Estimated reading time: 13 minutes
When you integrate your Instagram feed into your WordPress website, you create a bridge between your social media and your site. You get more engagement, increased time-on-page, and a way to convert website visitors into Instagram followers.
You can set this up in under 10 minutes, even if you’ve never touched code before.
In this guide, we’ll show you how to add Instagram feed to WordPress using the WPZOOM Social Feed Widget & Block, a plugin optimized for performance and trusted by over 80,000 websites.
Let’s walk through exactly how to embed your Instagram feed on WordPress in three simple steps.
Table of contents
- Important Pre-Requisite: You Need a Business or Creator Account
- Why Use the WPZOOM Social Feed Widget?
- Step 1: Install WPZOOM Instagram Widget Plugin
- Step 2: Connect Your Instagram Account
- Step 3: Create and Customize Your Instagram Feed
- Step 4: Display Instagram Feed on WordPress
- Managing Your Instagram Feeds
- Frequently Asked Questions
Important Pre-Requisite: You Need a Business or Creator Account
As of December 2024, Instagram has updated its API. Personal Instagram accounts are no longer supported for website embedding by any plugin.
Before installing the plugin, ensure your Instagram account is set to Business or Creator.
- Why? The new Facebook/Instagram API only supports these professional account types
- Is it free? Yes. Switching from a Personal account takes less than 2 minutes in your Instagram app settings
- Bonus: This unlocks “Instagram Insights,” allowing you to track reach, engagement, and follower growth directly from your WordPress dashboard
How to convert your personal account to Business or Creator →
Both Business and Creator accounts work perfectly with WPZOOM Instagram Widget. Choose Business if you have a company or sell products. Choose Creator if you’re a content creator, influencer, or public figure.
Why Use the WPZOOM Social Feed Widget?
While there are many Instagram feed plugins available, WPZOOM Social Feed Widget is designed specifically for Core Web Vitals, ease of use, and WordPress compatibility.
- Zero Coding Required: Connect your Instagram account in one click
- Performance First: Features “AJAX Initial Load” to prevent page speed drag and improve loading times
- 100% Block Editor Compatible: Works seamlessly with Gutenberg, Elementor, Divi, Beaver Builder, and Classic Widgets
- Lightweight Plugin: Loads only necessary files on pages with Instagram feeds
- Multiple Layouts: Grid, Full-width, Carousel, Masonry, and Highlight layouts available
- Responsive Design: Automatically adapts to desktop, tablet, and mobile devices
Step 1: Install WPZOOM Instagram Widget Plugin
First, we need to get the right tool for the job. The WPZOOM Social Feed Widget & Block is the Instagram feed WordPress plugin designed to seamlessly add your Instagram feed to WordPress without coding skills.
Here’s how to install it:
Installation Steps
- Navigate to your WordPress Dashboard
- Go to Plugins > Add New Plugin
- In the search bar, type “WPZOOM Social Feed” or “Instagram Widget”
- Find the plugin in the results
- Click Install Now
- Once installed, click Activate
The plugin will now appear in your WordPress admin sidebar as Instagram Widget.
Installing the PRO Version
Using the PRO version? If you purchased WPZOOM Instagram Widget PRO, the installation process is slightly different:
- Download the PRO plugin ZIP file from your WPZOOM account
- Go to Plugins > Add New Plugin > Upload Plugin
- Choose the ZIP file and click Install Now
- Activate the plugin
- Enter your license key to unlock PRO features
View detailed PRO installation instructions →
That’s it! The Instagram widget plugin is now active on your WordPress site. Next, we’ll connect it to your Instagram account.
Step 2: Connect Your Instagram Account
Now that the Instagram feed plugin is installed, it’s time to link your Instagram account. You’ll connect through Facebook’s secure authorization system.
Connection Process
Here’s how to do it:
1. Make sure you’re logged into your Instagram account in your current browser
2. In your WordPress Dashboard, find and click Instagram Widget in the left sidebar
4. Click the Connect with Facebook or Connect with Instagram button
Authorization and Permissions
Instagram will ask you to grant permission for the plugin to display your Instagram feeds. This is normal and secure. Ensure you enable the “Access your media” option. Without this permission, the plugin cannot fetch or display your Instagram photos and videos.
