How to play instagram videos on pc
How to Watch Instagram Live Videos on Your PC or Mac
If you've spent a lot of time on Instagram, you've no doubt seen Instagram Live videos. However, can you watch Instagram videos on desktop? The answer is yes, but with some caveats.
The first thing you need to know is that logging into your Instagram account on your web browser won't help. Instead, you'll need to download a Chrome extension in order to access the feature.
In this article, we list the various ways to watch Instagram Live videos on desktop...
What Is IG Stories for Instagram?
If you're on a PC or Mac, the options to watch Instagram Live on computers is limited. In most cases, we actually recommend that you watch Instagram Live through the mobile app. If you want detailed instructions on how to do so, check out the Instagram help page for more information.
However, just because your options are limited does not mean that they don't exist. You can watch Instagram Live on PC or Mac by using a Chrome extension.
One extension that allows you to view Instagram Live on PC is IG Stories for Instagram (not to be confused with Chrome IG Story).
IG Stories for Instagram is an extension that allows you to watch Instagram Live videos on a desktop computer. It also allows you to watch stories and download finished Live videos.
Please Note: The ability to download live videos is only available for Windows, as per the extension's last update. There also seems to be some functionality issues currently affecting the app's ability to download videos, as per the reviews.
However, after testing the extension, we're happy to report that the ability to watch a Instagram Live video in a browser seems to work fine.
Another recently added feature includes the ability to upload images to your Instagram Story through the app.
How to Watch Instagram Live on PC or Mac
To watch Instagram Live desktop videos:
- Install the Chrome extension IG Stories for Instagram.
- Next, log into your Instagram account through a Chrome browser.
- Click on the app's icon at the top of your screen.
- Choose Go to IG Stories.
- Once you click on Go to IG Stories, you'll be taken to an extension version of your Instagram page.
On the IG Stories for Instagram page, you should see four categories along your search bar:
- Friends
- Location
- Search
- Upload
The section you see upon logging in is usually Friends.
On this page, there will be a list of your friends who have recently posted images or videos to their stories.
At the top of the Friends section---if your friends are currently broadcasting a live video---you'll see that person's username with a Live icon beside them. Click on the icon to start watching the live video:
If there are no live videos playing, you can click on your friend's "eye" icon to view their previously ended live videos that have been added to the Stories section.
You can also:
- Download Stories.
- Watch Stories from strangers that are tagged with a country location.
- Search for Stories by Users, Tags, or Places.
This app is really handy if you want to watch Instagram Live on PC or Mac. However, you'll want to use it in tandem with another app to access the full functionality of Instagram, as its focus is on live videos.
Additional Considerations
We also want to issue a caveat for this extension before you try it.
While checking the reviews, we noticed multiple complaints where users were prompted to download an .exe file when downloading a Live video. It was an .exe that some found to be unnecessary and/or suspicious. Some users even reported the .exe being flagged as malware.
Although the developer has done their best to address these concerns in the comments, and we were personally not prompted to download an .
exe while testing, there were enough complaints that we felt a caveat was warranted. As always, use common sense when using any app.
For more information on Stories and how they play into this extension, here's how to re-share Instagram posts to Stories.
Additional Live Instagram PC Apps Worth Trying
If you're not satisfied with the recommendation above, but still want to watch Instagram Live on computers or other devices, there are some other apps worth trying.
There's a tool called Loola.tv that allows you to stream live videos from your desktop to multiple platforms, including Instagram. However, Loola is strictly geared towards content creators, not followers who want to watch Instagram Live on PC. Which means it isn't suitable for watching videos in a browser, at least for the average user.
One of the best extensions we've tested is Desktop for Instagram, by Devanco.
With this app, you can search Instagram for recent videos and pictures.
You can watch people's Stories, post your own videos to IGTV, and download videos and pictures from Instagram to your desktop.
The developers claim that this extension lets you do everything you would normally do on the mobile Instagram app, including watching Instagram Live videos. However, after testing out Desktop for Instagram, we don't think it quite lives up to the hype.
