is refreshed.
Who Can Refresh the Token?
Only the Administrator account used to connect the Facebook page to ZoomSphere can refresh the token. This must be done by the person whose personal Facebook account is linked to the page. If this isn't you, contact the appropriate team member to proceed.
How to Refresh the Connection Token in ZoomSphere
Follow these steps to refresh the token and restore functionality:
1. Log in to the Administrator Account
2. Navigate to the Settings: Social Media Channels tab
3. Find the impacted Facebook Page (highlighted with red color)
4. Click: Refresh the Connection button
5. Reauthorize the Connection
Log in to Facebook using the personal account that originally connected the page.
Grant the requested permissions. Ensure all necessary options are enabled to avoid functionality issues.
If Instagram is linked to the Facebook page, its connection will also be restored during this process.
6. Done ✔️
After refreshing, ZoomSphere will confirm the updated token.
You can test the connection by scheduling a post or republishing the post by the Try again button.
Refreshing Fails!
If you are clicking the Refresh button but it fails, then ensure to have all the necessary permissions on Facebook that are written in this article: Facebook Permissions
Preventing Token Expiration
To reduce the risk of losing the connection:
Monitor Token Expiry Dates: Keep track of the 90-day cycle and plan a refresh before the token expires.
Minimize Account Changes: Avoid changing the password or permissions of the personal Facebook account linked to ZoomSphere.
Use a Dedicated Administrator Account: Assign a stable account as the primary admin to prevent frequent resets.
Enable Notifications: Turn on email or in-app notifications in ZoomSphere to get alerts about upcoming token expirations.
Key Takeaways
Facebook and Instagram are linked: If your Facebook token expires, the Instagram connection will also be lost.
Administrator responsibility: Only the admin who initially connected the account can refresh the token.
Plan ahead: Regularly monitor and refresh your tokens to avoid disruptions.
By following these steps and best practices, you can ensure uninterrupted access to your social media tools in ZoomSphere. For additional help, don’t hesitate to contact our Customer Care Team—we’re always here to assist! 🙂