--- title: "How to Get an Instagram Access Token for WordPress [2026]" url: https://theplusaddons.com/blog/get-instagram-access-token/ date: 2022-08-19 modified: 2026-06-25 lang: en author: "Aditya Sharma" description: "In December 2024, Meta permanently shut down the Instagram Basic Display API, the method every guide published before that date told you to use. If your Instagram feed stopped working,..." image: https://theplusaddons.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/get-instagram-access-token-featured-image-1024x538.png word_count: 1223 --- # How to Get an Instagram Access Token for WordPress [2026] ## - Utilize The Plus Addons for Elementor to add an Instagram feed using the Social Feed widget. - Generate an Instagram access token by creating an app on Meta for Developers and adding Instagram Basic Display. - Add an Instagram Tester to your app, allowing them to accept the invitation and generate the access token. - Access your App ID and App Secret ID from the Instagram Basic Display page to link your Instagram feed to your website. In December 2024, Meta permanently shut down the Instagram Basic Display API, the method every guide published before that date told you to use. If your Instagram feed stopped working, or if you're setting one up now, you need a new process. The replacement is the **Instagram API with Instagram Login**. It works differently from the old approach: it only supports Creator and Business accounts, and it no longer requires adding a test user before generating a token. The steps are actually fewer than before. This guide walks you through the current process to generate an Instagram access token and connect it to your WordPress site using **The Plus Addons for Elementor** by POSIMYTH. Table Of Contents ## What Is an Instagram Access Token? An Instagram access token is a unique alphanumeric code that gives a third-party application, like a WordPress feed widget, permission to read your Instagram account's content. It acts as a secure key so your site can pull and display your posts without storing your Instagram password. When you add an Instagram feed to a WordPress page, the plugin uses this token to request your posts from Meta's API on your behalf. Without it, the feed has no way to authenticate your account. ## What Changed with Instagram Access Tokens in 2024? Meta officially shut down the Instagram Basic Display API on December 4, 2024, according to [Meta's developer changelog](https://developers.facebook.com/docs/instagram-platform/changelog). Tokens generated under the old API stopped working on that date. Here is what changed: | | Old Process (Before December 2024) | Current Process (2026) | | --- | ---------------------------------- | ---------------------- | | API name | Instagram Basic Display API | Instagram API with Instagram Login | | Account type required | Personal, Creator, or Business | Creator or Business only | | Test user setup | Required before generating token | Not required | | Token duration | 60 days | 60 days | | App type in Meta | Consumer | Business | The most important change for WordPress users: **personal Instagram accounts are no longer supported** by any public Meta API. You must have a Creator or Business account to generate an access token today. ## What You Need Before Getting Started Before opening Meta for Developers, confirm you have the following in place: - An Instagram account converted to **Creator** or **Business** type - Your Instagram account set to **Public** (private accounts cannot connect) - A **Meta for Developers account**, free to create at [developers.facebook.com](https://developers.facebook.com) To convert a personal account: open Instagram on your phone, go to **Settings > Account > Switch to Professional Account**, then choose Creator or Business. The conversion is free and takes under two minutes. ## How to Get an Instagram Access Token for WordPress Follow these five steps in order. If your account is already a Creator or Business type and set to public, you can skip Step 1 and start from Step 2. ### Step 1: Go to Meta for Developers ![meta for developers dashboard](https://theplusaddons.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/meta-for-developers-1024x230.png) Go to [developers.facebook.com](https://developers.facebook.com) and sign in with your Facebook account. From the top navigation, click **My Apps**, then click **Create App**. ### Step 2: Create a New App On the use case screen, select **Other**. On the next screen, select **Business** as the app type. Enter an app display name (anything works, for example, "My WordPress Site") and your contact email. Click **Create App** to continue. **Note:** This screenshots shows an earlier UI version, the current Meta dashboard may look slightly different, but the options remain the same. ### Step 3: Add Instagram and Select API Setup with Instagram Login Once inside your app dashboard, scroll down to find the **Instagram** product and click **Set up**. In the left sidebar, click on **Instagram** to expand it, then select **API Setup with Instagram Login**. This is the current replacement for Basic Display API. Do not select "API Setup with Facebook Login", that is a different integration for Facebook Pages, not Instagram accounts. ### Step 4: Add Your Instagram Account In the **Generate access tokens** section, click **Add an Instagram Account**. A login popup will appear. Log in with your Instagram Creator or Business account credentials and click **Allow** when prompted to grant access. Your Instagram account will appear in the list once connected. ### Step 5: Generate and Copy Your Token ![generate instagram access token button in meta dashboard](https://theplusaddons.