# Connect LinkedIn, X, Instagram, and other platforms

> Connect and disconnect social accounts in Settings. Connections are shared; Publishing Defaults pick which accounts each brand uses.

- HTML: https://postless.app/guides/connecting-platforms
- Published: 2026-09-03
- Author: Postless
- Category: Product
- Tags: linkedin, x, instagram, facebook, threads, bluesky, youtube, tiktok, founders, creators, agencies, teams

Publishing uses accounts you connect once, then assign per brand.

Supported networks: **LinkedIn**, **X**, **Threads**, **Bluesky**, **Instagram**, **Facebook**, **TikTok**, **YouTube**.

## Connect an account

1. Open **Settings → Connections**.
2. Under **Connected Platforms** (“Connect once here — accounts are shared across all your brands”), find **Connect a platform**.
3. Click **Connect** next to the network (or **Add account** if that network already has a login).
4. Complete the provider’s login/permission screen. You return to Connections.

**Bluesky** does not use that OAuth link. Click **Connect** / **Add account**, enter **Handle** (for example `name.bsky.social`) and **App password**, then **Connect**.

You can also connect during onboarding step **Connect your platforms**, or start from Dashboard **Connect now** (opens the brand page).

Status badges: **Connected**, **Pending**, **Error**. Pending means OAuth did not finish — **Cancel** and try again.

### GitHub (content context, not publishing)

On the same Settings tab, **GitHub** can connect so shipping activity (commits, PRs, releases) can be used as content context. Pick repos on each brand page. GitHub is not a destination for posts.

## What connecting allows

Connecting grants Postless permission to publish to that account when you approve, schedule, or click **Publish now**.

It does not by itself post anything. Each brand must include the account in **Publishing Defaults** (and you can change targets on a single post in the editor).

## Publishing Defaults (per brand)

1. Open the brand from **Brands**.
2. In **Publishing Defaults**, tick accounts to pre-select on new posts. Checked rows show **Included**.
3. At least one default must remain selected.

To add a network that is not listed, connect it in **Settings → Connections** first.

Gates:

- Instagram as a default: turn on **Include AI images in plans** or **Include short AI videos in plans**.
- TikTok or YouTube as a default: turn on **Include short AI videos in plans**.

Toast if you skip that: **Turn on AI videos before adding TikTok or YouTube as publishing defaults** (or the Instagram equivalent).

## Disconnect

1. **Settings → Connections**.
2. On the account row, click **Disconnect**.

That login is removed for every brand. Posts still targeting it will fail to publish until you pick another account.

## What happens after connect

- New posts for a brand pre-select that brand’s **Included** defaults.
- **Generate plan** / first weekly plan can run once at least one social account is connected.
- **Approvals** and **Publish** require at least one **Connected** account.

## If this fails

- **Connection expired. Start connect again.** Restart **Connect**.
- **Connection cancelled** / **Connection was not confirmed.** Finish the provider prompt; don’t close it early.
- **Connected at provider, but sync failed. Try again.** Click **Connect** again.
- Bluesky: handle and app password are both required; use an app password, not your main login password.
- You connected but Planner still asks to connect: the brand has no publishing defaults yet — tick **Included** on the brand page.
- Dashboard lists only some networks in the connect banner; Settings still offers all eight plus GitHub.

## Related

- [Getting started](https://postless.app/guides/getting-started)
- [Multiple brands](https://postless.app/guides/multiple-brands)
- [Scheduling](https://postless.app/guides/scheduling)