How to make instagram post from desktop


How to Post on Instagram from a PC or Mac (3 Methods)

Tired of posting on Instagram from your phone? Wondering how to post on Instagram from your PC or Mac instead?

You’ve come to the right place. Posting on Instagram from your desktop can save you time and offer more flexibility in what you can upload (such as edited videos and images).

And you can do it without having to upload them onto your phone first.

Below we’ve outlined three different ways to post on Instagram from your computer.

How to post on Instagram from your computer

Method 1: How to post on Instagram from your computer using Hootsuite

Method 2: How to post on Instagram from a PC or Mac

Method 3: How to post on Instagram from your computer using Creator Studio

How to post an Instagram Story from desktop

How to post an Instagram carousel post from desktop

How to edit an Instagram post from desktop

Bonus: Download a free checklist that reveals the exact steps a fitness influencer used to grow from 0 to 600,000+ followers on Instagram with no budget and no expensive gear.

How to post on Instagram from your computer

Below, you’ll find ways to post on Instagram from your PC or Mac. We’ll also show you how to post via Hootsuite which works on either operating system.

If you’re more of a visual learner, watch this video from our pals at Hootsuite Labs to see how easy it can be:

Method 1: How to post on Instagram from your computer using Hootsuite

You can schedule feed posts, Stories, carousel posts, and Instagram ads with Hootsuite.

The instructions below will walk you through the process of posting to your Instagram feed. We cover Instagram Stories and carousels a little further down in this article.

To post on Instagram from a PC or Mac using Hootsuite, follow these steps:

  1. Log into your Hootsuite dashboard. If you don’t have an account yet, create one here for free.
  2. From your dashboard, click on the green New Post button at the top.
  3. The New Post window will appear. Under Post to, select the Instagram account where you want to post your content. If you haven’t added an account yet, you can do that by clicking +Add a social network in the box and following the directions.
  4. Drop the image or video you want to post to Instagram in the Media section. Enhance your image and/or video with the photo editor.
  5. Once you’re done, add your caption in the Text section as well as any hashtags you want to use. You also have the option to add a location at the bottom.
  6. When you’ve crafted your post, review it for any errors. Once you’re sure everything is good to post, click the Post Now button at the bottom. Alternatively, you can also Schedule for later if you want it to post at a different time.

For a quick summary of how to post on Instagram from Hootsuite, watch this video:

Voila! Posting photos and videos to Instagram from PC or Mac is that easy.

Method 2: How to post on Instagram from a PC or Mac

As of October 2021, all Instagram users can create and publish feed posts from the browser version of the app. 

To post on Instagram from your desktop computer (PC or Mac), follow these simple steps:

  1. Go to the Instagram website (instagram.com) and sign in to your account.
  2. Click the plus symbol in the top right corner of the screen (it’s the same button you would use to create a post in the mobile app). A Create new post window will pop up.
  3. Drag photo or video files into the popup window, or click Select from computer to browse and pick files from your PC or Mac. If you want to create a carousel post, you can select up to 10 files.
  4. Click the frame icon in the bottom left corner of the popup to change the ratio of your image or video. You can also use the zoom feature (looking glass icon in the bottom left) and drag your file to edit your frame. When you’re done, click Next in the top right corner.
  5. Edit your image. You can select one of 12 preset effects in the Filters tab or go to the Adjustments tab and manually adjust specs such as brightness, contrast and fade. Click Next.
  6. Write your caption. Click on the smiley face icon to browse and pick emojis. You can also type in a location in the Add location bar, restrict commenting in Advanced settings and add alt text to your files in the Accessibility section.
  7. Click Share.

And that’s it! 

At the moment, only feed posts can be created and published directly from Instagram on desktop. Keep reading to find out how to post Instagram Stories from a PC or Mac computer.

Method 3: How to post on Instagram from your computer using Creator Studio

If Instagram is your social network of choice and you don’t mind not having all your social networks in one dashboard, Creator Studio could be a good option for you.

Note that when using Creator Studio, you can post and schedule all types of posts other than Instagram Stories.

How to post on Instagram using Creator Studio:

  1. Make sure you are connected to Instagram in Creator Studio.
  2. Navigate to the Instagram section.
  3. Click Create Post.
  4. Click Instagram Feed.
  5. Choose the account you want to post to (if you have more than one Instagram account connected).
  6. Add a caption and a location (optional).
  7. Click Add Content to add photos or videos.
  8. Next, choose between these 2 options:
    • Click From File Upload to upload new content.
    • Click From Facebook Page to post content that you’ve already shared on your Facebook.
  9. (Optional) If you want to simultaneously post this content to the Facebook Page connected to your Instagram account, check the box next to your Page under Post to Facebook. You can add additional details to your Facebook post after you publish to Instagram.
  10. Click Publish.

