How to Use Instagram on Your Desktop?

Use Instagram on Your Desktop

Do you enjoy posting images on Instagram and wish to do it on your PC as well? Uploading to Instagram from your PC isn’t the primary use case because the service concentrates on smartphones. However, you can upload to Instagram from a Mac, Chromebook, or any other desktop computer. Below, we’ll show you how to post to Instagram from your PC or Mac .

How to Use Any Desktop Browser to Post to Instagram

Instagram ultimately offered an official solution for uploading photos from a laptop or desktop in late 2021. You can now use any browser to access Instagram.com, sign in to your account, and post images just as you do on your phone. To begin, click the Plus icon in the top-right corner.  This is the quickest and easiest way to post to Instagram from any computer, but we’ve also included alternative methods below, so you’re aware of other options.

How to Use a Windows PC to Post on Instagram

Aside from the primary option mentioned above, Windows users can also use the methods listed below to post to Instagram. They will function properly whether you are posting from a Windows laptop or desktop.

Use the Instagram Windows Store App

Instagram does not have a typical Windows desktop app, although users of Windows 10 and 11 can use the Instagram Microsoft Store app. It’s just a transfer of the mobile apps, so it’s nothing exceptional, but it does the job. Sign in after installing the app to access your feed as usual. To post on Instagram like on the website, click the Plus button in the upper-right corner. Drag and drop photos into the box, or use the Select from computer option to select some. From here, you can edit the image, apply a filter, and write a caption using the traditional Instagram interface. This strategy is ideal if you prefer an app over visiting a website whenever you want to post.

Use the Mobile Instagram Website in Chrome

Prior to the website’s native support for posting to Instagram, the best approach was to use a trick that allowed you to post to Instagram from Chrome. This includes changing your browser’s user agent to make Instagram assume you’re on a mobile device. The user agent is a small bit of information that your browser provides to websites so that they may learn a few details about your computer. You can easily override the automated user agent and inform the website that you are using something different. Open Instagram’s website and log in to attempt the user agent workaround on Chrome. Then, to enter the Developer Console, hit F12 (or right-click and select Inspect). To go to Instagram’s mobile website, use the shortcut Ctrl + Shift + M or click the Toggle device toolbar button (highlighted below). The interface will be identical to the smartphone app’s, complete with click-and-drag features. You can upload a photo from your computer by clicking the Plus symbol in the bottom center. If you don’t see this icon, use F5 to reload the page or move to another page, and it should appear. On the subsequent screen, select Edit to make changes to the photo and Filter to change its appearance. After adding a location, tagging others, using hashtags, and posting a caption, click Next. You’re ready to go after you hit Share. On Chrome, you could also use the best Instagram extension for Chrome to enhance your experience.

Emulate Android on Your PC

If you like inconvenient ways, you could go a step further and emulate Android on your PC for free. This allows you to access the original Instagram app and use it exactly as you would on your phone. The simplest method is to use BlueStacks; however, there are other more ways to emulate Android on Windows. Simply download BlueStacks, sign in with your Google account, download the Instagram app, and log into your Instagram account.

How to Use a Mac to Post on Instagram

The steps for uploading to Instagram from your Mac are identical to those for Windows, but we’ll provide Mac-specific advice below. Remember that visiting the official Instagram site removes the need for any of these workarounds.

Use the Instagram Mobile Website with Safari

We’ve already covered how to change your user agent in Chrome, which will also work on a Mac. If you’d rather use Safari, follow these steps. Safari’s Preferences window can be accessed through Safari > Preferences or the shortcut Cmd + Comma. Switch to the Advanced tab and check the Show Develop menu in the menu bar box at the bottom. After that, go to the Instagram website and sign in. Select User Agent > Safari — iOS xx — iPhone from the navigation bar’s new Develop tab. The website will refresh, and the bar of icons at the bottom will appear, just as on the mobile app. When you click the Plus symbol in the center, you will be asked to add a picture from your computer. Simply follow the instructions to edit, add a filter if necessary, and upload.

Emulate Android on Your Mac

Android apps can be emulated on macOS just as simply as they can on Windows. It’s significantly simpler to emulate Android than iOS, so you should give it a shot even if you’re new to the platform. BlueStacks, like Windows, is the simplest method to emulate Android on your Mac. It’s as simple as installing BlueStacks and looking for the Instagram app. If you don’t want to utilize BlueStacks, here are several alternatives for running Android apps on macOS.

Conclusion

You should now be able to post to Instagram from a Windows or Mac computer. This is considerably easier than it used to be, so posting on Instagram is now just as simple regardless of device. You’re ready to share art you’ve created or selfies you’ve taken with your camera.