Knowing how to set up a shop on Instagram gives your brand a powerful way to turn followers into shoppers. With Instagram Shopping, your products can appear in posts, Reels, and a dedicated storefront that customers can browse without ever leaving the app.
For Shopify and WooCommerce users, the setup is simple. Your catalogue syncs automatically, keeping your product details, pricing, stock, and images, accurate across your Instagram Shop.
Once everything is approved, your products become discoverable through search, hashtags, and recommendations, helping you reach new shoppers effortlessly. And with tools like Xyla, you can stay consistent and keep your shop active without spending hours creating posts manually.
Why Instagram Shopping Matters
Instagram is one of the most powerful discovery platforms for ecommerce. People use it to browse products, follow brands, and save ideas they plan to buy later, making it a natural fit for online stores.
With Instagram Shopping enabled, your profile becomes a storefront. Products can appear in posts, Reels, Stories, and the Shop tab, complete with pricing, stock levels, and direct links back to your website.
Instagram Shopping is especially effective for brands selling:
- Fashion and accessories
- Beauty and skincare
- Home décor and lifestyle products
- Gifts, crafts, and handmade items
Because Instagram favours visual, shoppable content, your products stay discoverable long after you publish, helping you reach new customers and turn everyday browsing into sales.
Benefits of Setting Up an Instagram Shop
Learning how to set up a shop on Instagram opens up a powerful sales channel for your business. Once your shop is approved and your products are synced, you can take advantage of several benefits that make Instagram a strong addition to your ecommerce strategy.
Reach high-intent shoppers
People come to Instagram to discover new products, explore trends, and save ideas. Shopping tools help you meet customers at the moment they’re looking for inspiration.
Make your posts and Reels instantly shoppable
Instead of relying on link-in-bio steps, product tags let customers tap directly through to the items they see in your content.
Sync your catalogue automatically
When connected to Shopify or WooCommerce, your prices, images, and stock levels update automatically. This keeps your Instagram Shop accurate without extra work.
Build trust with a dedicated storefront
Your Instagram Shop becomes a space where customers can browse collections, view product details, and explore your catalogue in a clean, familiar layout.
Increase visibility across Instagram
Shoppable content often performs well in Explore, Search, and recommendations, giving your products more reach long after you post.
Reduce friction and boost conversions
Shoppers can move from discovery to checkout in a few taps, making the buying experience smoother, especially on mobile.
What You Need Before You Start
Before you learn how to set up a shop on Instagram, there are a few essentials you’ll need in place to make sure your account is eligible and your products sync correctly.
Requirements Checklist
- Instagram Business or Creator account – You can switch in Settings if you currently use a personal profile.
- A connected Facebook Page – Instagram Shopping is managed through Meta, so your profiles must be linked.
- A published Shopify or WooCommerce store – Your products, pricing, and images should already be live.
- A product catalogue – This can sync automatically through Shopify or be created manually in Meta Commerce Manager.
- A verified website domain – Required to approve shopping features.
- Clear website policies – Instagram checks for visible shipping, returns, and contact information.
- Products that meet Instagram’s Commerce Requirements – Certain items (e.g., digital products) aren’t eligible.
Once these pieces are ready, your account will have everything needed to move smoothly through the approval process and start creating your Instagram Shop.
How to Set Up a Shop on Instagram (Step-by-Step)
Setting up Instagram Shopping only takes a few minutes once your accounts and catalogue are ready. Follow these simple steps to connect everything correctly and enable product tagging.
Step 1 – Switch to a Business or Creator Account
Instagram Shopping only works with professional profiles.
Go to Settings → Account → Switch to Professional Account and choose Business or Creator.
This unlocks shopping features and analytics.
Step 2 – Connect Your Instagram to a Facebook Page
Your Facebook Page is what links your store to Instagram through Meta Commerce Manager.
Go to Settings → Business → Connect a Facebook Page and make sure you’re an admin on the Page you choose.
Step 3 – Set Up Your Product Catalogue
You can do this in two ways:
- Shopify/WooCommerce (recommended): Install the Facebook & Instagram sales channel to sync products automatically.