How to post an Instagram Story from desktop

You can post an Instagram Story from your computer using a third-party social media management tool like Hootsuite. Just follow the steps outlined in this short video:

Or, read our step-by-step article on how to post an Instagram Story from your computer.

If you don’t have Hootsuite, you can post an Instagram Story from your PC or Mac through the following steps:

  1. Go to Instagram.com.
  2. Go to developer mode on either Safari or Google Chrome (see Mac and PC sections above for detailed steps).
  3. Click on the camera in the top left.
  4. Choose an image or video you’d like to add to your story. Edit it with text, stickers, filters, gifs, or whatever else.
  5. Tap Add to your story at the bottom.

You’re done! It’s practically the same steps as if you were using the Instagram app on a mobile device.

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How to post an Instagram carousel post from desktop

With Hootsuite, you can also create and easily publish carousel posts (with up to 10 images or videos) directly to Instagram. Here’s how.

1. Go to Planner and tap New post to launch Compose.

2. Select the Instagram account you want to publish to.

3. Include your caption in the Text box.

4. Go to Media and tap Select files to upload. Select all the images you want to include in your carousel. All selected images should appear under Media.

5. Use the yellow Schedule button to select a date and time to publish your post.

6. Tap Schedule. The post will show up in your Planner at the time you have scheduled it for.

That’s it! Your post will go live on the date and time you selected.

How to edit an Instagram post from desktop

Hootsuite Compose allows you to edit any image directly on your dashboard before you post it. Unfortunately, you won’t be able to edit the image once it’s posted.


Follow these steps to edit:

  1. Log into your Hootsuite dashboard. If you don’t have an account yet, get your free 30-day trial here (no pressure to pay, you can cancel anytime).
  2. From your dashboard, click on the green New Post button at the top.
  3. The New Post window will appear. Under Post to, select the Instagram account where you want to post your content. If you haven’t added an account yet, you can do that by clicking +Add a social network in the box and following the directions.
  4. Drop the images and/or videos you want to post to Instagram in the Media section
  5. To edit, click on Edit Image below the Media section. This brings up Hootsuite Composer’s edit tool. It allows you to customize the aspect ratio of your image to fit practically any social media platform’s image metrics. From the sidebar, you also have the ability to add filters, adjust lighting and focus, add text and stickers, and use the brush too.
  6. Once you’re finished click Save.
  7. Add your caption, hashtags, and location. Then click Post Now. 

Voila! You just edited your image from your desktop.

Post to Instagram from your PC or Mac using Hootsuite. Save time, grow your audience, and measure your performance alongside all your other social channels. Try it free today.

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Instagram now lets everyone post from the desktop and more

José Adorno

- Oct. 19th 2021 9:19 am PT

@joseadorno

Instagram today announced that it’s rolling out the ability for people to post photos and videos using its desktop web browser.

A few months ago, Instagram began testing the ability to post from the desktop but it was limited to selected users. Now, as reported by TechCrunch, everyone will be able to post through the desktop app starting October 21. Not only that, but the company also announced a number of new features launching this week

For example, starting today, there’s a new “Collabs” feature, which is currently described as a “test” that will “allow people to co-author both Feed posts and Reels.” TechCrunch explains that to do so, “users can invite another account to be collaborator from the tagging screen on Instagram.

Instagram will also begin testing a way to create fundraisers for nonprofits. The feature lets you start a fundraiser directly from the plus button. There, you’ll be able to select a nonprofit organization and add the fundraiser to your Feed post.

For Reels, there are a few additions to enhance the experience with music:

On Thursday, Instagram will introduce two new effects called Superbeat and Dynamic Lyrics, which will help creators who edit and perform using music on Reels. Superbeat will intelligently apply special effects to music to the beat of the user’s song while Dynamic Lyrics will display 3D lyrics that will flow with the song’s “groove,” says Instagram.

How to post to Instagram on Mac and PC

  • Click the new + icon in the top right corner to get started (next to the Messenger icon)
  • Follow the prompts to upload your photos or videos (drag and drop or “Select From Computer”)
  • Choose your size/format
  • Pick your filter and/or edit (tab at the top)
  • Add your caption/location, and more
  • Choose Share

What do you think of all of these features? Are you planning to use them? Tell us in the comment section below.

FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.


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About the Author

José Adorno

@joseadorno

Brazilian tech Journalist. Author at 9to5Mac. Previously at tv globo, the main TV broadcaster in Latin America.