IG Stories for Instagram is still better suited for this purpose.
Tips for Finding Instagram Live Streams
No matter which app you try out, there are some simple tips for finding Instagram live streams. And these work on all of the extensions we've mentioned in this article.
- Who you follow matters: If you want to watch Instagram Live streams from your friends, some people are far more likely to do live streams than others.
- Instagram Stories: When you log into the app, or use an extension like Desktop for Instagram, you'll see a row of avatars with colored circles at the top of your feed.
This is your Stories section. If you see the words "Live" beneath a user's avatar, this means that your friend is currently broadcasting. - Replay Live videos: If you happen to miss a live video, never fear. Instagram Live videos can be shared to Instagram Stories after they're ended, although it should be noted that replays disappear from the feed after 24 hours. You can find out more on the Instagram help page for this feature.
- Find new people to follow: By using Instagram's Search and Explore option, you can find additional people to follow who may share live videos, too.
The Instagram Mobile App Is the Best Option
While all the extensions listed above are good, there is no seamless, bug-free way to watch Instagram Live on a PC or Mac. As such, the Instagram mobile app remains the best option if that's what you want to do.
That said, you should still try IG Stories for Instagram, as it's a good extension for watching live videos at this moment.
In the meantime, if you're new to Instagram, you should read our guide to IGTV (Instagram TV) and how it works in order to get yourself acquainted with the platform.
Want to share your own favorite videos on Instagram? Here's how you can post a YouTube video to Instagram.
How to Download Instagram Videos on PC and Mac[2021]
Shanoon Cox
Aug 30, 2022• Proven solutions
If you've found an Instagram video that you love, chances are you don't want it to just disappear into the endless flood of posts on your feed. After all, you might want to see it again. But, if you've ever tried to download Instagram videos on PC or Mac, you'll know it's not all that easy. You can't do it straight from the app or website, so how can you make it work?
Here, we'll highlight a few tried and tested methods of how to download Instagram videos so that you can save all your favorites for evermore.
There are a few different solutions to help you download Instagram videos on PC or Mac, some of which require at least a degree in coding to get your head around.
We've selected three of the easiest and most accessible methods to share with you, and we promise you don't need to speak HTML to use them!
- Method 1: Source code
- Method 2: Online solutions
- Method 3: Add-ons
Method 1: Source code
Did you know that there's a way to inspect the source code of the Instagram video page? 'What the heck is source code?', we hear you cry. Well, it doesn't really matter what it is, and you don't need to understand it at all, because all you're looking for here is a little link that will let you download the video directly to your computer. Here's how you do it:
- Open the video you'd like to download on Instagram
- Right-click (or on a Mac, ⌘+click) and choose 'inspect element' or 'view page source', depending on the specific browser that you're using.
- Press Ctrl+F (or ⌘+F on a Mac) to open the 'find' menu
- Type in .mp4 into the box, and the search will return a section of code
- Look for a hyperlinked bit of code that is next to 'src=' and ends with .
mp4 - Select this, and copy it using Ctrl+C (or ⌘+C), and then paste it into your browser using Ctrl+P (or ⌘+P)
- The video will play in the window. Simply right-click (or ⌘+click) and select 'save video as' to download the video to your PC's hard drive
This might sound all a bit cumbersome, but once you've had a couple of goes you'll find it's not as hard as it looks. If you're not used to keyboard shortcuts you might have a bit of a learning curve to traverse, but overall, it's a tried and tested method to download Instagram videos on PC and Mac that is popular with many users.
Please check this video to know more details:
Method 2: Online solutions
If you'd prefer a more elegant way to download Instagram videos on PC or Mac, there are numerous online solutions that can work for you. We've picked DreDown to share with you; it's totally free, founded on excellent anti-capitalist principles, and functions with all major social platforms as well as Instagram.
