To add an interactive 360-degree image, you need a real panoramic (usually equirectangular) photo first. On WordPress.com, upload it to Media and place the documented [vr] shortcode in a Shortcode block. On self-hosted WordPress, install a panorama plugin and insert its block, shortcode, or page-builder widget. Use a tour-capable plugin when viewers must move between scenes or open hotspots.
What you need before adding a 360-degree image
A viewer can pan and zoom a panoramic file, but it cannot convert an ordinary flat photograph into a 360-degree scene.
- A suitable source image: Use a 360 camera, a phone app that captures 360-degree photos, or an existing panorama. WordPress.com’s guide names Ricoh Theta as an example of dedicated hardware, but buying a camera is optional.
- A WordPress editing route: WordPress.com has a documented shortcode workflow. Self-hosted WordPress sites generally use a plugin.
- A clear interaction goal: Basic viewers provide pan and zoom. Tours, hotspots, product markers, floor plans, and linked scenes require a plugin that explicitly lists those features.
WordPress.com: add a 360-degree photo with the built-in shortcode
WordPress.com Support documents this method for embedding 360-degree photos. The guide was last reviewed September 8, 2026.
- Capture or obtain a 360-degree panoramic photo.
- In the WordPress.com dashboard, open Media and upload the image.
- Open the uploaded item and copy its media URL.
- Edit the post or page where the viewer should appear.
- Add a Shortcode block.
- Enter the shortcode below, replacing
path-to-photo.jpgwith the URL you copied:[vr url=path-to-photo.jpg view=360] - Preview the page, drag across the image to pan, and test zoom on both desktop and mobile before publishing.
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[vr url=path-to-photo.jpg view=cinema]
WordPress.com describes its 360-degree video feature as experimental beta. Its support guidance says uploading 360-degree video requires VideoPress and that playback is supported in all browsers except iOS Safari and experimental Chrome. Because that availability can change, verify the current WordPress.com support guidance before relying on video for a public page.
Self-hosted WordPress: choose a panorama plugin
On a WordPress.org installation, the practical route is a plugin. The following options are documented on their WordPress.org listings; they are feature comparisons, not independent performance tests or endorsements.
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| Plugin | Documented ways to insert content | Documented media and interaction features | Best fit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Panorama by bPlugins | Shortcode, Gutenberg blocks, and widget placement | 360-degree images, tours, galleries, video, product spots, and Street View; its changelog records an embed-URL feature in version 1.6.0 dated March 29, 2026 | Sites that may grow from a single panorama into tours or specialized views |
| Panorama Block | Gutenberg block | PNG/JPEG panoramas, MP4/WebM video, manual pan/zoom/drag controls, and auto-rotation; its listing says Panorama Viewer Pro adds tours, hotspots, Street View, and WooCommerce integration | A straightforward block-editor workflow |
| Photo Sphere Viewer | Gutenberg block, Elementor widgets, and [psv], [psv_tour], [psv_video], and [psv_ar] shortcodes |
Equirectangular JPEG/PNG panoramas, common web-video formats, and GLB/GLTF files for its AR model viewer; shortcodes can be used in posts, pages, widgets, theme builders, and WooCommerce product descriptions | Sites needing several editor or page-builder insertion methods |
| WPVR | Shortcode, Gutenberg block, and widgets/elements for several page builders | Interactive tours with tooltips, descriptions, links, booking or inquiry buttons, and a Pro floor-plan feature | Property, venue, showroom, or service tours with navigation and calls to action |
Free and paid feature boundaries, supported WordPress versions, and compatibility can change. Check each current listing against your WordPress version, theme, editor, caching setup, and other plugins before using it on a production site.
Install and publish a panorama with a plugin
Gutenberg block workflow
- In the WordPress dashboard, open Plugins > Add New Plugin.
- Search for the panorama plugin you selected, install it, and activate it.
- Create or edit a post or page and click the + button in the block editor.
- Insert the plugin’s panorama or 360-degree block.
