How to Get Instagram Embed Code

Adding an Instagram post directly to your website is a fantastic way to showcase dynamic, real-world content and blend your online presence seamlessly. This guide will walk you through exactly how to get the Instagram embed code, step-by-step. We'll cover posts, Reels, and what to do when the embed option seems to be missing.

Why Bother Embedding Instagram Posts?

Before we get into the "how," let's quickly touch on the "why." Embedding Instagram content isn't just about making your website look good, it has tangible benefits for your brand or business. It acts as powerful social proof, showing visitors that you have an active and engaged community. It also keeps your site content fresh and dynamic without you having to manually upload new images. An embedded post can drive traffic to your Instagram profile, growing your followers and boosting engagement on future content. It's a simple, low-effort way to add authenticity and credibility to your site.

How to Get the Embed Code for an Instagram Post

Grabbing the embed code for a standard photo or video post is a straightforward process, but there's a small catch: you must do it from a desktop web browser. The option is not available within the Instagram mobile app.

Here's the step-by-step breakdown:

1. Open a web browser on your computer (like Chrome, Firefox, or Safari) and navigate to Instagram.com.
2. Find the specific post you want to embed. This can be one of your own posts or a post from any other public account.
3. Click the three dots icon ••• located in the top-right corner of the post. This will open up a pop-up menu.
4. Select "Embed" from the menu options. Another pop-up window will appear, displaying the embed code snippet.
5. You'll see a simple checkbox labeled “Include caption.” If you want the post's caption to appear beneath the image on your website, leave this checked. If you want a cleaner look with just the imagery, uncheck it.
6. Click the “Copy Embed Code” button. This automatically copies the entire chunk of HTML code to your clipboard.

That's it! You now have the code. The next step is to paste it into your website's HTML editor where you want the post to appear.

The code itself will look something like this:

<,blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/C..." data-instgrm-version="14" style=" background:#FFF, border:0, border-radius:3px, box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15), margin: 1px, max-width:540px, min-width:326px, padding:0, width:99.375%, width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px), width:calc(100% - 2px),">,<,div style="padding:16px,">, <,a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/C..." style=" background:#FFFFFF, line-height:0, padding:0 0, text-align:center, text-decoration:none, width:100%," target="_blank">, <,div style=" display: flex, flex-direction: row, align-items: center,">,<,!-- Code continued... -->,<,/div>,<,/a>,<,/div>,<,/blockquote>,<,script async src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js">,<,/script>,

How to Embed an Instagram Reel

The good news is that embedding an Instagram Reel follows the exact same process as a regular post. The steps are identical, and again, you must be using a desktop browser.

• Find the Reel you want to use on Instagram's website.
• Click the three dots •••.
• Select "Embed".
• Decide if you want to include the caption.
• Click "Copy Embed Code."

The embedded Reel will be fully playable on your website, bringing motion and video content to a static page, which can dramatically increase visitor engagement.

Adding the Embed Code to Your Website

Once you have the code copied, you need to paste it into the right place on your website. How you do this depends on the platform you're using, like WordPress or Squarespace. The key is that you need to add it as raw HTML, not as plain text.

Embedding on WordPress

In the WordPress Block Editor (Gutenberg), this is incredibly simple:

1. Open the page or post where you want to add the Instagram post.
2. Click the "+" button to add a new block.
3. Search for the “HTML” or “Custom HTML” block and select it.
4. Paste the copied embed code directly into this block.
5. Click “Preview” to see how it looks, then save or publish your page.

WordPress is usually smart enough that you can also just paste the share link of an Instagram post into a regular paragraph block, and it will auto-embed. However, using the full HTML code gives you the explicit control over including or hiding the caption.

Embedding on Squarespace, Wix, or Other Website Builders

Most modern website builders follow a similar logic. You aren't pasting the code into a standard text box. You need to look for a specific element designed to handle code.

• On Squarespace: Use a “Code Block.”
• On Wix: Look for the "HTML iFrame" element.
• On Shopify: Navigate to the page editor and click the “Show HTML” (`<>`) button in the rich text editor section to paste your code.

Regardless of the platform, the general rule is to find a "Code," "HTML," or "Embed" block or element and paste your code snippet there.

Troubleshooting: Why Can't I Get the Embed Code?

Sometimes you'll click the three dots and the "Embed" option is nowhere to be found. This is a common point of frustration, but there's almost always a simple reason for it. Here are the most common culprits:

1. The Instagram Account is Private

This is the number one reason. You can only embed posts from public Instagram accounts. If an account is set to private, Instagram logically prevents its content from being displayed publicly on other websites. There is no workaround for this, it's a privacy setting that must be respected.

2. The User Has Disabled Embedding

Instagram gives creators control over how their content is used. A user can go into their settings and disable embedding for their entire account. They also have the option to disable embedding on a per-post basis. If the creator has turned this feature off, you won't see the "Embed" option, and you should respect their choice not to have their content shared off-platform.

How a user can disable embedding:

For context, a creator can do this by going to their profile on a desktop, clicking a post, hitting the three-dot menu, and selecting "Disable embedding." They can also manage this for their entire account under Settings > Website permissions > Caches on third-party sites.

3. You Are Using the Mobile App

It's worth repeating: the feature to get an official embed code is only available on the desktop version of Instagram. If you try to find it on your phone's app, you'll see options like "Share," "Link," and "Save," but "Embed" will not be one of them.

4. The Post Isn't from the Main Feed (e.g., a Story)

Generally, the embed code feature is designed for permanent content like feed posts (photos, carousels, videos) and Reels. Ephemeral content like Instagram Stories cannot be embedded in the same way. Stories are designed to be temporary and live within the app's ecosystem, so a permanent embed code doesn't align with their purpose.

Best Practices for Embedding Instagram Content

Now that you know how to do it, here are a few quick tips to make sure you're doing it well:

• Always Give Credit: While the embed code automatically links back to the original creator, if you're discussing the photo in your blog's text, it's good practice to mention their handle (e.g., “As seen in this photo from @username...”). It's courteous and transparent.
• Don't Overdo It: A few well-placed embedded posts can add life to a page. A dozen of them can make your website slow to load and feel cluttered. Be selective and choose posts that genuinely add value to your content.
• Get Permission for Commercial Use: If you're using someone else's post to directly promote your product or service (user-generated content), it's always best to get their explicit permission first. Embedding is technically just linking, but a quick DM asking "Hey, we love this photo! Mind if we feature it on our site?" builds goodwill and avoids any potential issues.

Final Thoughts

Embedding Instagram posts is a simple yet powerful technique to enrich your website with authentic, engaging content and strengthen your brand's social proof. By grabbing the code snippet from the desktop version of Instagram, you can easily place photos, videos, and Reels onto almost any web page, connecting your social media presence directly with your home on the web.

While embedding highlights your best existing content, creating that standout material consistently is the real challenge. At Postbase, we built a simple, modern social media platform to help you plan and schedule your content across all your platforms without the usual headaches, so you always have top-tier posts ready to share and show off on your site.