How to Embed Scribd Documents in WordPress?

WordPress offers easy ways to upload a PDF, presentation, Word or any allowed document types to your site as media content. With the Classic Editor interface, it does not have any default feature to embed the uploaded file in a readable view. The only option is to link the file in your content or use plugins to embed documents. Otherwise, you have to use Gutenberg block editor to embed the content. Scribd is one of the free, largest and easy to use digital document libraries, which allows embedding your uploaded documents in WordPress site. If you are looking for a solution to embed your Scribd document in WordPress, here are the available options.

Related: How to embed Word, Excel and PowerPoint in Weebly?

Scribd Digital Library

There are many online websites available to read content or listen audiobook. However, Scribd is a one-stop digital library for you to read eBooks, magazines and listen audiobooks. You can use the free service for 30 days, after that need to subscribe to a premium service for $8.99 per month.

Embed Scribd Documents in WordPress

There are three ways of to embed Scribd documents in WordPress site:

• Using Jetpack Shortcode Embeds feature
• Using HTML embed code from Scribd
• With Scribd embed block or Custom HTML in Gutenberg editor

We recommend using the Gutenberg editor option. If you are not using Gutenberg then try one of the first two options.

1. Embedding Scribd Document Using Jetpack Shortcode Embeds Feature

In order to use shortcode option you first need to activate “Shortcodes Embeds” feature offered as part of Jetpack plugin.

Once you activated shortcode embeds then login to your Scribd account or register for a new account if you don’t have one. Click on the “Upload” button and upload your document.

Ensure to choose appropriate settings for your document. For example, you can make the document as private so that search engines will not index it but you still will be able to embed in WordPress site. Navigate to “My Uploads” section and click on the “Edit” button of the document you want to embed.

Click on “View Document” button available under “Presentation” tab.

Your document will open and scroll down to “Activity” section available at the end of the page and click on “Embed” option.

A new pop-up will open providing various options for you to customize your embed. Click on “WordPress” link and copy the embed code.

Go to WordPress post editor and paste the code under “Visual” mode like a normal content.

Preview the post to see the Scribd file is embedded in your WordPress site.

If you want to embed someone’s document in your WordPress site then click on the “Embed” option when viewing the document page in Scribd.

On the pop-up, you can customize the appearance on the embedded documents in your site. Select the format as “WordPress” and copy the embed shortcode to use in WordPress.

2. Using HTML Embed Code

During embed code generation, Scribd also offers another HTML option to generate HTML iframe embed code which can be used in any platforms including WordPress.

Copy this code and paste in a WordPress post editor under “Text” mode. Preview your post to see the file is viewable directly on the page. Remember, WordPress shortcode needs to be pasted in “Visual” mode but HTML embed code is to be added in “Text” mode of the Classic editor.

3. Using Scribd Embed or Custom HTML Block with Gutenberg

WordPress introduced Gutenberg block editor interface with version 5.0. It offers drag and drop block for embedding content from large number of third-party service providers including Scribd. When you are in Gutenberg editor, search and insert a Scribd block.

It will look like below and paste your embed URL from Scribd and click the “Embed” button. Remember, you have to use the URL to embed and not the WordPress shortcode for Scribd.

Now, you can instantly see the embedded document right inside the editor without any additional plugin. Alternatively, you can use Custom HTML block and insert the Scribd document’s iframe embed code. Note that when using Custom HTML you have to paste the HTML iframe code and not the URL or WordPress shortcode.

Document Formats Allowed in Scribd

Scribe does not allow you to embed all file extensions. You can upload the following document formats in Scribd and then embed in WordPress site:

• Microsoft Excel (.xls, .xlsx)
• Microsoft PowerPoint (.ppt, .pps, .pptx, .ppsx)
• OpenDocument (.odt, .odp, .ods, .odf, .odg)
• Microsoft Word (.doc, .docx)
• org XML (.sxw, .sxi, .sxc, .sxd)
• Plain text (.txt)
• Portable Document Format (.pdf)
• PostScript (.ps)
• Rich text format (.rtf)
• Tagged image file format (.tif, .tiff)

Embedded Document Example

The document display in WordPress will vary depending up on the method and the customization option in Scribd. Below is an example public document embedded using HTML embed code from Scribd and WordPress Custom HTML block.

The time to start is now: H… by Environmental Defense Fund …