- Select a panoramic image from the Media Library or upload one when the block prompts you.
- Configure the available viewer controls, such as rotation, zoom, drag behavior, or auto-rotation, in the block settings sidebar.
- Save or publish, then test the viewer in an incognito window and on a phone.
Shortcode workflow
Some plugins provide a shortcode builder. Configure the scene in the plugin interface, copy the generated shortcode, and paste it into a Shortcode block or another location supported by that plugin. Photo Sphere Viewer documents [psv] for panoramas, [psv_tour] for tours, [psv_video] for 360-degree video, and [psv_ar] for its AR model viewer.
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Elementor or another page builder
If your chosen plugin supplies a page-builder widget, open the page in that builder, search its widget list for the panorama or 360-degree element, place it in the layout, select the media, configure controls, and update the page. Confirm that the widget is included in the plugin tier you installed.
Match the plugin to the experience you want
One scene with pan and zoom
Choose a basic panorama block or viewer. You do not need tour navigation or hotspot features for a single room, landscape, or event photograph.
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Several linked scenes
Choose a plugin that documents tours or multi-scene navigation. Plan each scene’s name and the links or hotspots that connect it before building the tour.
Products and showrooms
Look for documented product spots, descriptions, links, or WooCommerce integration. Confirm whether those controls are available in the free tier or require a paid edition.
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Buildings, venues, and property
A floor-plan feature, hotspot labels, inquiry buttons, or booking links may be more useful than auto-rotation. WPVR documents these types of tour features, including a Pro floor-plan feature.
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Large images may be scaled
Photo Sphere Viewer’s listing says WordPress scales images whose long edge exceeds 2560 pixels and serves the scaled version by default. The listing describes its Pro Use Original Image option as a way to load the real upload. Treat this as the plugin’s documented behavior, not a guarantee for every hosting, theme, or optimization setup. Check the displayed image and network behavior on your own site if maximum detail matters.
Use an appropriate panorama format
Photo Sphere Viewer documents equirectangular JPEG and PNG images for panoramas. Panorama Block documents PNG and JPEG panoramic images and MP4/WebM video. A normal portrait or landscape photograph may display incorrectly or appear severely distorted because it does not contain the full panoramic projection.
Test 360-degree video separately
Still-image support and video support are different capabilities. Confirm that your plugin lists the video format and controls you need, and test playback on the browsers and devices your visitors use. WordPress.com’s own 360-degree video guidance currently labels the feature beta and identifies browser restrictions.
Troubleshoot common problems
The image appears flat or distorted
- Confirm that the file is a genuine 360-degree panorama, normally an equirectangular projection.
- Recheck that the plugin or shortcode is configured for a panorama rather than an ordinary image.
- Open the original file to verify that the upload was not replaced by a cropped derivative.
The viewer is blurry
- Check the uploaded dimensions and whether an optimization or image-scaling setting created a smaller derivative.
- If using Photo Sphere Viewer, review the listing’s documented original-image option and confirm which version your site is serving.
- Balance resolution against page weight; very large files can increase loading time, especially on mobile connections.
The block or shortcode does not render
- Verify that the plugin is active and that the shortcode was pasted as text in a Shortcode block, not into an image caption.
- Temporarily test with the default theme or disable conflicting optimization and script-combining settings to identify a compatibility problem.
- Check the plugin listing for compatibility with your current WordPress version and editor.
Hotspots, tours, or WooCommerce controls are missing
Those features may belong to a Pro edition or a different plugin. Compare the feature list and tier requirements before rebuilding the page.
Quick Recap
Pre-publish checklist
- The source file is a real 360-degree panorama.
- The viewer opens and responds to drag, pan, and zoom gestures.
- Important controls remain usable on a phone.
- The image is sharp enough at the intended viewing distance without creating an unreasonable page load.
- Every hotspot or scene link goes to the intended destination.
- Video, if used, has been tested in the browsers relevant to your audience.
- The plugin, theme, caching layer, and WordPress version work together on the published page.
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