Here's how it works:
- Go to DreDown.com in your browser
- In another tab, open Instagram and navigate to the video (or photo) you'd like to download
- Highlight the URL in your browser bar that shows when you're viewing the video, and copy it using either right-click / ⌘+click and 'copy', or the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+C / ⌘+C
- Go back to the DreDown webpage and paste the URL into the search bar, using either right-click / ⌘+click and 'paste' or the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+P / ⌘+P
- Hit the DreDown button and your video will instantly download to your machine
We've tried DreDown with Instagram, YouTube, Vimeo, and Vine, and it works smoothly and quickly without any issues on all of them. On the website, it states it also works with Facebook, Keek, Twitter, Twitch, Vevo, and many more too, so if you're wondering how to download Instagram videos or any other type of video, this is the website to trust.
Method 3: Add-ons
The one last method we wanted to share with you is to use a browser extension to facilitate your download. There are a few different downloaders out there, so feel free to explore your own solutions, but for the purposes of this tutorial, we've picked Instag Downloader as an easy option. Here's how you use it:
- Go to the Chrome web store and search Instag Downloader, or click here to go to the page directly. Mac users will need to install Chrome if they usually browse using Safari
- Click 'add to Chrome' in the top right of the screen to install this add-on for your browser. You may need to restart Chrome for it to start working
- Go to Instagram and find any video or photograph you'd like to download to your PC. You'll notice some new icons in the top right of the image, which are 'view, share link and download', added by Instag Downloader
- Hit the download icon to instantly save that image or video from Instagram to your PC or Mac
It really is that easy.
Once you've downloaded your selected video to your computer, you can choose to transfer them to your iPhone or iPad either using iTunes or without. Find out how here. (internal link to our article “How to download Instagram video/photo on iPhone”)
The last word
Now you know how to download Instagram videos, do make sure you are doing so responsibly. Instagram takes copyright and privacy very seriously, so if you did not create the content, you must not share or redistribute it without the permission of the owner. If you do share it, make sure you clearly attribute the content creator in your work.
You can now download Instagram videos on PC and Mac and can transfer them to any of your mobile devices too. Let us know which method worked best for you, or if you know of another way we've not yet mentioned.
Edit Your Instagram Video with Filmora
If you are looking for a desktop video editing software to edit your Instagram video, try Filmora! As a video editing software, Filmora makes creating video easier than ever.
With its plenty of effects, transistions, elements, you can create an Instagram video that will catch the eyes of your friends.
Shanoon Cox
Shanoon Cox is a writer and a lover of all things video.
Follow @Shanoon Cox
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How to add a photo or video to Instagram * from a computer
June 12, 2020LikbezTekhnologii
The desktop site of the social network does not allow posting. But there are workarounds.
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01. How to add a photo or video to Instagram* from a computer using a desktop browser
You can open the mobile version of the Instagram* website on your computer and create stories and posts there, much like the official app.
How to do this - we show on the example of Chrome, but in most other browsers the steps will be similar.
Go to the Instagram* website and log in to your account.
Open developer tools. To do this, press Shift + Ctrl + I or right-click on the page and select View Code (or a line with a similar name).
On the toolbar that opens, find the icon with a schematic representation of multiple monitors or mobile devices and click on it. If you can't find it, press Shift + Ctrl + M. One way or another, the browser should launch the site in mobile mode.
Customize the size of the Instagram* interface that is convenient for you using the buttons above the site window.
Refresh the page. After that, a publish button will appear and you can use the social network on a PC in the same way as on a smartphone.
2. How to upload a photo or video to Instagram* from a computer using Facebook* Creator Studio
Last year, Facebook* launched a dedicated Creator Studio section.
It allows you to publish and even schedule posts on Instagram*. You can't create stories yet.
To work with Creator Studio, you need to switch your Instagram* account to a professional one (creator profile or business account). To do this, go to the settings of the Instagram* mobile app, select "Account" → "Switch to a professional account" and follow the prompts. The procedure will take you a couple of minutes. If you don’t like something, you can return to the usual account type at any time.