The plugin only requests read-only access. It can only view your Instagram content. It cannot:
- Post to your Instagram account
- Delete your Instagram posts
- Modify your Instagram photos or videos
- Access your Instagram password
- Make any changes to your Instagram profile
Your Instagram login credentials stay with Instagram. WPZOOM never has access to your password.
Connect Multiple Instagram Accounts (PRO)
With WPZOOM Instagram Widget PRO, you can connect unlimited Instagram accounts. This is perfect if you:
- Manage multiple brands or businesses
- Want to showcase different Instagram profiles on different pages
- Run an agency and need to display client Instagram feeds
- Have separate Instagram accounts for different product lines
The PRO version also lets you combine posts from multiple Instagram accounts into single unified feeds on your website. Posts from all connected accounts are automatically fetched and displayed together, giving your visitors a seamless browsing experience without switching between profiles.
You’re all set! Your Instagram account is now connected to WordPress.
Step 3: Create and Customize Your Instagram Feed
Now comes the fun part: creating and customizing your Instagram feed to match your WordPress website design. WPZOOM gives you complete control over how your Instagram content looks and behaves.
Create Your First Instagram Feed
1. In your WordPress Dashboard, go to Instagram Widget > Feeds
2. Click the Add new feed button
3. Click the Select an Account button
4. Choose the Instagram account you want to use for this feed
For PRO users: You can create feeds combining posts from multiple accounts by selecting more than one Instagram account. This creates a unified feed that mixes content from all selected profiles.
Configure Your Feed Settings
You’ll see various configuration options to make your Instagram feed look exactly how you want it.
The Configure tab lets you control:
- Number of posts to display: Show anywhere from 6 to 50+ Instagram posts
- Image resolution: Choose between thumbnail, medium, or full-size images
- Post types: Display photos, videos, Instagram Reels, or all types
- Captions: Show or hide Instagram captions
- Dates: Display post dates (PRO feature)
- Link behavior: Open Instagram posts in lightbox popup or link to Instagram
Pro tip: Start with 12-20 posts. This gives visitors enough content to browse without overwhelming the page.
Customize Your Feed Design
The Design tab gives you control over the visual appearance:
Layout Options:
- Grid Layout: Traditional rows and columns (Free)
- Full-width Layout: Spans the full container width (Free)
- Masonry Layout: Pinterest-style waterfall layout (PRO)
- Carousel Layout: Horizontal scrolling slider (PRO)
- Highlight Layout: Larger featured posts (PRO)
Styling Options:
- Colors: Customize background color, text color, and button colors (PRO)
- Spacing: Adjust gaps between Instagram photos
- Columns: Set responsive column counts for desktop, tablet, and mobile (PRO)
- Profile Header: Show/hide your Instagram profile picture, username, bio, and follower count
Profile Header Customization:
- Display your Instagram username and profile photo
- Show your Instagram bio text
- Display follower count (PRO feature)
- Show Instagram verified badge if applicable (PRO feature)
- Add a “Follow” button linking to your Instagram profile
Take a few minutes to explore these customization options. You can preview changes in real-time and adjust until your Instagram feed matches your website’s design perfectly.
When you’re happy with how your Instagram feed looks, click Save.
Advanced Features (PRO)
The PRO version unlocks additional features for professional websites:
- Instagram Stories: Display your active Instagram Stories directly on your WordPress site. Stories appear at the top of your feed and update automatically.
- Instagram Insights: Track performance metrics including follower growth, reach, and engagement directly from your WordPress dashboard.
- Load More Button: Add pagination to your Instagram feed so visitors can load additional posts without overwhelming the initial page load.
- Custom Colors: Match your brand colors perfectly with full color customization for all feed elements.
Step 4: Display Instagram Feed on WordPress
WPZOOM gives you multiple ways to embed your Instagram feed on your WordPress website. Choose the method that works best for your page layout and technical comfort level.