Got tips, feedback, or questions? [email protected]

How to add a photo to Instagram from a computer

Many people ask themselves: “Is it possible to post a photo to Instagram from a computer?”. We have collected in this article methods that give a 100% guarantee that your publication will appear in the feed if you add it from a PC. Let's move on to detailed instructions.

  • How to upload photos to Instagram from a computer using a browser
  • Instructions for uploading photos
  • How to post a photo to Instagram from a computer from Instagram web
  • How to upload photos to Instagram from a computer online in 3 steps
  • How to upload photos to Instagram from PC using Downloader for Instagram
  • A reminder on how to add publications to Instagram from a computer
  • How to post photos to Instagram from a computer using Desktopify
  • Guide on how to post on Instagram from a computer
  • How to upload photos to Instagram from a computer for free using the BlueStacks emulator
  • Manual for working with the emulator and adding a post to Instagram from a computer
  • How to add photos to Instagram on PC using Facebook Creator Studio
  • Tips on how to add a photo to Instagram from a laptop
  • How to post photos to Instagram from a computer with SMM Planner
  • 5 steps to upload photos to Instagram from PC
  • How to add a photo to Instagram through a computer with Parasite
  • A guide on how to upload to Instagram from a computer
  • How to post photos to Instagram from PC using Tooligram
  • The procedure for working with the site
  • Conclusion

How to upload a photo to Instagram from a computer using a browser

To post an image to Instagram from a computer, use your browser. For Google Chrome and Opera, right-click on the "View Code" option, and in "Yandex Browser" - "Explore Element". Now let's see how it looks in practice.

Instructions for uploading photos

Go to the browser, go to the Instagram page and connect your account.

Application main page

Right-click and select View Code. We used the Google Chrome browser.

An example of how to enable "View code" in the browser

In the window that opens, select the display of the page in mobile phone format.

Selecting the page format in the browser

Refreshing the page and using all the functionality of the application from Facebook.

Mobile version of Instagram on PC

And now we can send a picture.

An overview of working with an image

Next, let's look at several options for loading images using browser extensions.

How to post a photo to Instagram from a computer from Instagram web

This application helps you quickly upload a photo without you needing any extra effort.

How to upload a photo to Instagram from a computer online in 3 steps

Installing the extension.

To access Google Chrome extensions, click on the three dots at the top of the screen, select "More tools" and then find the "Extensions" line.

An example of how to enter extensions

After installation, an icon will appear in the extension bar:

Web Instagram icon in the extension bar

Click on it, a separate tab will open in front of you in a vertical size. Now you can work with the service, as in a mobile phone.

A separate tab with an application

The screencast shows the mechanism of the application - press the "+", select a photo and send the picture to the feed. The only downside is that you will not be able to edit the image with the built-in Instagram functionality.

Screencast of available features

How to upload photos to Instagram from a PC using Downloader for Instagram

The second extension we are looking at allows you to add images and work with stories.

Memo on how to add publications to Instagram from a computer

Installing the extension.

Open an Instagram account in a browser. After connecting, several icons will appear on the page: a camera - uploading images, a smartphone - opening a separate tab in the mobile phone format, a bright circle with an arrow - stories. And the last symbol allows you to download all publications.

Work extension

Click on the "camera" and select "Add to Profile" - this function allows you to publish an entry in the tape.

Selecting a button to publish to the feed

The overview below shows how the extension works. You are only allowed to resize the image, tag people and make a note.

An overview of how to post a picture from a PC

How to post a photo to Instagram from a PC using Desktopify

The third extension is a separate application through which you can add photos, videos and stories.

Guide on how to make a post on Instagram from a computer

Install and run the extension.

In the browser, click on the application icon at the top right.

Application icon

When clicked, a separate tab will open. Here you need to connect your account and work with the profile, as from a smartphone.

The checkbox for uploading photos is checked by default, as is access to the full image format. Additionally, through the Desktopify extension, you can upload videos to IGTV.

Tab with extension

The overview below shows an example of how the application works when the Desktopify extension is connected. You can apply a filter to adjust a photo, but you can't edit—to change the brightness, contrast, or saturation of an image.

Application overview

And now let's move on to the emulator service that displays the smartphone screen on a PC - use mobile applications or run games.

How to upload photos to Instagram from a computer for free using the BlueStacks 9 emulator0046

Of all the emulators on the market, BlueStacks is the most convenient. The application automatically adjusts to the screen, optimizes games and works without delay.

