How to Get Post ID for Instagram Ad

Unlock the power of your best-performing Instagram posts by turning them into high-converting ads, social proof included. This guide breaks down exactly what an Instagram Post ID is and shows you three distinct methods to find it, so you can start running more effective campaigns today.

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What Exactly Is an Instagram Post ID and Why You Need It

An Instagram Post ID is a unique numerical code assigned to every single post - including photos, videos, Reels, and carousels - uploaded to the platform. Think of it as a social security number for your content, no two posts will ever share the same ID. While this ID works behind the scenes, it's an essential tool for marketers and advertisers who want to be more strategic with their ad spend.

The primary reason you'll need a Post ID is to take an existing, successful organic post and run it as an ad through Facebook Ads Manager. This technique is often referred to as using an "existing post" for an ad campaign. By doing this, you instantly carry over all the existing likes, comments, shares, and saves onto the advertisement.

This has a few powerful benefits:

• Preserves Social Proof: An ad with hundreds of likes and positive comments is immediately more trustworthy than one starting from zero. This built-in trust can lead to lower ad costs (Cost Per Click) and higher conversion rates because users see that other people have already validated your content.
• Consolidates Engagement: Any new engagement your ad receives is added back to the original organic post. This boosts the original post's 'clout' and increases its organic longevity and reach in the Instagram algorithm long after you've stopped paying for the ad.
• Saves Time and Boosts Confidence: Why guess what will perform well? You already know this post resonates with your audience. Using a proven winner saves you the time and risk of creating and testing new ad creative from scratch.

In short, finding a Post ID allows you to put your ad budget behind a post that's already captured your audience's attention, magnifying its impact and credibility.

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3 Methods to Find Your Instagram Post ID

Depending on your workflow and comfort level, there are a few reliable ways to find the Post ID for your Instagram content. Here are three methods, from the fastest workaround to the official advertiser's path.

Method 1: Find the Post ID Using Its URL (The Easiest Way)

This method is the quickest path if you already have the link to your Instagram post and don't want to dig around in Ads Manager. It relies on converting the post's public URL into its numerical ID.

1. Copy the Post Link: First, navigate to the Instagram post you want to use.
2. Examine the URL: Paste the link into a text editor or your browser's address bar. It will look something like this: https://www.instagram.com/p/CzDoL9Vh789/. The part after /p/ and before the next slash (in this case, CzDoL9Vh789) is the post's unique shortcode. This is not the Post ID, but it's the key you need.
3. Decode the Shortcode: This final step requires converting that alphanumeric shortcode into the numerical Post ID. While there used to be many free online tools for this, finding a reliable one can be tricky. A consistent way to do this now is by creating a specific URL format. For this to work, you'll need your Instagram username and the post shortcode you just found.

This approach can feel a bit technical, but it works when you quickly need an ID without diving into Ads Manager firsthand.

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Method 2: Get the Post ID Directly from Facebook Ads Manager

This is the official method and the most direct route for advertisers. It integrates seamlessly into your ad creation process, removing the need for external tools or technical workarounds.

1. Navigate to the Ad Level: Open your Facebook Ads Manager. Either start creating a new campaign or go to an existing ad set where you want to add the new ad. Once there, navigate to the Ad level.
2. Select "Use Existing Post": In the "Ad Setup" section, the default option is often "Create Ad." Change this by selecting the "Use Existing Post" option.
3. Choose Your Post: Click the "Select Post" button. A new window will open, showcasing content from your connected accounts.
4. Switch to the Instagram Tab: The window defaults to showing your Facebook Page content. At the top of this window, click on the "Instagram" tab. You'll now see a gallery of your recent Instagram feed posts, carousels, Reels, and Stories.
5. Find and Select the Post ID: Simply scroll through to find the post you want to use. When you select it, the right side of the window will show a preview and details. Often, the Post ID is listed directly below the preview or post caption for easy reference. Click "Continue" to select it.

This method is the cleanest because you often don't even need to copy the ID. You can simply select the post visually and let Ads Manager handle the rest. However, knowing where the Post ID is shown is handy if you need to share it with a team member or agency.

Method 3: View the Page Source Code (The Technical Approach)

If the other methods fail or you enjoy a more technical approach, you can always find the Post ID hidden within the page's source code. It sounds intimidating, but it's quite straightforward once you know what to look for.

1. Open the Post on a Desktop: You'll need to do this on a desktop web browser like Chrome, Firefox, or Safari. Go directly to the URL of the Instagram post.
2. View Page Source: Right-click anywhere on the empty space of the page (not on the image itself) and select "View Page Source" from the context menu. You can also use the keyboard shortcut: Ctrl+U (on Windows) or Cmd+Option+U (on Mac).
3. Search for the ID: A new tab will open with dense walls of HTML code. Don't panic! This is the source code for the page. Use your browser's "Find" feature by pressing Ctrl+F (on Windows) or Cmd+F (on Mac).
4. Enter the Search Term: In the search box that appears, type "media_id" and press Enter. Your browser will highlight this text in the code.
5. Copy Your Post ID: Right after "media_id": you will see a long string of numbers inside quotes. For example, "media_id":"314159265358979323". The number inside the quotes is your Post ID. Simply copy that entire number string, and you're good to go.

Note: The structure of Instagram's website can change, so the exact search term (like "media_id") may be updated over time. However, this method has remained a reliable fallback for years.

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How to Use Your Copied Post ID in a Campaign

After finding your Post ID with either method 1 or 3, here’s how to put it into action within Ads Manager:

1. Go to your campaign and at the Ad level, select "Use Existing Post" in the Ad Setup area.
2. Instead of clicking "Select Post," click the text link beside it that says "Enter Post ID."
3. A small box will pop up. Paste the numerical Post ID you copied and click "Submit."
4. The ad preview will instantly load your selected Instagram post, complete with all its likes and comments.
5. From here, add your call-to-action button, destination URL, and any tracking parameters you need, then publish your ad.

Final Thoughts

Finding an Instagram Post ID allows you to transform your most engaging organic content into powerful, trust-building ads. By using Ads Manager's "Use Existing Post" feature, you preserve valuable social proof that boosts ad performance and consolidates all new engagement onto your original post, extending its life and reach.

Once your new ad campaigns are running, the analytical work begins. Instead of manually pulling reports from Facebook Ads, Google Analytics, and Shopify to see what's truly working, you can simplify the entire process. At Graphed, we connect directly to all your marketing and sales data sources, allowing you to ask questions in plain English. Just ask "What was my ROAS on my social media ad campaigns last week?" or "Create a real-time dashboard comparing my Shopify sales to my Facebook Ads spend," and get instant results. This allows you to spend less time building reports and more time acting on insights.