By 4th December 2024, Meta is phasing out its Instagram Basic Display API, which means if you’ve been using a personal account to show your Instagram feed on your website, your feeds will no longer update automatically after that date. Changes like these can feel frustrating, and it might impact your workflow.
Recently, Meta (Instagram’s parent company) announced it would discontinue the Basic Display API—a tool that all Instagram plugins for WordPress have relied on to connect personal Instagram accounts and display Instagram feeds.
Unfortunately, this is a decision made directly by Instagram, and there’s no way to avoid the changes it will bring. The transition will go into effect on 4th December 2024 and will affect anyone who has linked their Instagram feeds to WordPress through personal accounts.
Let’s walk through what Instagram’s decision means and how you can adapt moving forward.
What’s the Instagram Basic Display API, anyway?
To show your Instagram feed on your WordPress website, you must connect your personal or business Instagram account. This connection lets you pull profile information, photos, and videos from your Instagram account.
If you connected with a business account, you might remember needing to link a Facebook page during setup.
However, it was simpler for personal accounts—you just needed a valid Instagram account.
You connected your Instagram account directly to WordPress (via a Plugin most likely), allowing you to showcase your feed on your website. This was all possible thanks to the Basic Display API, which, according to Meta, has now been shut down on December 4, 2024.
What happens when it is shut down?
When the Instagram Basic Display API is discontinued, personal accounts will no longer be able to automatically pull in the latest content to their website’s Instagram feed. This is because the API that made it all possible will no longer exist.
However any old Instagram Posts (or the latest ones BEFORE the API was shut down) will still show on your WordPress Website, but no new Feeds will be pulled from Instagram.
On the other hand, if you have a Professional (Business or Creator) account, you won’t be affected. Business accounts are connected through the Instagram Graph API, which is a completely different system and isn’t impacted by this change.
Meta says that they should eventually introduce a replacement for the Basic Display API, but we can’t say for sure when—or even if—that will happen.
FAQ's
Will I be charged for upgrading to a business account?
No, it is free to switch from a personal to a Business or Creator account on Instagram.
Will my account be automatically changed to a business account once the Display API is shut down?
No, it will not. You’ll need to log in to Instagram and switch to a professional account.
Do I need to recreate my feeds from scratch?
No, you don’t. Creating and reconnecting a business account does not alter your feeds. It only connects your feed content through a different API.
What If I’m not a business?
Even if you’re not a business, switching to a business or creator account will ensure your feeds continue to update. If you choose to keep your personal account, your Instagram feeds will stop updating once the Basic Display API is discontinued.
I switched to a business account and reconnected it, but my feed isn’t updating automatically. What should I do?
If your feed isn’t updating with the latest Instagram posts, it might be due to several reasons.
Why can’t I connect my personal Instagram account anymore?
As of December 4, 2024, Instagram discontinued its Basic Display API, which was used to connect personal Instagram accounts to Spotlight and other apps.
Can you help to re connect my Instagram Feed?
Sure, but we will need your Instagram Credentials to be able to get the new API and re connect it to your WordPress Website.
CONTACT ME with your Details and to receive a Quote for the Changes to be done.