A social channel's access token-- the key a social network provides to Buffer as permission to publish your posts or pull in analytics or comments-- will expire from time to time. While this can be frustrating, it's good to keep in mind that this is normal behavior and is usually the result of the social network making a change to keep your account safe and secure.
Access tokens can expire for a number of reasons, including password changes, spam detection, and time-based lifespans set up by the social networks. Learn best practices for keeping your social channels connected here.
📝 This article is designed to help users with the Buffer mobile app. All instructions and screenshots are taken from the iOS app, and any steps that are different on Android are noted. You can find the desktop version of this article here.
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Tap the round avatar icon at the top left of your screen and tap on the channel you'd like to refresh (if it's not already selected).
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Tap the Settings icon at the bottom right of your screen.
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You'll see two tabs in the Settings area — settings for the channel you have selected and "Account Settings". Ensure the first tab is selected and tap Refresh this Channel connection.
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Enter your login details and tap Authorize app.
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You should now be all set and can retry any failed posts in your queue.
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If your account still appears to have an expired access token, you may need to reauthorize Buffer within the social network itself to re-establishing the connection. You'll find the steps to reauthorize Buffer through the social network here, which are best completed on a desktop computer.