How to Embed an Instagram Video in WordPress

Adding an Instagram video to your WordPress site should be simple, and it is. Whether you want to showcase a product Reel, share a user-generated video, or just bring more dynamic content to your blog posts, you can get it done in a couple of minutes. This guide will walk you through three different methods, from a basic copy-and-paste to more customized options using plugins.

Why Bother Embedding Instagram Videos?

Before we get into the step-by-step methods, let’s quickly touch on why this is a smart move for your brand and website. It’s not just about making your pages look nice - it’s a strategic choice.

• Boost Social Proof and Engagement: An embedded video with real likes and comments acts as instant social proof. It shows visitors that you have an engaged community and adds a layer of authenticity that stock videos can’t match.
• Increase Time on Page: Video is fantastic at keeping people on your website longer. When visitors watch an embedded video, they spend more time on that page, which can be a positive signal for search engine rankings.
• Give Your Content a Longer Lifespan: A Reel or Story might disappear from your followers' feeds quickly, but embedding it on your website gives it a permanent home. It transforms a temporary piece of content into a lasting asset for your brand.
• Drive Traffic to Your Instagram: Every embedded video is a gateway back to your Instagram profile. Curious website visitors can easily click through to follow you, turning website traffic into a new audience on social media.
• Keep Your Website Content Fresh: By embedding your latest Instagram videos (especially with a feed-style plugin), you ensure your site always has fresh, relevant content without you having to manually update a video gallery every time you post.

Method 1: The Quickest and Easiest Way (Using the WordPress Block Editor)

WordPress has built-in oEmbed functionality, which is a fancy way of saying it’s smart enough to recognize URLs from popular sites like Instagram, YouTube, and X (formerly Twitter). If you just need a single video on a page, this is your go-to method.

This works perfectly for any public Instagram video post, including Reels.

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Find and Copy the Instagram Video URL: Open Instagram in your web browser (not the app) and navigate to the video you want to embed. You can copy the URL directly from your browser's address bar at the top of the page. The URL will look something like this:
   https://www.instagram.com/p/CXYZ123abc/
2. or, for a Reel:
   https://www.instagram.com/reel/CXYZ123abc/
3. Go to Your WordPress Post or Page: Open the WordPress editor for the post or page where you want the video to appear.
4. Paste the URL into a New Block: Click the ‘+’ sign to add a new block or simply click on a blank line in your editor. Then, just paste the URL you copied.
5. Press Enter, and You're Done: Once you paste the link, WordPress will automatically detect it and transform it into a proper Instagram video embed. You'll see a preview of the video right inside your editor. That’s it! Save or publish your post, and the live Instagram video will be perfectly embedded for your visitors to see.

Heads Up: This method pulls the standard Instagram embed. It will show the video, likes, a comment preview, and a link to your profile. You don't get many customization options here, but for sheer speed and simplicity, it can't be beaten.

Method 2: Using the Official Instagram Embed Code

Sometimes the direct URL method might not work as expected, or you might want slightly more control. For example, you might want to choose whether or not to include the video's caption. In that case, grabbing the official embed code directly from Instagram is the best alternative.

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Navigate to the Video on Instagram: Open the specific Instagram video post in a desktop web browser.
2. Open the Embed Options: Click the three dots (…) in the top-right corner of the video post. A menu will appear.
3. Select "Embed": In the dropdown menu, click on the "Embed" option. A new window will pop up showing you the embed code. You'll also see a checkbox to "Include caption." You can uncheck this if you only want the video to appear without the text you wrote for the Instagram post.
4. Copy the Embed Code: Click the "Copy Embed Code" button. This copies the full HTML snippet to your clipboard.
5. Add a "Custom HTML" Block in WordPress: Go back to your WordPress editor. Click the ‘+’ to add a new block, and search for the "Custom HTML" block. Select it.
6. Paste the Code: Paste the embed code you just copied from Instagram into the Custom HTML block. You can then click the "Preview" tab in the block's toolbar to see how it will look on your site.

This method is just as reliable as the first but gives you that one extra bit of flexibility with the caption. It's an excellent fallback if WordPress ever has trouble converting a plain URL automatically.

Method 3: Using a WordPress Plugin for Full Control and Feeds

If you want to do more than just embed a single video, a plugin is the way to go. WordPress plugins open up a world of possibilities, from creating beautiful, responsive video galleries to automatically pulling in your latest Instagram posts to keep your website's content fresh.

Use a plugin if you want to:

• Display an entire feed of your Instagram videos.
• Customize the look and feel of the embeds (e.g., layouts, colors, spacing).
• Create "shoppable" feeds that link to your products.
• Filter your feeds using specific hashtags.

Some of the most popular and well-regarded plugins for this are Smash Balloon Social Photo Feed and Spotlight Social Feeds. The setup process is generally similar for most plugins.

General Plugin Setup Steps:

1. Install and Activate the Plugin: From your WordPress dashboard, go to Plugins >, Add New. Search for the plugin you want, then click "Install Now" and "Activate."
2. Connect Your Instagram Account: Once activated, the plugin will guide you through connecting your Instagram account. This usually involves logging into Facebook/Instagram to authorize the plugin to access your content. It's a secure process handled through Instagram's official API.
3. Create Your Feed: The plugin will then walk you through creating a "feed." You'll be able to choose options like:
   • The type of feed (e.g., your user timeline, posts with a specific hashtag).
   • The layout (e.g., grid, carousel, masonry).
   • Customization options (e.g., deciding whether to show likes, comments, captions, follows).
4. Add the Feed to Your Page: Once your feed is configured, the plugin will give you a dedicated Gutenberg block or a shortcode. Simply go to the post or page where you want the feed to appear, add the plugin's block or paste the shortcode, and you’re done.

While this method involves a few more steps upfront, the payoff is huge if you plan to feature your Instagram content regularly on your website. It’s an effective "set it and forget it" way to keep your site dynamic and engaged.

Final Thoughts

Embedding Instagram videos in WordPress is a fantastic way to blend your social media marketing with your website strategy. Whether you choose the quick copy-paste method, the official embed code, or a powerful plugin, you can easily enrich your content, boost engagement, and create a better experience for your visitors.

Of course, embedding great Instagram videos requires you to create great videos in the first place. Consistency is everything on social media, but managing multiple platforms and mapping out content can get overwhelming fast. After struggling with tools that felt unreliable and stuck in the past, we built Postbase to make modern social media management simple. With a visual calendar for planning, native scheduling for Reels and short-form video, and a unified inbox for all your messages, we give you a way to manage your socials without the chaos.