How to Insert an Instagram Post into WordPress

Want to showcase your awesome Instagram content directly on your WordPress site? You've come to the right place. This guide will walk you through three different methods, from a simple copy-and-paste trick to using powerful plugins that can display your entire feed. We'll cover everything you need to know to bring your social and website presence together.

Why Should You Add Instagram Posts to Your Website?

Before jumping into the "how," it's worth understanding the "why." Integrating your Instagram content into your website isn't just about making your site look good, it's a smart strategy that offers some pretty solid benefits. It's about creating a more dynamic, engaging, and cohesive brand experience that works for you 24/7.

• Boost Social Proof and Credibility: When visitors see a live, active Instagram feed on your site, it shows them you have an engaged community. User-generated content, positive comments, and a steady stream of posts act as powerful social proof, building trust with potential customers or clients. It's like having real-time testimonials woven directly into your website.
• Keep Your Website Content Fresh: Let's be honest, updating your website's blog or portfolio can be time-consuming. An embedded Instagram feed automatically pulls new content onto your site every time you post on social media. This keeps your pages looking fresh and current with minimal effort, which is great for both visitors and search engines that favor updated sites.
• Increase Follower Count: Not every visitor to your website is already following you on Instagram. By embedding your beautiful feed, you give them a compelling reason to click that "Follow" button. You’re turning your website traffic into a new source of social media growth, essentially cross-promoting your channels without being pushy.
• Enhance Engagement Across Platforms: Embedding brings your content to a new audience. Website visitors can engage with your posts - commenting, liking, and sharing - directly from your site. This action sends positive signals back to the Instagram algorithm and helps create a more unified community feel around your brand. It bridges the gap between your on-site experience and your social presence.

Method 1: The Manual Embed (No Plugin Necessary)

This is the tried-and-true classic method. It's straightforward, reliable, and gives you direct control over placing a single Instagram post anywhere you want on your WordPress site. You don't need any special tools or plugins, just a minute of your time.

The best part about this method is its simplicity. You're using Instagram's official embed feature, which means it’s designed to work perfectly. It's ideal for when you want to highlight a specific announcement, a stunning photo, or a Reels video within a blog post or on a featured page.

Here’s how to do it, step-by-step:

Step 1: Find the Instagram Post You Want to Embed

First, open Instagram in your web browser (not the mobile app) and navigate to the specific post you want to feature on your website. This can be a photo, a carousel, or a Reel. Go directly to the post's unique URL.

Step 2: Get the Embed Code

Once you're on the post's page, look for the three dots (...) in the top-right corner of the post. Click on them to open a menu. From that menu, select the "Embed" option. A pop-up window will appear with a snippet of HTML code.

You’ll have a small checkbox that says "Include caption." If you want your Instagram caption to appear with the post on your website, leave this checked. If you want a cleaner look with just the image or video, uncheck it. After you've made your choice, click the "Copy Embed Code" button.

Step 3: Add the Code to WordPress

Now, head over to your WordPress dashboard and open the post or page where you want the Instagram post to appear.

Inside the WordPress Block Editor (Gutenberg), click the '+' button to add a new block. Search for the "Custom HTML" block and add it to your page.

Step 4: Paste and Preview

Simply paste the code you copied from Instagram into the Custom HTML block. The editor will show you the raw code snippet, which looks something like this:

<,blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CXYZ/..." data-instgrm-version="14">, [... a bunch of code ...]<,/blockquote>,<,script async src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js">,<,/script>,

To see how it will actually look on your front-end site, you can click the "Preview" button at the top of an HTML block. This will render the embed, showing you the fully interactive Instagram post. Once you're happy with it, click "Update" or "Publish" on your WordPress page, and you're done! The post will now be live for all your visitors to see.

Method 2: Using The Built-In oEmbed Feature

If the manual method felt easy, this one is even easier. For years, WordPress has supported a feature called oEmbed, which automatically turns links from certain platforms (like Instagram, YouTube, and X) into fully embedded content. You don't have to mess with any code at all. You just need a link.

This is the fastest way to get a single Instagram post onto a page. It's perfect for when you're writing a blog post and want to quickly reference an Instagram photo or video without breaking your flow.