Manual for working with the emulator and adding a post to Instagram from a computer

Download and install the emulator. In the program window that opens, connect your account to Google Play. We install the application.

Installing the application in BlueStacks

Go to the main page - this is a tab located next to Google Play at the top of the screen. Open the "System Applications" folder and turn on "Media Manager".

We will need this step to upload photos that we will publish in the feed.

Important! Emulators do not have a function to open computer system folders. All images must be uploaded to the server in advance.

Path to the image upload folder

In the file manager, click on "Import from Windows" and select the images that we want to place in our Instagram account.

Importing photos from Windows

Returning to the application page and loading a picture.

An example of how the emulator works

How to add a photo to Instagram on a PC using Facebook Creator Studio

A feature from Facebook that allows you to work with two social networks at the same time. Let's see how to link accounts and add images.

Tips on how to add photos to Instagram from your laptop

Go to the Facebook Creator Studio page. At the top of the screen, switch to the Instagram icon.

Important! Check that your Facebook and Instagram accounts are linked.

A page where you can link the accounts of two services

After clicking on the button, a window will appear - agree to the terms and add profile data.

Request for access

Now you can add entries: click "Create publication" and start registration.

Create Post button on Facebook

The example below shows how the service works. The only thing is that you can’t edit a photo here, but you can prepare it in advance in image editors: for example, in Canva, Photoshop or Figma.

An example of how the service works

In the following sections, we'll look at how to set up a delayed write in the scheduling services. They are used in their work by SMM specialists, marketers and bloggers.

Important! Please note that all planning services provide free access for a limited period of 7 to 14 days. If it is more convenient for you to send photos via PC, we recommend purchasing a paid subscription.

How to post photos to Instagram through a computer with SMM Planner

In this section, we will look at a simple and convenient program for scheduling posts.

5 steps to upload photos to Instagram from PC

Go to the SMM Planner website and register.

Main page of the site SMM Planner

Go to the dashboard. Select the "Accounts" tab and connect your profile to Instagram.

Steps for connecting an account in the planner

The added profile should look like the screenshot below:

Connected account in SMM Planner

Next, go to the "Posts" tab. Here we form publications and plan the time of sending.

Desktop for working with records

Click on the "Schedule a post" button. It will be posted on the feed. In the window that opens, add a photo and text, and check the boxes where necessary: ​​disable or add comments, send a picture to stories or IGTV.

A window where you can arrange and schedule a publication

After publication, the entry will appear in the dashboard, and the post in your account.

Example of displaying scheduled posts

How to add a photo to Instagram through a computer with Parasite

And here we looked at a program through which you can not only publish images, but also track analytical data for each post.

How to upload to Instagram from a computer

Register on the Parasite website.

Parasite website home page

Add an Instagram account.

An example of what the dashboard looks like after adding an account

Click on the green button labeled "Add post" and make an entry.

Edit publication

At the appointed time, the entry will be published.

Quiz passed - post published

How to post photos on Instagram from PC using Tooligram

And here we show you how to post with a promotion program.

How to use the website

Create an account on the Tooligram website.

Main page of the service

Add an Instagram profile. Go to the "Features" tab and find the "Delayed Posting" item.

Delayed posting in the Tooligram service

Wait until the service connects your account. Then click on "Auto Posting". You will see a window with an authorization request, agree and proceed to the registration of the record.

Dashboard with a connected account

The review below shows how to work with the functionality of the service - selecting and editing an image, adding text and setting the date and time when a publication appears.

Overview of the service

An example of our publication being successfully sent to the feed:

Successful sending of the post

Conclusion

If you want to send a post quickly and without problems, use browser extensions. Are you ready to take the time to install and register? Create a link of accounts through Facebook Creator Studio. And if you plan to constantly upload images from your PC, connect online services for scheduling posts.

Recommended reading! You can read about how to design Instagram in our article.

Register with SendPulse and use methods for promotion: email campaigns, web push, Viber and SMS campaigns and chat bots in Telegram messengers, Facebook Messenger and VKontakte!

How to make a post on Instagram from your phone using an app or gallery

Want to post photos on Instagram, but you've never done it before? Our small but useful guide on this topic may be useful to you.

How to make a post through the Instagram app*

Posting a new post on Instagram* takes a little time and is not difficult. How to add a post to Instagram* from your phone: first you need to go to your profile through the official application, then follow the steps.