In addition, you must link your profile to a Facebook page*. To do this, click the Edit (iOS) or Edit Profile (Android) button on your account page in the Instagram* app. Select "Page" and connect your new Facebook* page using system prompts.
Now open Creator Studio on your computer browser, select the Instagram* icon at the top and log in with your account.
To make a post, on the left panel, click the Create a post button and select Instagram* Feed.
Add a photo or video using the Add Content button.
Click the arrow next to Publish and select the appropriate option: Publish Now (publish now) or Plan (schedule). In the second case, you can specify the time at which the service will publish the post automatically.
3. How to add a photo or video to Instagram* from a computer using the Android emulator for PC
Emulators are special programs that allow you to run any Android application directly on your computer. By launching the official Instagram* mobile client this way, you can easily publish Stories and posts. You don't need an Android device for this.
Install any free emulator from Lifehacker's selection for Windows, Linux and macOS. In the screenshot example, you can see a window with the NoxPlayer interface.
Launch the emulator and enter the Google Play app store through it by clicking on the corresponding icon. Connect your old or create a new Google account to be able to download Android apps.
Download Instagram* from Google Play directly in the emulator and log into your profile. After that, you can publish videos and pictures from your computer as if you were using the social network on your smartphone.
See also
- 20 must-have apps for Instagram users*
- How to view a private Instagram profile*
- How to restore or access your VKontakte page
- 17 Instagram tricks* you might not know about
- You can now create your own digital avatar on Facebook*. Here's how to do it
*Meta Platforms Inc. activity. and its social networks Facebook and Instagram are prohibited in the territory of the Russian Federation.
How to add video to Instagram from a computer, phone or VK
You can post not only photos, but also video files to social networks. There are several ways to add a video to Instagram: use the standard uploader, through a computer, IGTV, posting in Stories. For each section and method, the requirements are different.
Table of contents
- How to add video to Instagram the easy way
- From a computer
- From a phone
- Add to Instagram stories
- How to upload a long video
- Adding multiple videos at once
- Importing from VKontakte to Instagram
Adding videos to Instagram the easy way
The easiest way is to use your smartphone. By opening the " Create Post " section, the user can add photos and videos that are in the Gallery. Shooting is also available, followed by a filter overlay and a time limit.
Download methods to suit everyone:
- smartphone download;
- placement in Stories and Relevant. Adding materials that are already in the Gallery;
- import from other social networks;
- IGTV downloader for PC and mobile.
Publications have requirements regarding file size, resolution and quality. For example, you can't post videos longer than one minute to the Feed.
But you can upload it to your IGTV channel.
Only 15-second videos can be downloaded in Stories, but if necessary, one long video can be divided into several parts.
How long can a video be uploaded to Instagram:
Feed : 5 seconds to 59 seconds.
IGTV : up to an hour for large and verified communities, up to 15 minutes for ordinary users.
Maximum file size - no more than 500 MB, for IGTV - up to 3 GB with downloading via computer.
Extension - only mp4, resolution - standard, square. It can be enlarged by clicking on the "Full Format" button when publishing. Thus, the roller is extended horizontally or vertically. As well as an option, you can make an accelerated video.
From a computer
To add from a computer, users are offered the option to download via Bluestacks. Suitable for owners of powerful devices, where you can simultaneously start downloading and running the emulator.
Instructions on how to upload a video to Instagram through a computer:
- Run the Bluestacks emulator - download the Instagram application to your computer and log in.
- Press the button " Create a post " - in the section " Gallery " specify "Others".
- Internal storage will open - scroll sidebar to "Download from Windows".
- Select file on computer - edit and publish.
The procedure for adding video to Instagram from a PC is the same as on mobile devices. Bluestacks repeats Android, so working with a social network is also simple.
You can't add videos from the web version (log in with a browser - View code), only photos. Even if you specify "All files" in the search settings, mp4 will not be downloaded.
By adding with the help of Bluestacks, the user can apply filters, adjust the time period: start and end.
