Before you start, you need: a personal Facebook account with two-factor authentication enabled, and a Business Manager (business.facebook.com). Meta blocks developer tools and token generation on accounts without 2FA — so turn it on first.
The 8 steps
1
Enable 2FA & turn your account into a developer
- 2FA: facebook.com → Settings & privacy → Security and login → Two-factor authentication → turn it on (authenticator app or SMS).
- Go to developers.facebook.com and log in with that account.
- Click Get Started → register as a developer (verify your email/phone, accept the terms). Your account is now in developer mode.
2
Create the Meta app
- In developers.facebook.com → My Apps → Create App.
- On the use-case screen, pick the first two options offered (the exact wording changes often — the default business/“Other” path is fine). The app name doesn’t matter.
- Go all the way to the end of the creation flow.
- Copy your App ID (top of the app dashboard) — you’ll paste it in the next step and again when generating the token.
3
Link the app to your Business Manager
This is what un-grays the “Generate token” button later.
- business.facebook.com → Business settings → Accounts → Apps.
- Click Add → Connect an app ID and paste the App ID from step 2.
If a field is grayed out when you try to add the app or generate the token, it’s this step — the app isn’t connected to the BM yet.
4
Create a System User
- Business settings → Users → System Users → Add.
- Name it
CAPI System User→ role Admin (Employee also works).
Meta support told me they’ll “prepare a different Business Manager”
This happens when your ad account / pixel lives in another Business Manager (common with agency or platform-provided accounts). Meta links it to a new BM for you. In that case: switch to that new BM and do steps 4–7 there — the System User and the token must live on the BM that actually has access to the ad account & pixel. Generating the token on your old BM will silently fail or produce a token that can’t write.
5
Assign assets to the System User
Open the System User → Add assets (FR: Affecter des éléments) and assign all three:
- Ad account — the one that owns the pixel → Manage campaigns.
- App — the app from step 2 → Full control.
- Pixel / dataset — from Events Manager → Full control / Manage dataset.
Pixel owned by an agency or another BM? You won’t be able to assign it until they grant access. Send them this 👇
Message to the pixel/ad-account owner
Hi — please give me (or my system user) access to the ad account that has the pixel, so I can write to it with my system user for the Conversions API. Thanks!
6
Generate the access token
- Back on the System User → Generate new token.
- Pick the app from step 2.
- Permissions:
ads_management+business_management(addads_readtoo). - Token expiration: Never — recommended for server-to-server CAPI.
- Click Generate and copy the token now — it’s shown only once.
“Generate token” does nothing / errors out
Two usual causes: (1) the app isn’t linked to this BM (step 3), or (2) you’re on the wrong Business Manager — switch to the BM that holds the ad account (the one Meta support set up) and generate it there.
7
Grab your Pixel ID
- Go to Events Manager → Data sources.
- Select your pixel/dataset → copy the Pixel ID (example:
1881842942413828). - No pixel yet? Click Connect data source → Web, create one, then come back.
8
You’re done with Part 1 ✅
You should now have both credentials in hand:
Pixel ID
e.g. 1881842942413828
Access token
EAAB… (never expires)
Quick troubleshooting
The token button is grayed out
Your app isn’t connected to the Business Manager. Do step 3 (Accounts → Apps → Connect an app ID).
Token generation fails on the right account
You’re likely on the wrong BM. If Meta support created a new Business Manager for your ad account, switch to it and create the System User + token there.
I can’t assign the ad account or pixel
They’re owned by another Business Manager. Ask the owner for access (use the copy-paste message in step 5), then assign them to your System User.
It keeps asking for 2FA / blocks me
Enable two-factor authentication on your personal Facebook account (step 1). Meta gates developer + System User tools behind it.
Next: connect it to OnlyFans Pixel
Got your Pixel ID and token? Part 2 covers verifying your domain, allow-listing your tracking domains, and pasting the credentials in.