How To Upload Photos To Instagram From Your PC/MAC in 2024 [Easy Methods]

If you don’t have your phone with you or need to access corporate resources on your desktop, posting to Instagram from your computer is a terrific option. Or perhaps you just like the idea of using a bigger screen.

For these reasons and others, you might be wondering, “Can I post to Instagram from my computer?” We have some good news.

Yes, you can post to Instagram from a PC, but there are some minor limitations. Instagram’s desktop app only lets you upload pictures and videos to your profile.

Why Post from Your Computer?

Instagram is most commonly accessed through a mobile app, but it offers a web version that makes it easy to post assets you may only have on your desktop and not your phone.

Let’s take the scenario of you managing social media for a well-known company. The last thing you want to do is to mistakenly publish content from your brand to your personal Instagram account (or, worse, vice versa) just because you have both accounts open on your phone.

Instead of having your smartphone open at work, it might be simpler to upload company postings and videos using your PC.

Also, desktop access to your company’s files might be simpler than mobile access. If you use Photoshop to edit business images, for example, it will probably be simpler to click “Upload” from your desktop when you are through editing than to transfer the edited image or video to your personal phone.

Perhaps you simply prefer the larger screen of desktop. Or, maybe you don’t have access to a smartphone so you can’t download the app on your phone.

How to Use Instagram on a PC

Upload Photos To Instagram From Your PC

Instagram is accessible on a Computer. Simply go to instagram.com and enter your phone number, username, email address, or Facebook account to log in. You can read your feed, respond to direct messages (DMs), see your alerts, update your profile with photographs and videos, and more via Instagram’s web platform.

While the social platform is primarily meant to be consumed in-app, it offers a nearly identical experience if you access it on your computer.

On Instagram’s web version, you can:

  • Watch and reply to other people’s Stories
  • Search for hashtags and other users
  • Browse your feed
  • Comment and like posts
  • Reply to direct messages (DMs)
  • View your notifications
  • Access the Explore tab
  • Post photos and videos to your profile

In other words — Yes, you can post to Instagram from your PC or Mac desktop instead of on your mobile device’s app or browser.

Now, let’s explore how you can post images and videos from your desktop computer.

How to Post from Desktop PC

You can post from your desktop computer regardless of whether you’re using a Mac or a PC. Regardless of the platform you use, Instagram’s web edition enables you to upload an Instagram post just like you would on a mobile device. Below, we’ll discuss how to do it on:

  • Chrome
  • Safari

We’ll talk about posting photos to Instagram after talking about how to do so from your desktop.

How to Upload Photos from Chrome

Upload Photos from Chrome on Instagram

  1. Launch the Chrome browser
  2. Open the Instagram website
  3. Next to the DM sign, click the ‘+’ button
  4. To upload your media, click “Choose from computer”
  5. If more material is required, crop the image, zoom in, or all three
  6. Make modifications or select a filter
  7. Add tags, an alt text, a caption, and a location
  8. Tap Share

Launch the Chrome Browser

You should launch Google Chrome as soon as possible. Clicking the Windows symbol in your task bar will allow you to do this if you’re using Windows. After that, look through the programs you’ve already put on your computer until you discover Chrome.

Open the Instagram Website

Enter instagram.com into the navigation bar and then navigate there. Use your Facebook login information to log in, or enter your username, email, or phone number. If you’ve already logged into Instagram’s web version, you could see an option to “Continue as [username],” which will allow you to log in automatically.

Next to The DM Sign, Click the ‘+’ Button

The top navigation bar on Instagram’s website is identical to the one on its mobile app. It has a search bar, a circle containing your profile photo, a plus sign, a heart, a home symbol, a DM symbol, and a circle. In front of the DM symbol, click the + sign.

To Upload Your Media, Click “Choose from Computer”

A Popup Box Will Appear with A Blue Button that Says “select from Computer.” Browse until You Find the File You’d Like to Upload.

instagram photo crop

If More Material Is Required, Crop The Image, Zoom In, Or All Three

You have a variety of options on Instagram for modifying the photograph before sharing it. You can alter the aspect ratio, enlarge the image, or include more media in a single post.

The aspect ratio button is just next to the zoom-in option:

  • You’ll find the “add more media” button on the lower left-hand corner.
  • Click the plus sign to add more images to your post, if desired.

Make Modifications or Select a Filter

Next, choose a filter, just like you would in the app. You can also adjust brightness, contrast, saturation, and other features. Once you’re done, click Next in the top right of your screen.

Add Tags, an Alt Text, a Caption, and a Location

On the next screen, you’ll be able to add a caption, add a location, or tag people.

Tap Share

Click Share in the top right corner of your screen when you are ready.

Done! You’ve just used Chrome to post to Instagram.

How to Upload Photos from Safari

Upload Photos from Safari on Instagram

  1. Open up your Safari browser
  2. Open the Instagram website
  3. Next to the DM sign, click the ‘Plus’ button
  4. To upload your media, click “Choose from computer”
  5. If more material is required, crop the image, zoom in, or all three
  6. Make modifications or select a filter
  7. Add tags, an alt text, a caption, and a location
  8. Choose “Share”

Open Up Your Safari Browser

You should launch Safari as soon as possible. To do this, launch Launchpad and select Safari from the list of available programs. You can also access it from your task bar if it’s been pinned there.

