Why My Instagram Feed Source Doesn't Work: Common Errors and Solutions

If you’re experiencing issues with Instagram Feed not displaying any posts or giving error messages, you’re in the right place. This article covers common issues users encounter when the Instagram Feed source doesn't work and how to fix them.

Account and Hashtag

The Account and Hashtag connection types don't require you to log into Instagram. All you need to do is add a username or hashtag, and you're good to go. However, there are a few common errors that can occur when using these connection types.

Failed to Collect

Both Account and Hashtag types support only public accounts without any access restrictions. If the source you’re trying to pull posts from is restricted, you may see the error message: "Failed to collect. Make sure that the source is set correctly, the account is not private and has posts."

This is what the feed looks like in this case:

Here are the possible reasons for this error:

1

Your Instagram account is private. If your account is private, only your followers can see your posts, and the widget won't be able to fetch them. To make your account public, go to your Instagram account Settings → Account Privacy and change your account to Public. You can also refer to this Instagram guide for more help.

2

Your Instagram Account is age-restricted. If your account has a minimum age limit, only authorized users over the specified age can view your posts. To remove age restrictions, go to your Instagram profile settings, select Business or Creator depending on your profile type, and delete the age limit. For detailed instructions, see this guide: Set up a minimum age for your Instagram account.

Once you've done that, just re-add the source and you're good. Alternatively, you can connect your widget using a Business type, as it supports profiles with access restrictions.

Empty Feed

If your feed is connected, but the widget isn't showing any posts or error messages, check if you've used the Show Posts Containing filter with the same username as the source. Filtering the posts by the same username is unnecessary and can break the widget's logic, as the feed tries to filter posts by that username again. To fix this error, simply remove the filter and publish the changes:

Business

This connection type requires authorization, meaning you need to log into your Facebook account to connect your feed. These are the common errors you may face when something goes wrong with your connection.

Error validating access token

Sometimes the Instagram Feed widget's session token expires. This usually happens if:

• There were significant access changes in your Instagram or Facebook account, such as a password or username change
• Facebook reset the token for its own reasons

When that happens, the widget usually shows the "Error validating access token" error:

In this case, you need to obtain a new token by reconnecting the widget. Luckily, we already have a tutorial on how to do that: Reconnecting your Instagram Feed widget.

You don't have any managed pages

If you don’t grant all the necessary permissions or selected app pages when authorizing your Business account, the widget may not be able to retrieve posts. You might see the error message: "You don't have any managed pages. Please check that you are the administrator of the Facebook page and have selected pages during authorization." This is what it looks like:

To fix this, simply reconnect the widget by following the steps outlined here: Reconnecting your Instagram Feed widget.

Instagram Account is not linked to a Facebook page

If you're trying to connect a Business account, but your Instagram page is not linked to a Facebook page, you may see the error: "We couldn't find a linked Instagram Business account." This is what it looks like:

To use this type of connection, you need to link your Instagram account to a Facebook page. For detailed instructions, refer to our guide: Connecting Instagram account to a Facebook Page.

Most Instagram Feed issues are easy to fix once you identify the cause. By following the troubleshooting steps outlined above, you can resolve them quickly.

If these steps don’t resolve the issue, please don't hesitate to reach out to us for further assistance! 👐