How to Create an Instagram Gallery on Your Shopify Store
This guide walks you through creating a beautiful Instagram Gallery using the Essential Grid Gallery app — from importing a social media template to connecting your Instagram account and displaying the gallery on your storefront.
Prerequisites
Before you begin, make sure you have:
- An active Shopify store with admin access
- The Essential Grid Gallery app installed from the Shopify App Store
- An active Instagram account with public posts
- A paid plan on Essential Grid Gallery (social media templates require a paid plan)
[!IMPORTANT]
Social media templates (including Instagram) are only available on the paid plan. Make sure your subscription is active before proceeding.
Part 1 — Import an Instagram Template
Step 1: Open the Essential Grid Gallery App
From your Shopify Admin dashboard, navigate to the Apps section and select Essential Grid Gallery to open the app dashboard.
Step 2: Create a Grid from Template
On the Essential Grid Gallery dashboard, click the Create Grid from Template button.
Step 3: Select Social Media
In the template selector, click Social Media from the left-hand menu to browse social media gallery templates.
Step 4: Import an Instagram Template
Locate the Instagram Minimal template (or your preferred Instagram template), click the plus (+) icon, and then click the Install Grid button to import it.

Step 5: Open the Imported Grid
Once the template is installed, click Open Imported Grid to access the gallery editor.
Part 2 — Enable the Social Media Add-on
Step 6: Open Add-ons
In the gallery editor, click the Add-ons button located in the top-right corner.
Step 7: Enable the Instagram Add-on
Select Instagram from the add-ons list and enable it by toggling it on.

Step 8: Save Your Grid
Click the Save Grid button to save the template with the Social Media add-on enabled.
[!TIP]
Always save your grid after enabling add-ons. If you skip this step, the social media features may not activate correctly.
Part 3 — Connect Your Instagram Account
Step 9: Go to the Source Tab
In the gallery editor, navigate to the Source tab.
Step 10: Connect Your Instagram Account
Click the Connect Instagram Account button. If you're already logged into Instagram, the connection will proceed automatically. If not, a login form will appear — enter your Instagram credentials to authorize the connection.

Step 11: Save Your Grid
Once your Instagram account is successfully connected, click the Save Grid button. Your Instagram images will now be sourced directly from your connected account.
[!NOTE]
The images displayed in the gallery are pulled directly from your Instagram account. Any new posts you make on Instagram will appear in the gallery after refreshing.
Part 4 — Display Your Instagram Gallery on Your Storefront
Step 12: Copy the Gallery ID
On the gallery dashboard, locate and copy the Gallery ID for your newly created Instagram gallery.
Step 13: Open the Shopify Theme Customizer
Navigate to Online Store → Themes → Customize to open the Shopify Theme Customizer.
Step 14: Add a New Section
In the Theme Customizer, click Add Section, then go to the Apps tab and select Grid Gallery to insert the Essential Grid Gallery block.
Step 15: Paste the Gallery ID
In the Grid Gallery section settings (left panel), locate the Gallery ID field and paste the Gallery ID you copied in Step 12.
Step 16: Save Your Theme
Click the Save button in the top-right corner of the Theme Customizer to publish your changes.
Step 17: Preview Your Instagram Gallery
Visit your store's homepage to see your Instagram gallery displayed beautifully. You can also use the Live Preview to verify the gallery looks correct before sharing with customers.
Your Instagram gallery should now show:
- ✅ Images pulled from your connected Instagram account
- ✅ Clean, minimal grid layout
- ✅ Fully responsive display on all devices
Troubleshooting
Issue | Solution |
|---|---|
Instagram template not available | Social media templates require a paid plan. Upgrade your Essential Grid Gallery subscription. |
"Connect Instagram" button not working | Make sure the Social Media add-on is enabled (Step 7) and your grid is saved. |
Instagram login form not appearing | Clear your browser cache and cookies, then try again. Ensure pop-ups are not blocked. |
Images not loading after connecting | Click Save Grid, then refresh the page. Check that your Instagram account is public. |
Gallery not showing on homepage | Verify you entered the correct Gallery ID in the Theme Customizer and clicked Save. |
Gallery appears empty | Confirm your Instagram account has public posts and that the connection was successful in the Source tab. |
Need Help?
If you run into any issues, please contact our support team and include:
- Your store URL
- The Gallery ID you're using
- A screenshot of any error you see
Updated on: 06/08/2026