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/generating-token-1-1024x292.png) Click **Generate Token** next to your connected Instagram account. You may be prompted to log in to Instagram once more to confirm authorization. ![instagram access token generated in meta dashboard](https://theplusaddons.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/generating-token-2-1024x393.png) Once generated, copy the token immediately and save it somewhere secure, you will not be able to view it again from the Meta dashboard. Click **Done**, then **Save Changes**. *Already have your token? Learn how to display it on your site: [**How To Add Instagram Feed To Your Elementor WordPress Website**](https://theplusaddons.com/blog/wordpress-elementor-instagram-feed/)* ## How to Connect Your Instagram Access Token in The Plus Addons for Elementor The **[Instagram Feed widget](https://theplusaddons.com/elementor-widget/instagram-feed/) (Pro)** in The Plus Addons for Elementor, which has 100,000+ active installs as of June 2026 per [WordPress.org](https://wordpress.org/plugins/the-plus-addons-for-elementor-page-builder/), lets you paste your token directly into the widget settings and start displaying your feed in Elementor with full layout control. Here is how to connect it: - Add the **Instagram Feed** widget to any page in Elementor - In the widget's Content tab, find the **Instagram Configuration** section - Paste your access token into the designated field - Set your display preferences, post count, layout style, columns, and image size - Click **Update** to publish The widget also lists **Auto API Generation** as a supported connection method. Check the [Instagram Feed setup documentation](https://theplusaddons.com/docs/instagram-feed-setup-elementor-plus-addons/) for the exact steps, as this may allow you to connect your account without going through Meta for Developers manually. **Don't need a full feed?** If you only want to embed a single Instagram post or Reel on your page, the **Instagram Embed widget (Free)** handles this without any token. No developer account required. [**View Instagram Feed Demo**](https://theplusaddons.com/elementor-widget/social-feed/instagram-feed/) ## How Long Does an Instagram Access Token Last? Tokens generated through the Instagram API with Instagram Login are **long-lived tokens valid for 60 days**, according to [Meta's developer documentation](https://developers.facebook.com/docs/instagram-platform/instagram-api-with-instagram-login/get-started). After 60 days, the token expires and your feed will stop pulling new posts. To renew: go back to your app in Meta for Developers, navigate to **Instagram > API Setup with Instagram Login**, and click **Generate Token** again for your connected account. The new token becomes active immediately. A long-lived token can also be refreshed programmatically once it is at least 24 hours old and before it expires, which extends it for another 60 days. If your WordPress plugin supports automatic token refresh, it will handle this in the background. For token renewal options specific to The Plus Addons for Elementor, check the [plugin documentation](https://theplusaddons.com/docs/) or ask in the [24/7 support chat](https://theplusaddons.com/chat/). *Want to connect a Facebook feed too? Read [**How To Add Facebook Feed To Your Elementor WordPress Website**](https://theplusaddons.com/blog/add-elementor-facebook-feed/)* ![20+ Checklist for WordPress Site Maintenance eBook](https://theplusaddons.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/20-Checklist-for-WordPress-Site-Maintenance-1024x1024.jpg) ##### Do you Manage WordPress Websites? Download Our FREE E-Book of 20+ Checklist for WordPress Site Maintenance. ​ [contact-form-7] Field LabelSend Me the eBook ## Is Setting Up an Instagram Access Token Worth It? **Yes**, if you have a Creator or Business Instagram account and want a live, styled, filterable feed on your WordPress site. A connected feed updates automatically as you post to Instagram and can be customized to match your site's design through Elementor's visual editor. **Skip it** if you only need to embed a single post or Reel. The free Instagram Embed widget handles that without any API setup. **Not yet on a Creator or Business account?** The conversion is free and takes under two minutes in Instagram's app settings. Once converted, you can generate a token and have your feed live the same day. The Plus Addons for Elementor's Instagram Feed widget is available on the Pro plan, which starts at [$39/year](https://theplusaddons.com/pricing/) and includes access to 120+ widgets, 8+ builders, and the full Extras library, alongside the Instagram Feed integration.