Switch to the Embed tab in your feed settings to see all available options:
Method 1: Gutenberg Block Editor (Easiest)
If you use the modern WordPress Block Editor (Gutenberg), this is the simplest method to add Instagram feed to WordPress:
- Edit the WordPress page or post where you want your Instagram feed
- Click the + icon to add a new block
- Search for “Instagram Feed” or “WPZOOM“
- Select the Instagram Feed by WPZOOM block from the results
- Choose your feed from the dropdown menu
- Adjust block settings if needed (alignment, width)
- Click Publish or Update
Your Instagram feed will appear exactly where you placed the block. You can move it up or down by dragging the block handle.
Method 2: Shortcode (Most Flexible)
Shortcodes work everywhere in WordPress: in posts, pages, page builders, text widgets, and even some theme areas:
- Copy the shortcode from the Embed tab. It looks like [wpzoom_instagram_widget id=”123″]
- Paste the shortcode anywhere you want your Instagram feed to appear
- Save your content
Method 3: Widget Area (Sidebar/Footer)
Want your Instagram feed in your WordPress sidebar or footer?
- Go to Appearance > Widgets
- Find the Instagram Feed by WPZOOM widget
- Drag it to your sidebar, footer, or any widget-ready area
- Select your feed from the dropdown menu
- Add an optional widget title (e.g., “Follow Us on Instagram”)
- Click Save
Managing Your Instagram Feeds
Back in the Instagram Widget > Feeds section, you can:
- Edit any feed’s settings and design
- Duplicate a feed to create variations quickly
- Delete feeds you no longer need
- Copy shortcode for quick access
- Manually refresh posts from Instagram
- View feed preview before embedding
Pro tip: Create multiple Instagram feeds with different layouts and use them on different pages. For example:
- Grid layout in your sidebar
- Full-width layout on your homepage
- Carousel layout on your About page
- Masonry layout on your portfolio page
Frequently Asked Questions
No. As of December 2024, only Business and Creator accounts work with Instagram feed plugins due to API changes. Converting is free and takes 2 minutes.
No. The plugin uses AJAX Initial Load, which loads your page instantly while Instagram images load in the background. You’ll see a skeleton placeholder while images appear. Most users report zero impact on page speed.
Every 6 hours automatically. You can manually refresh anytime from Instagram Widget > Feeds to show new posts immediately.
Yes, with PRO. Connect unlimited accounts and either show them separately or combine posts from multiple accounts into one unified feed. The free version supports one account with unlimited feeds.
Yes! Works with Elementor (includes dedicated widget), Divi, Beaver Builder, WPBakery, and the Gutenberg Block Editor. You can also use shortcodes anywhere.
Yes. The plugin displays all post types: photos, videos, Reels, carousel posts, and IGTV videos. You can filter by type in settings.
Yes, but only with PRO. Stories appear at the top of your feed and update automatically, disappearing after 24 hours just like on Instagram.
Your Instagram account stays completely safe. The feeds disappear from your WordPress site, but nothing happens to your actual Instagram posts, followers, or content.
Anywhere from 1 to 100+. We recommend starting with 12-20 posts for good balance. Use the “Load More” button (PRO) for larger galleries without impacting initial page load.
Ready to Get Started?
Your Instagram content deserves to be seen. Adding your Instagram feed to WordPress creates a dynamic, engaging experience that benefits both your website and your Instagram growth.
- Free version: Perfect for getting started. Download from WordPress.org →
- PRO version: Unlock Instagram Stories, multiple accounts, advanced layouts, and Instagram Insights. Get WPZOOM Instagram Widget PRO →
Need help? We’re here for you:
Have questions or want to share your Instagram feed? Drop a comment below!
January 11, 2024 6:22 am
This is another option, a free plugin to display Instagram feed.
It works with just 1 click:
https://wordpress.org/plugins/simple-photo-feed/
Not many styling options but it gets the job done very easily. You can even choose how many photos to display.