Here's all there is to it:

1. Copy the Instagram Post URL: Go to the Instagram post you want to use in a web browser. Copy the URL directly from your browser's address bar. It will look something like https://www.instagram.com/p/YourPostID/.
2. Paste the Link into the WordPress Editor: Open your WordPress post or page. Find a new line in the editor, and simply paste the URL.
3. Wait a Second: The WordPress editor will automatically recognize the link and, within a moment, magically transform it into the fully embedded Instagram post.

That's it. There are no other steps. The post is now embedded, responsive, and ready to go. The downside is that you don't get the option to hide the caption like you do with the manual embed method, it just pulls whatever is standard.

Method 3: Using a WordPress Plugin for Grids and Feeds

Embedding a single post is great, but what if you want to do more? What if you want to display your entire interactive grid, an automatically updating feed of your latest posts, or even content from a specific hashtag? That's where plugins come in.

WordPress plugins unlock a ton of customization and automation options that aren't possible with the manual methods. They are designed to connect your website and your Instagram account for a much more integrated and powerful experience.

When to Use a Plugin

You should consider using a plugin if you want to:

• Display Your Entire Feed: Show your latest 6, 9, or more posts in a clean grid layout on your homepage, footer, or sidebar.
• Automate Content Updates: Set it up once and have the plugin automatically pull in new posts as you publish them on Instagram.
• Customize the Look and Feel: Match the feed's design to your brand. Change the layout, number of columns, colors, and more.
• Show "Shoppable" Feeds: Link your Instagram posts directly to product pages on your eCommerce site.
• Pull in Hashtag Feeds: Display a feed of user-generated content from a specific campaign hashtag to build community and social proof.

How to Embed with an Instagram Plugin

While there are many different Instagram feed plugins available, most follow a similar setup process. We’ll walk through the general steps that apply to popular options like Spotlight Social Feeds or Smash Balloon Social Photo Feed.

Step 1: Install and Activate the Plugin

From your WordPress dashboard, go to Plugins >, Add New. Search for an "Instagram feed" plugin. Once you find one with good ratings and frequent updates, click "Install Now" and then "Activate."

Step 2: Connect Your Instagram Account

After activation, you'll usually find the plugin's settings in your WordPress sidebar. The first thing you'll need to do is connect your Instagram account. Because of Instagram's API rules, you'll need to prove you own the account, typically by logging into a connected Facebook account.

Step 3: Create and Customize Your Feed

The plugin will then guide you through creating your first "feed." This is where the fun begins. You can typically choose:

• The layout: Grid, carousel, masonry, or highlight.
• Number of posts and columns: e.g., show 9 posts in 3 columns.
• What to show: You can choose to show or hide things like likes, comments counts, a "Follow" button, and the header.

Tweak these settings until the preview looks just right and matches your site's aesthetic. Save your customized feed.

Step 4: Get Your Shortcode or Block

Once your feed is saved, the plugin will provide you with a way to add it to your site. This is usually done in one of two ways:

• A shortcode: This is a small piece of text in brackets, like [instagram-feed].
• A dedicated WordPress block: Popular plugins often add their own custom block to the Gutenberg editor, making it even easier to insert your feed.

Copy the shortcode or remember the name of the block.

Step 5: Add the Feed to a Post or Page

Finally, navigate to the post, page, or widget area where you want your feed to appear. If you're using a shortcode, simply paste it into a Shortcode block. If the plugin has its own block, just search for it by name and add it to your page. Your beautiful, custom Instagram feed is now live on your site and will update automatically as you post.

Final Thoughts

From a direct copy-and-paste to feature-rich plugins, you have several dependable methods for inserting an Instagram post into WordPress. Which one you choose depends on your goal: use the direct URL or embed code for single post highlights, and turn to a plugin when you want to showcase your entire dynamic feed.

Of course, embedding great Instagram content on your site starts with Postbase to make a difference. We designed it for modern social media, with a focus on short-form video and a clean, visual calendar that helps you plan and schedule everything effortlessly. By simplifying your workflow, we give you more time to create amazing posts that you'll be proud to feature on your WordPress site.