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Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →To show an automatically updating Instagram profile feed on a WordPress site, use a feed plugin: install and activate it, create a feed, authorize the Instagram account, customize the display, then embed the plugin’s shortcode. A single Instagram post is a different case and needs an embed route that supports Meta’s current oEmbed service.
First, decide whether you need one post or a feed
An Instagram post embed displays one public post. A profile feed displays multiple posts and can update as the account publishes new content. These are separate tasks, so do not rely on the former WordPress Instagram Embed block to create a live profile feed.
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WordPress.org says the old core Instagram Embed block stopped working after Facebook closed its oEmbed endpoint on October 24, 2020. WordPress.org currently lists Meta Embeds, an official plugin that registers Meta oEmbed endpoints, including Instagram’s. Its listing establishes a possible route for embedding individual posts, but does not establish compatibility with every WordPress version or provide a verified setup walkthrough here. Check the listing and your site’s compatibility before installing it.
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The steps below follow the setup flow in Smash Balloon’s free Instagram Feed setup documentation, last updated September 2, 2026. The plugin is also listed in the WordPress.org plugin directory. Available controls can change, so check the current listing before you begin.
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- Install and activate a feed plugin. In your WordPress dashboard, open Plugins > Add New, search for the plugin you have chosen, install it, then select Activate. Confirm its listing supports your WordPress version.
- Create a feed. In the documented Smash Balloon flow, open All Feeds, select Add New, then choose User Timeline. This creates a feed from an Instagram account rather than embedding a single post.
- Connect and authorize the Instagram account. Add a source, choose the account type, and follow the prompted Instagram or Facebook login and authorization screens. The account owner may need to sign in or grant access if you do not have the required permissions. Smash Balloon’s current instructions say manually generating an access token is no longer possible because of Meta API changes; do not follow older tutorials that rely on that method.
- Customize and save. Name the feed, adjust the available display settings, and save it. The WordPress.org listing describes controls such as width, height, photo count, columns, image size, colors, and spacing; what is available may depend on the plugin and can change.
- Embed the feed. Select Embed, copy the shortcode, then add it to the page, post, or widget where the feed should appear. Follow the plugin’s instructions for the specific editor or widget area you use.
What to check if setup stalls
The account will not connect
Check that the account owner or an authorized person completes the login and grants the requested access. If you are managing the site but cannot access the Instagram profile, ask its owner to participate or grant access through the business-account route described in the plugin’s setup instructions.
The feed does not appear where expected
Confirm that you copied the shortcode for the feed you created and placed it in the intended page, post, or widget. If you are trying to show only one Instagram post, use an individual-post embed route instead of a profile-feed shortcode.
An old Instagram block or tutorial fails
The old core block depended on the Instagram oEmbed endpoint that stopped working after October 24, 2020. Use a currently supported embed route for one post, or a feed plugin for an updating profile feed; verify plugin compatibility and current instructions before changing the site.
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