- Manual setup: Create a catalogue in Meta Commerce Manager and add products one by one.
Automatic syncing ensures your prices, images, and stock stay up to date.
Step 4 – Submit Your Account for Review
Instagram will check your account for eligibility, website policies, and product compliance.
Reviews usually take 24-72 hours. You’ll receive a notification when approved.
Step 5 – Enable Instagram Shopping
Once approved, go to Settings → Business → Shopping, select your product catalogue, and turn on product tagging.
Step 6 – Start Tagging Products
You can now tag products in:
- Posts
- Reels
- Stories
- Live Shopping (if eligible)
This turns your content into a shoppable experience and gives customers a quick route to buy.
Once your shop is live, staying active is what helps your products appear more often across Instagram. If you want to keep your feed consistent without managing posts manually, Xyla can turn your catalogue into auto-generated content that keeps your shop visible.
Best Practices for Instagram Shops
Once your Instagram Shop is live, the next step is making sure your products are presented in a way that attracts clicks, saves, and purchases. These best practices will help your shop perform at its best.
Use high-quality, vertical images
Instagram is a visual platform, so clear, well-lit images make a big difference. Vertical (4:5) product shots or lifestyle photos tend to perform best and keep your feed looking consistent.
Optimise product titles and descriptions
Make sure your product names and descriptions are accurate, easy to understand, and match your Shopify store. Include details people search for, like colour, style, material, or use case.
Create organised product collections
Within Meta Commerce Manager, group products into themes like “New In,” “Gifts,” or “Seasonal Picks.” This helps customers browse more easily and improves the overall shopping experience.
Mix lifestyle content with product tags
Posts that show your products in real settings, outfits, home décor setups, or tutorials, often get more engagement than plain product images. Aim for a mix of both.
Keep your product information accurate
Because your catalogue syncs from Shopify or WooCommerce, make sure listings stay up to date. Instagram rewards shops with clear, accurate product data.
Stay active and consistent
The more consistent your posting, the more often Instagram will surface your products. If you want to stay visible without creating every post manually, Xyla can automate content directly from your store.
Common Issues and How to Fix Them
Even when you follow every step correctly, Instagram Shopping can be slow to approve or sync. Here are some common issues Shopify store owners run into, along with quick fixes to get everything working.
Instagram Shop Not Approved
If your account isn’t approved for shopping, check:
- Your website domain is verified
- Your store has visible shipping, returns, and contact details
- Your products meet Instagram’s Commerce Requirements
- You’re using a Business or Creator account
Once everything is updated, you can resubmit your account for review.
Product Catalogue Not Syncing
If products aren’t appearing in Meta Commerce Manager:
- Make sure the Facebook & Instagram sales channel is installed in Shopify
- Confirm products are marked as available for Instagram
- Check that products have images, pricing, and inventory set
Most catalogue issues are caused by missing product data.
Shopping Option Not Showing
If you don’t see the Shopping option in your Instagram settings:
- Your account may still be under review
- The wrong catalogue may be linked
- Your Facebook Page and Instagram account may not be fully connected
Double-check your Business Manager connections.
Product Tags Not Working
If you can’t tag products in posts:
- Make sure your catalogue is active
- Check that products aren’t in review or disapproved
- Refresh your Instagram app or try again on another device
Product tags appear once your catalogue and shop are fully approved.
Automate Instagram Content With Xyla AI
Once your shop is live, the real impact comes from staying active. Even after you’ve learned how to set up a shop on Instagram, your products only stay discoverable if you’re posting consistently and keeping your catalogue visible across the platform.
Xyla helps make that part effortless. It connects to your Shopify or WooCommerce store and automatically turns your product catalogue into ready-to-publish Instagram posts. Captions, visuals, and product highlights are created for you, helping you keep your shop active without spending hours planning content.
If you’ve followed the steps on how to set up a shop on Instagram, Xyla helps you maintain that momentum by keeping your feed fresh and shoppable.Stay visible, stay consistent, and keep your Instagram Shop growing with less work. Try Xyla for free today.