  • In the upper right corner, to the left of the three vertical bars, click on the plus sign in the square. It is visible on the main tab (house) or in the profile. If you opened rails or search, they will not have the icon we need.
  • After clicking on the plus sign, the "Create" tab will open. Select "Publish".
You can publish stories in much the same way, but now we are talking about the post
  • Here are files from your gallery that you can select and publish. Up to 10 photos and videos can be uploaded.
  • Select multiple photos and click on the blue Next arrow. It is located in the fourth photo in the upper right corner.
All selected photos will have a blue circle with a number - the order of the photos inside the publication
  • If you don't want to choose ready-made photos from the gallery or there are no suitable ones, you can always take a fresh photo or video. To do this, you need to swipe to the right.
  • When you have chosen a photo that you like best, you can apply any filters, levels of brightness, contrast and saturation to it.
  • Also, these photos can be edited by changing the contrast, brightness, temperature, etc. If you do not like the result, you can undo the changes, in which case the picture will again be the same as it was before editing. You can change all photos in the same way, each in its own way, only part of the frames from the post or not change any photo.
  • After applying filters or editing, you need to click on the blue checkmark in the upper right corner, as shown in the sixth photo.
Instagram* has built-in various filters and photo editing options
  • Next, add a location or tag people in the photo if you want. To do this, select any of these items, for example "add location". How to search for people marked in the photo, we analyzed in the article “How to search for posts and people by hashtags on Instagram *: instructions”.
  • Instagram* will prompt you to find the location. Settlements that are in close proximity to you or the place where you took this photo will appear. For the function to work properly, geolocation must be enabled in the smartphone settings.
  • In this case, you can choose any location. No one forbids you to take a photo in a odnushka bathroom in Syzran and add a Monte Carlo geotag. The only question is that it will be quite difficult to find a suitable quality bathroom. On the other hand, bathrooms may well be the same anywhere in the world, right? :–) We talked about locations and hashtags in English in the article "Popular hashtags in English: topics and examples of use." You can peep popular and not only hashtags there.
It's still better to put the correct location, this will help you find the target audience nearby
  • After choosing a geolocation or tagging people, you can start writing text to complete the picture. Is your post about something? So tell people about what you feel or suggest.
  • To fill the post in the line "Enter a signature" you need to add a description and hashtags. It is desirable that the caption and hashtags match your post. If the text is large, no problem. We talked about this in the article "Large texts on Instagram *: why are they needed and how to design."
  • So, all manipulations with the future post are completed. Click on the blue tick in the upper right corner, as shown in the picture with number 10.
Among other things, you can share a post on several social networks at once, you just need to move the slider in the right direction. Until this process is completed, the post will not appear in the feed of your friends and followers. Picture 13 shows a finished post on Instagram*

We looked at how to post on Instagram* from Android. If you have iOS, the intuitive process will be the same, just some functions will be called differently.

How to post via device gallery

There is another way to post from your phone. This is very convenient, for example, when you scroll through your gallery and find a photo that you urgently need to share with other users.

Step by step how to add a post to Instagram* from your phone through the gallery:

  • We find the "Gallery" of pictures in our phone, open it. We are looking for those photos or videos that we want to publish for our subscribers. At the bottom of the screen in the center there is a "Share" button. On Android, it often looks like an unfinished triangle with circles at the ends.
  • After clicking on the triangle or the "Share" button, social networks, mail and other applications installed on the phone will appear through which you can share the publication.
  • If the system freezes a little after clicking, it's not a big deal. Your phone needs to launch Instagram* to fulfill your request and create a post.
A post on Instagram* is called Instagram* Feed, and a story is called Instagram* Stories, don't mix it up :–)
  • You can apply different filters to a selected frame or several. For each your own filter or one for everyone - just like when publishing simply through the Instagram application *.
Many filters and image editing at your disposal

You can also crop unwanted parts of the frame to make it more accentuated in the right place in the photo. Or do nothing, don't edit, just click on the blue arrow to go to the next block.

You can use any suitable hashtags and geotags of your choice

Our blog has many articles about the benefits of hashtags and how to use them correctly in publications. For example:

  • How to put hashtags in social networks correctly: guide
  • How many hashtags can be put on Instagram* - answer
  • Hashtags for gaining followers on Instagram*: varieties, effectiveness, examples
  • Popular hashtags on Instagram* about children and kindergarten
  • Popular hashtags about nature: how and why to use

And if you just need to quickly find hashtags for publication, you can use our bot "Gennady". You give him a photo or a word for which you need to pick up hashtags, and he gives you a whole cloud of hashtags that can be attached to a post. But we digress. While we were thinking about hashtags, our post has already been published.

The post is ready, you can do other things

Why the photo is not added to the post

Let's say you tried both options, but the photo still doesn't want to be added. What to do in this case? Determine the cause and try to fix it: