Many website owners want to add Instagram embed video autoplay to their pages to instantly grab a visitor’s attention.
Unfortunately, pasting the native code into your site and expecting the video to play automatically will leave you disappointed.
I know exactly how frustrating it is to spend time tweaking HTML only to realize the standard Instagram iframe completely blocks automatic playback.
It feels like a major roadblock when you just want your dynamic social content to stand out and keep users engaged.
The good news is that you can still get the attention-grabbing benefits of moving video without the downsides of the broken manual method.
In this guide, I will explain why native autoplay fails and show you a much better solution to display your videos flawlessly.
- Can You Actually Enable Autoplay on an Embedded Instagram Video?
- Best Way to Display Instagram Video Embeds on Your Website
- How to Embed Instagram Videos on Your Website [Recommended Way]
- Ready to Embed Instagram Videos the Right Way?
Can You Actually Enable Autoplay on an Embedded Instagram Video?
No, you cannot enable autoplay on a standard Instagram embedded video.
If you’ve tried adding autoplay to your Instagram embed code and nothing happened, you’re not alone.
Instead of actually embedding the video, Instagram’s official embed code generates an iframe that shows what the video looks like.
When a visitor clicks on the video, it simply redirects them to Instagram. This means you’re losing a website visitor — which is a big problem.
Here’s a quick summary of what you need to know:
- The native Instagram embed uses an <iframe>, and browsers block autoplay on <iframe> content from third-party sources by default.
- Instagram’s own embed system does not support the autoplay attribute — adding it to the code has no effect.
- There is a workaround that gives you the same attention-grabbing result without relying on broken autoplay — and we’ll cover it in this guide.
Is Autoplay on Instagram Embeds Even a Good Idea?
Autoplay can grab attention quickly, but it comes with real downsides that are worth weighing before you pursue it.
The honest answer is: it depends on your goals since there are genuine trade-offs on both sides.
Here’s a balanced look at the pros and cons:
| The Case FOR Autoplay | The Case AGAINST Autoplay |
|---|---|
| Instantly grabs visitor attention | Slows page load speed — videos are large assets |
| Keeps users engaged on-page | Not supported by native Instagram embeds |
| Showcases dynamic content without requiring a click | Browsers increasingly block autoplay and sound |
| Can feel intrusive to visitors |
The good news is there’s a way to get the attention-grabbing benefits of autoplay — without the page speed penalty.
Best Way to Display Instagram Video Embeds on Your Website
The manual Instagram embed method fails for autoplay because you have no control over how Instagram’s player behaves.
When you copy the official embed code from Instagram, it generates an <iframe> tag that loads Instagram’s external player directly onto your page.
Even if Instagram supported autoplay, modern browsers would likely block it anyway.
“As you may have noticed, web browsers are moving towards stricter autoplay policies in order to improve the user experience, minimize incentives to install ad blockers, and reduce data consumption on expensive and/or constrained networks.”
– Chrome for Developers
The bottom line is that autoplay on third-party embedded video is blocked from two directions at once: by Instagram and by the browser itself.
The Better Way: Get Autoplay-Like Behavior with Instagram Feed Pro
Instagram Feed Pro is a WordPress plugin that lets you get the attention-grabbing benefits of autoplay without the downsides.
Instead of loading a heavy video file the moment your page opens, Instagram Feed Pro displays a lightweight thumbnail.
When a visitor clicks it, the video plays directly on your site in a lightbox without sending them to Instagram.
This means you get a dynamic, eye-catching video experience without the page speed penalty or the risk of losing visitors to Instagram.
Here’s a quick look at what the plugin can do:
- Auto-updates with your latest Instagram posts — no manual refreshing needed
- Built-in visual customizer to control how the feed of Instagram videos look
- Pre-built themes and templates to quickly choose an eye-catching design
- Supports hashtag Instagram feeds, @mentions, photo albums, and Stories
- Videos play on your site (in a lightbox) so visitors don’t have to leave your page
Because videos only load when a visitor clicks play, your page speed stays fast, even when you’re displaying tons of videos.
On top of giving visitors a better experience, this is great for your site’s SEO as well.
Ready to add Instagram video embeds and get the benefit of autoplay?
You can sign up for Instagram Feed Pro here!
How to Embed Instagram Videos on Your Website [Recommended Way]
Here’s a walkthrough of how to get Instagram Feed Pro set up on your WordPress site. The whole process takes about 5 minutes.
Step 1: Install and Activate the Instagram Feed Pro Plugin
To get started, you’ll need to purchase and download Instagram Feed Pro from here.Â
Once you have the plugin file, install and activate it on your WordPress site (see this beginner’s guide for help with this step).
Step 2: Create an Instagram Video Feed
Now it’s time to create your first Instagram video feed. Go to Instagram Feed » All Feeds from your WordPress dashboard.
Click the Add New button to start the setup process.
You’ll then be asked to choose a feed type — you can select from User Timeline, Public Hashtag, or Tagged Posts.
Once you’ve made your selection, click on Next to move forward.
Step 3: Connect Your Instagram Account
On the next screen, you’ll need to connect your Instagram account so the plugin can pull in your content. Click the Add Source button to get started.
You’ll be asked to choose a connection type: either Basic or Advanced.
Basic works for a simple Instagram feed that lets you display your own posts.
On the other hand, an advanced connection lets you show hashtag feeds, Instagram stories, and mentions.
Select the one that fits your needs, then click on Connect.
Since we’re using a basic feed, you can click the Connect with Instagram button.
An advanced connection means you’ll have to connect using Facebook, but the process is the same otherwise.
Next, you can choose to give the plugin read-only access to your Instagram account.
Note: Since it’s read-only access, the plugin can only view your info and won’t be able to make any changes. Learn more about why Smash Balloon is safe
Just click on Allow to give the plugin permission to access your account.
Finally, select your Instagram account as the source and click on Next.
Step 4: Customize Your Instagram Video Embeds
This is where you get to control exactly how your Instagram videos look and which content is shown.
On the following screen, select a feed theme from the options. Each theme changes the colors, icons, post style, and more.
After you select an option and click on Next.
Next, you and move on to selecting a template to match your design. Each template will show your posts in a different layout.
Like before, you can click Next to confirm your choice.
Filtering Your Feed to Show Videos Only
If you want, you can use this feed to show Instagram video and photo embeds at once.
To only show videos, first, click on Settings at the top and select Filters and Moderation.
Scroll down to the Show specific types of posts section.
Unselect the Photos option so your feed displays only video content.
You can then choose whether to show feed videos, reels, or both.
Once you’re happy with your selection, click Save Changes.
Now click the Settings button to open the visual customizer once more.
This time, click on the Customize tab at the top.
Choosing a Feed Layout
On the right, you have a live preview of your Instagram embeds. And on the left, you have a panel with the customization options.
First, click on Feed Layout to check the available layouts.
After that, the panel will show 4 layouts that you can choose from: Grid, Carousel, Masonry, or Highlight.
A grid works great for showing tons of Instagram posts at once. On the other hand, you can use a masonry layout to keep the original proportions of your Instagram videos.
You can also use a carousel layout to make your site interactive or focus on certain videos with a highlight layout.
Click Save once you’ve chosen your layout.
Adjusting the Post Style
First, let’s return to the main customization options. Just click on the Customize button on the top-left.
Still in the customizer, click on Posts to adjust how individual posts appear.
From here you can customize how each Instagram post looks, with options like:
- Post Style
- Images and Videos
- Caption
- Like and Comment Summary
- Hover StateÂ
For now, click on the Post Style option here.
Under Post Style, you can choose either Boxed or Regular depending on the look you prefer.
Like before, click on Save to store your changes before moving on.
A boxed video will be shown separately from your background, and you can choose the background color, border size, and shadow.
Similarly, a regular Instagram video embed will be placed on the page or sidebar background without separation.
Step 5: Add Instagram Video Embeds to Your Site
Once your Instagram videos are set up and customized, it’s time to add it to your site.
Instagram Feed Pro gives you two easy ways to do this: on a page, or in a sidebar or footer widget area.
How to Show Instagram Video Embeds on a Page
Click the Embed button at the top to show the ways of adding Instagram content to your site.
As you can see, Instagram Feed Pro gives you a shortcode or lets you display videos on a page or widget.
On the popup, you can click Add to a Page.
This shows a list of pages you’ve published on your website.
Select the WordPress page where you’d like the feed to appear, then click on Add.
Once you’re in the page editor, click the plus icon (+) to add a new block.
This works just like any other WordPress block — no need to deal with embed codes.
Search for “Instagram” and select the Instagram Feed block from the results.
When you’re happy with how everything looks, click on Publish to make the feed live on your page.
How to Show Instagram Video Embeds on Your Sidebar or Footer
You can also add your videos to a widget area if you prefer. This only works if your WordPress theme supports sidebar or footer widgets.
First, go to Instagram Feed » All Feeds and click on your created Instagram video feed.
Like earlier, click the Embed option to open the popup.
You’ll see the same options as before.
This time, click the Add to a Widget option on the popup.
Once you wait a second, the plugin will redirect you to the Widgets page of your website.
From here, select the Sidebar panel or choose the Footer panel.
The final step is the same either way so select whichever location you want for your videos.
Click the plus icon (+) inside the widget area and select the Instagram Feed widget to add it.
Your video feed will now appear in your chosen widget area across your site.
Ready to Embed Instagram Videos the Right Way?
If you want your Instagram videos to engage visitors without slowing down your site or sending people to Instagram, Instagram Feed Pro is the most straightforward solution we’ve tested.
You get the visual impact of autoplay, lightning-fast load times, and full control over your Instagram video’s design.
Ready to add Instagram video embeds to your site? Get a copy of Instagram Feed Pro here!
While you’re here, you can also check out this guide on how to add Instagram chat to your WordPress website.