Open the Instagram Website

Next, navigate to https://www.instagram.com by typing it into Safari’s navigation bar. If you visit the site often enough, Safari may also have a shortcut in your “New tab” page.

Once you get there, login with your preferred credentials. If you’ve already used the web version in the past, Instagram will allow you to log in with one click.

Follow Steps 3 to 8 From the Instructions Above

Once you are able to view Instagram from your Safari browser, you can upload an Instagram post the same way you would on Chrome — by clicking the “+” button, adding a filter or editing the photo, adding a location and caption, and clicking “Share” when you’re ready for your post to go live.

Want to Upload a Video Instead?

Instagram allows you to upload films from your computer, making it simple to share professionally produced videos that might not be immediately available on your phone. So, you are permitted to distribute marketing videos and footage from shoots that your in-house or freelance videographer produced.

Here’s how, using any web browser, to upload a video to Instagram.

  1. Use your favourite browser to get to the Instagram website. Use your credentials to log in after you’ve arrived.
  2. Choose the “+” icon to the right of the DM icon. Click the Plus button in your Instagram feed’s top navigation bar just like you would if you were posting a photo.
  3. To upload your media, select “Select from computer”. Select your video file from the computer. We recommend uploading an MP4 file to avoid compatibility issues. If your video is less than 10 minutes long, your file size should be no bigger than 650 MB. For videos between 10 minutes and 60 minutes (which is the maximum length), you should aim for a file size smaller than 3.6GB. Read more about Instagram’s video requirements here.
  4. If necessary, resize your video and include extra media. You have two options on Instagram for making changes to your video: changing the aspect ratio and adding new media. Instagram gives you the option to zoom in on photos. Videos are not eligible for the choice. We advise choosing a 16:9 aspect ratio when uploading horizontal videos to prevent cropping. If you’re worried about the aesthetics of your feed, stick to a 1:1 ratio. That way, there isn’t any white space when visitors visit your profile.
  5. Trim the movie, change the volume settings, and select a cover photo. You can then select a cover photo, which is the picture users will see before clicking “Play.” A personalized cover image can be uploaded, and the video can be edited and the sound turned off if preferred.
  6. Write a caption, tag other users, add alt text, and toggle commenting options. On the next screen, you can write a caption for your video, tag anyone who appears in the video, add alt text, and disable comments.
  7. Click Share

Done! You’ve now posted your video on Instagram.

Why Sometimes It’s More Convenient to Post From a PC Than From the App

In some circumstances, posting to Instagram on a PC or Mac is far more practical. Let’s examine a few instances.

  • It is acceptable to upload content to Instagram from a desktop computer if the images and videos you wish to publish are already saved there. Then, you don’t have to download them twice, and your phone’s memory doesn’t overflow.
  • Perhaps posting images while staring into a large screen is simply more convenient for you than doing so while staring at a smartphone’s tiny screen.
  • You can avoid such unfavorable mistakes by posting on a computer. For instance, uploading a post to the incorrect account on Instagram is simple if your line of business involves social media.

And this is only a small part of the reasons to make posts on Instagram on a desktop.

FAQs

Upload Photos To Instagram From Your PC faq

Is there an official Instagram iPad/tablet app?

Instagram CEO Adam Mosseri has again shot down the idea of launching an Instagram app for iPad, suggesting that the user base of Apple’s tablet is just not big enough for the company to create a dedicated app.

Can you upload multiple photos to Instagram from PC and Mac?

The short answer is Yes, and it is quite easy now. Previously, you can only post one photo, and now you can add multiple photos to create the carousel, and even the videos too.

Can I post to IGTV from my computer?

Yes, you can directly post to IGTV on PC without any workaround. Simply visit Instagram and go to your profile page by clicking your profile photo, and then click the IGTV tab, which is between the POSTS tab and the SAVE tab. From here you can click the Upload button. General accounts can post up to 10 min, 650 MB per video, and verified users 60 min, 5.4GB.

Can I post Instagram REELS From PC?

Instagram does not have a direct way to post Reels from a PC. Reels can only be created and posted through the Instagram mobile app. However, you can use an emulator or a mobile device simulator to access Instagram on your PC and create and post Reels from there. Another option is to transfer the Reel file from your PC to your mobile device and post it from there.

Can I delete a picture from Instagram on the computer?

Surely yes. Click the button right beside Like to get into your home page on IG > click to open the photo you want to delete > click More Info in the top right corner > choose Delete in the pop-up window.

How do I get the latest version of Instagram on my computer?

  1. Open the Microsoft Store app.
  2. Search for the Instagram app.
  3. Click ‘Get’ and download.
  4. Once installed, open the app and login.
  5. And you’re in! Enjoy Instagram on your Windows 10 desktop.

To get access to the best features, post to Instagram from the mobile version.

  1. Go to Apps & notifications.
  2. Disclose the full list.
  3. Choose Instagram.
  4. Go to Storage & cache.
  5. Tap Clear cache.

Conclusion

There are many ways to publish to Instagram from a PC, whether you use Windows or Mac. What you want to accomplish will determine the strategy you use. Do you merely want to be able to post on Instagram from a computer? Or are you looking for a tool that you can use to upload, edit, and schedule multiple posts from PC?

In conclusion, based on your goals and individual needs, you’ll be able to decide on the best option for you