The Tool Desk
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To add an Instagram feed that updates on your WordPress site, use a feed plugin: install it, create a feed, connect the Instagram account, customize the display, and insert the plugin’s shortcode. If you only want to show one Instagram post, use a post-embed option instead; a single post is not the same as an automatically updating profile feed.
Choose between one Instagram post and a live feed
Decide what you want to display before installing anything. A single-post embed shows one public Instagram post. A profile feed displays multiple posts and can update as new content becomes available, depending on the plugin and its connection to Instagram.
| Need | Best-fit approach | Important detail |
|---|---|---|
| Show one public post | Use a compatible embed option, such as the official Meta Embeds plugin. | WordPress’s former Instagram Embed block stopped working after Facebook closed its oEmbed endpoint on October 24, 2020. The plugin listing says Meta Embeds registers Meta oEmbed endpoints, including Instagram, but does not establish compatibility with every WordPress version. |
| Show a multi-post profile feed | Use a feed plugin, such as Smash Balloon Social Photo Feed. | A feed plugin provides a documented process for connecting an account, configuring a feed, and embedding it with a shortcode. |
Do not rely on pasting an Instagram profile URL into the old core Instagram block to create a dependable live feed. The old block’s documented workflow was for embedding a post, and its oEmbed service was discontinued.
Embed an Instagram feed in WordPress in 5 steps
1. Install and activate a feed plugin
In your WordPress dashboard, go to Plugins > Add New Plugin, search for a feed plugin, then install and activate it. The WordPress.org listing for Smash Balloon Social Photo Feed describes it as a free plugin and lists display controls such as layout, image size, columns, colors, and spacing. Features can change, so check the current listing and compatibility information for your WordPress version before installation.
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2. Create a feed
In Smash Balloon’s documented workflow, open Instagram Feed > All Feeds, select Add New, and choose User Timeline. The exact menu labels can vary with plugin updates.
3. Connect and authorize the Instagram account
Add a source, choose the account type, and follow the prompts to log in and authorize access. The connection may require the account owner or someone with appropriate account permissions to complete the authorization. If you edit the WordPress site but cannot access the Instagram profile, ask its owner to participate or grant access through the supported business-account route.
Smash Balloon’s setup guide, last updated September 2, 2026, says manually generating an access token is no longer possible because of Meta API changes. Follow the plugin’s current authorization flow rather than older tutorials that instruct you to create a token manually.
4. Customize and save the feed
Name the feed, choose the available layout and display settings, and save it. Depending on the plugin, options may include feed width and height, the number of photos and columns, image size, colors, and spacing. Preview the result and adjust it to suit the page where it will appear.
5. Add the feed to a page, post, or widget
Choose the plugin’s Embed option and copy the shortcode. Open the WordPress page or post where the feed should appear, add a Shortcode block, paste the shortcode, and update or publish the page. The plugin documentation also describes placing the shortcode in a widget area where your theme supports one.
Check access and compatibility if setup does not work
- The account will not connect: Confirm that the Instagram account owner or another authorized person has completed the sign-in and permission prompts. A WordPress editor’s access to the site does not necessarily grant access to the Instagram account.
- An old Instagram block is blank or broken: The former core Instagram Embed block depended on an oEmbed endpoint that Facebook closed on October 24, 2020. Use a currently supported embed route for a single post, or a feed plugin for multiple posts.
- The feed does not appear after adding its shortcode: Check that the plugin is active, the shortcode was copied completely, and the page or post was updated. Confirm that the plugin’s current instructions support the WordPress version and placement you are using.
- You need only one post: A profile-feed plugin may be more than you need. The official WordPress.org listing for Meta Embeds says the plugin registers Meta oEmbed endpoints, including Instagram’s, but check its current instructions and compatibility before relying on it.
Sources and details that can change
WordPress.org’s Instagram embed documentation records the old block’s endpoint change. The Meta Embeds plugin listing describes its registered endpoints, while the Smash Balloon Social Photo Feed listing describes plugin features. Smash Balloon’s setup guide documents the five-step feed workflow; its separate article about embedding a feed without a plugin distinguishes a single-post embed from a live feed. Plugin features, connection requirements, and WordPress compatibility can change, so use the current listing and setup instructions for your site.
