---
title: "Instagram"
date: 2022-05-16
author: "nK"
---

# Instagram

Requires an Instagram **Business** or **Creator** account. Personal accounts cannot be connected: Meta retired the Basic Display API on December 4, 2024.

## Connect

1. Settings → Social Feeds → **Instagram** → **+ Connect**.
2. Click **Get Access Token**. A popup on visualportfolio.com asks you to log in to Instagram and to allow the Visual Portfolio app. You do not create an app or register redirect URLs.
3. The popup returns to the settings page with the token filled in and saves the tab.

[![](https://staging.visualportfolio.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/image-11-1024x790.png)![](https://staging.visualportfolio.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/image-11-1024x790.png)](https://staging.visualportfolio.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/image-11.png)[![](https://staging.visualportfolio.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/image-12-959x1024.png)![](https://staging.visualportfolio.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/image-12-959x1024.png)](https://staging.visualportfolio.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/image-12.png)Accounts connected before 3.3.11 with the old API show “Your Instagram API connection is using outdated keys.” with a **Reconnect** button. Reconnect them once.

## Fields

FieldValuesDefaultNameText, filled with the usernameMax Medias1 to 20030## What is imported

Photos, videos and Reels with their caption (as the description), date and link. Carousels are imported as their first image. Videos are downloaded locally so they keep playing after Instagram’s links expire. Hashtags are not turned into categories; likes and comments are not imported.

The profile (username, photo, media count) goes to Social Profiles. In the block, **Display Profile**, **Display Profile Photo** and **Display Profile Name** show a header above the gallery linking to the Instagram profile.

## Limits and notes

- The access token lasts 60 days and is renewed automatically while the site’s cron runs. If the site was idle for over two months, Reconnect.
- One sync makes about one request per post plus two; 30 posts is about 32 requests.
- Captions with emoji need a `utf8mb4` database; the tab warns otherwise.

## Switch to a professional account

In the Instagram app: Settings → Account type and tools → Switch to professional account, then choose Creator or Business.

![](https://staging.visualportfolio.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Shot-2024-12-15-at-18.29.40-1024x575.png)![](https://staging.visualportfolio.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Shot-2024-12-15-at-18.29.40-1024x575.png)    ![](https://staging.visualportfolio.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Shot-2024-12-15-at-18.38.37-1024x565.png)![](https://staging.visualportfolio.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Shot-2024-12-15-at-18.38.37-1024x565.png)