This article explains how to use Instagram on a PC or Mac desktop.
What to Know
- Log in to Instagram.com, click +, upload a photo or video, edit, and click Share. The Instagram for Windows desktop app works the same as the web version.
How to Post to Instagram on a Desktop
You can access Instagram on your PC or Mac using a web browser to review your feed, like and comment on posts, view your profile, and follow or unfollow people. Instagram also recently added the ability to send and receive direct messages. You can also post photos or videos.
To access your Instagram page on the web, go to the address bar in the browser, then enter http://instagram.com/username.
- Go to Instagram.com and log in.
- Click the Create New Post (+) button in the upper-right corner of the page.
- Drag an image or video file to the Create New Post window that appears. Alternatively, click Select from computer, navigate to the file you want to post, and select Open. The photo or video appears in the window.
- Click the magnifying glass in the lower-left corner of the window to zoom in on the image if you want to crop it. Then, drag it to the desired position in the window.
- Select the double-arrow icon to select a specific aspect ratio for the post.
- If you want to add more images, click the Multiple photos button in the lower-right corner, click the plus sign (+) that appears, and add up to nine more pictures or videos.
- Click Next to continue.
- On the Filters tab, select a filter to apply, if desired. On the Adjustments tab, adjust aspects such as brightness, contrast, and saturation. Click Next to continue.
- Add a caption, tag someone, and add hashtags, if desired. Click Share when you are ready to share the post.
Use the Instagram for Windows Desktop App
The Instagram for Windows desktop app works the same as the web version. You can post photos or videos, view posts, like and comment, and follow and unfollow users. Instagram for Windows doesn’t work with older PCs or Macs, though.
Go to Instagram.com and log in.
Click the Create New Post (+) button in the upper-right corner of the page.
Drag an image or video file to the Create New Post window that appears. Alternatively, click Select from computer, navigate to the file you want to post, and select Open. The photo or video appears in the window.
Click the magnifying glass in the lower-left corner of the window to zoom in on the image if you want to crop it. Then, drag it to the desired position in the window.
Select the double-arrow icon to select a specific aspect ratio for the post.
If you want to add more images, click the Multiple photos button in the lower-right corner, click the plus sign (+) that appears, and add up to nine more pictures or videos.
Click Next to continue.
On the Filters tab, select a filter to apply, if desired. On the Adjustments tab, adjust aspects such as brightness, contrast, and saturation. Click Next to continue.
Add a caption, tag someone, and add hashtags, if desired. Click Share when you are ready to share the post.
Workarounds for Older Computers
If you want to post photos and videos to Instagram from your desktop and you have a Mac or older PC that can’t run the Instagram for Windows app, there are some workarounds.
Instagram for Windows requires Windows 10 version 10586.0 or higher and 2 GB of RAM. Additionally, a Microsoft account is needed to download Instagram for Windows.
BlueStacks
BlueStacks is a free Android phone emulator. It emulates the Android version of Instagram on a PC or Mac, making it possible to upload photos to Instagram.
Install BlueStacks, then download Instagram. Sign in to your Instagram account, and your Instagram feed appears as it does on a phone.
An emulator is a software program that simulates a mobile phone operating system (or another type of operating system) on a computer.
Flume
Flume is a Mac-only Instagram app that allows you to upload photos, post to Instagram from a Mac, edit photos, and more. It also includes some power-user functions the mobile Instagram app doesn’t offer, such as hover shortcuts and ways to promote your brand.
If there’s a photo on your desktop computer you want to post on Instagram, a low-tech solution is to email yourself the picture, access that picture from your phone, then post it to Instagram.
Dropbox
Use Dropbox, the free cloud-based storage app, to share photos on your desktop computer to your mobile device, then access those photos in Instagram.
Pixlr
Pixlr isn’t a desktop Instagram workaround. Instead, it’s a photo app with features similar to Instagram. Pixlr calls itself a “next-generation online photo editor.”
- How do I text on Instagram on a computer?
- Log in to Instagram in a web browser and select the paper plane icon in the upper-left of the screen. You’re now able to access direct messages. You can read all active conversations and select Send Message to start a new DM.
- How do I delete a post on Instagram on a computer?
- To delete a post on Instagram on a computer, log in to Instagram in a web browser and go to the post you want to delete. Select More (three dots) above the post and choose Delete. Select Delete again to confirm.
- How do I go live on Instagram on a computer?
- Unfortunately, you can only start Instagram Live videos from your mobile device using the Instagram app for iOS or Android. However, you can watch Instagram live streams from Instagram on your Mac or Windows PC desktop.
Log in to Instagram in a web browser and select the paper plane icon in the upper-left of the screen. You’re now able to access direct messages. You can read all active conversations and select Send Message to start a new DM.
To delete a post on Instagram on a computer, log in to Instagram in a web browser and go to the post you want to delete. Select More (three dots) above the post and choose Delete. Select Delete again to confirm.
Unfortunately, you can only start Instagram Live videos from your mobile device using the Instagram app for iOS or Android. However, you can watch Instagram live streams from Instagram on your Mac or Windows PC desktop.
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