Understanding Facebook setup for Custom Audience integration

To create Facebook Audience campaigns in MoEngage, you need to connect your MoEngage account with your Meta app and Meta ad account. This setup allows you to sync user audiences from MoEngage directly to Facebook, enabling targeted advertising based on your user segments.

This article explains how to set up or use an existing Meta app and a Meta ad account. Before you begin, understand the necessary permissions for Meta apps.

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Note

Required Meta App Permissions

The MoEngage integration with Facebook Custom Audiences requires your Meta app to have STANDARD access for the Ads Management and Ads Read permissions. Without these permissions, MoEngage cannot add or remove users from your Facebook Custom Audiences.

Here's how permissions apply based on your Meta app type:

If you create a new Business app, it automatically has STANDARD access for Ads Management and Ads Read permissions. This app type also does not have a development or live mode, simplifying setup.
If you are using an older Business app that still has a Live mode, you must complete an App Review process to gain Ads Management and Ads Read permissions in Live mode. To avoid this, create a new Business app.
If you create an app of type Gaming, Consumer, or None, you must undergo the App Review process to get Ads Management and Ads Read permissions when your app moves to Live mode.

For more details on Meta App types, refer to the Meta documentation.

Set up your Meta app

Create a new Meta app

Go to the Meta Business Settings page.
In the left menu, click Accounts, and then click Apps.
On the right side, on the Apps pane, click the Add drop-down menu.
Click Create a New App ID.
On the next screen, select a use case for the app, and then click Next.
Select an app type that describes the purpose of the app, and then click Next.

On the Create an App screen, enter the following details:

Field	Description
Add an App Name	This is the app name that appears on your My Apps page and is associated with your app ID. You can change this name later in Settings.
App Contact Email	This is the email address Meta uses to contact you about your app. Provide an address that you check regularly, as Meta may send information about policies, app restrictions, or recovery if your app is deleted or compromised.
Business Account (Optional)	Connecting a Business Account to your app is required only for certain products and permissions. You are prompted to connect a Business Account when you request access to those products and permissions.

After filling in the details, click Create App.
The App dashboard opens. You can now add products to your app.
Search for Marketing API (shown in the image above), and then click Set up. Your app is created in development mode and is ready for testing.

Use an existing Meta app

Go to developers.facebook.com/apps, and then in the App drop-down menu at the top left corner of the App dashboard, select the app you want to use.
Add the Marketing API to this app, if you have not already added it.
If you are using an existing app, ensure that your app has STANDARD access for the Ads Management and Ads Read permissions. To check this, go to App Review > Permissions and Features, and then search for ads_read and ads_management. You should have Standard Access for both of these. Adding or deleting users from Facebook Custom Audiences does not require Advanced access.
Copy the app ID displayed at the top of the page.
Go to the Meta Business Settings page.
In the left menu, click Accounts, and then click Apps. You can find the name of the app you want to configure in the Apps list on the left.
If the app is not on the list, click the Add drop-down menu, and then select Connect an App ID.
In the dialog box, enter the app ID you copied in Step 4, and then click Add App.
The app appears in the Apps menu once successfully added.
Ensure you have admin access to the app you want to use. On the People tab, click your ID or name in the list of people with access to the app. Make sure the Manage App toggle is on.

Set Up Your Meta Ad Account

Create a new Meta ad account

Go to the Meta Business Settings page. In the left menu, click Accounts, and then click Ad Accounts.
On the right side, in the Ad Accounts screen, click the Add drop-down menu, and then select Create a New Ad Account.
Enter a name for the account, the time zone, and the currency. Click Next.
On the Who Will This Ad Account Be Used For screen, select My Business. Click Create.
On the next screen, you can add people and set permissions. Select your account, and then enable the Manage Account toggle. Click Assign.
Add your payment information. Once you add all necessary details, your ad account appears in the Ad Accounts menu.

Use an Existing Meta Ad Account

Go to the Meta Business Settings page. In the left menu, click Accounts, and then click Ad Accounts.
In the Ad Accounts list on the right side of the screen, click the ad account you want to use. The ad account details appear on the Ad Account dashboard.
Click your user name on the People tab. To confirm that you have admin access to the ad account, ensure the Manage Ad Accounts toggle is on.
If the ad account name is not in the menu, click the All Tools menu, and then select Ad Account Settings.
Copy the Ad Account ID from the Ad Account Settings page that opens.
Go back to the Meta Business Settings page. In the left menu, click Accounts, and then click Ad Accounts.
Click the Add drop-down menu, and then select Add an Ad Account. Paste the copied Ad Account ID, and then click Add Ad Account. Once the account is added, the ad account name appears in the menu. Make sure you have admin access to the ad account you want to associate with your custom audience, as explained in Step 3.

Next Steps

Once you have successfully set up your Meta app and ad account, you can proceed with integrating MoEngage with Facebook Custom Audiences. This integration allows you to create and manage custom audiences directly from MoEngage.