From your phone
To post a video to Instagram from your phone, you need to install the latest version of the app from Play Market or AppStore.
When adding, simply select a file or several by clicking the " Publish " button.
iOS devices load faster than Android devices.
The user can mark a video longer than one minute, but only a segment no longer than 59 will be publishedseconds. You can shorten it using the timeline, add a filter and a caption.
Instructions on how to add a video to Instagram from your phone:
- Log in to the Instagram mobile application.
- Click " Add Publication " - Gallery .
- Select the latest clip or use internal storage search.
- Continue - edit and publish.
But even with the time limit and trimming, you won't be able to add a video longer than 20 minutes. A warning will appear on the screen: the video file is too long. It can be shortened using the programs: Magisto, Video Show.
You can also use apps and automatic posting to add videos to Instagram.
For example, after shooting a video using the Party Time editor, the user needs to check “Publish to Instagram Feed”. The app will automatically switch to the social network. As with standard placement, editing will be available, adding a description.
You can adjust the position using the grid. If the format is horizontal and most of what is happening does not fit, holding your finger on the video, you can move it around the screen. Tool " Full format » can be added in the resolution in which it was filmed.
Adding to Instagram stories
Stories - a section with short videos and photos that are deleted after a day. To leave memories or pin an entry in your profile, you need to go to the "Actual" section.
You can add a video to the History equal to 15 seconds in time. If you upload a larger file, the system will automatically divide it into several parts.
In Stories, each video continues the next. The profile owner can add any number of media files, gradually uploading or splitting one large video into small ones.
Requirements for videos in Stories:
Vertical size with aspect ratio : 9:16
Format : mov or mp4
Maximum file size : 4 GB.
Resolution : from 600x1027 px to 1080x1920
Subject to compliance, the video will be of high quality, without pixelation. To download the maximum size, the data transfer rate must be 8 Mbps. If the media file does not load for more than 10 minutes: reconnect to the network. A notification will appear on the screen: Publish after connecting to the Internet.
With the latest updates in Stories, you can download videos that were taken a week or a month ago. But on such publications there will be a sticker with the date. Also, you can upload a video you just shot to Stories using the standard shooting modes on Instagram: Boomerang, Reverse shooting, Hands-free and others.
To upload a video to Stories:
- Go to the Feed from your personal profile section.
- Click on the top icon « Camera ".
- Select: Normal mode - hold your finger on the "Start" button.
- Make a video - Share.
The video can be sent to " Best friends ", in Private messages or published in the Feed. Filters and masks are available: the first ones are added after shooting, the second ones change the appearance of a person through the front camera.
You won't be able to add a video to Stories from a computer, but you can upload a file from the Gallery:
- Go to section « Stories "- click on the Gallery icon in the upper right corner.
- Select file - add filters, stickers or text.
- Publish in any way.
You cannot apply masks or shooting modes to videos posted from the Gallery. But it can be adjusted and changed through other applications. The duration is also no more than 15 seconds.
How to upload a long video
IGTV is available for uploading files longer than one minute. To use, the page owner must create a channel in the appropriate section.
The maximum length for a personal profile is 15 minutes. You can add a media file larger than 5 GB only from the computer version.
To create an IGTV channel and upload large videos to Instagram:
- Click on the TV icon in your profile - click on the small icon of your profile picture.
- Upload video – select a file from the Gallery.
- Add description and title - wait for download to complete.
When adding a long video to Instagram, the user must check the speed and Internet connection. There is a bug where the download stops at 50, 80 or 95%.
If the video file does not load:
- check for app updates in Play Market or AppStore;
- delete and install Instagram again;
- clear the cache and application data using the standard function "Smartphone Settings" - Applications.
The video format for IGTV is the same as for standard placement: mov or mp4.
GIFs cannot be uploaded to a social network, so they must be converted to the appropriate format before publication.
Another way to add a video longer than a minute to Instagram is to use the "Carousel", that is, the simultaneous publication of several videos at once.
Adding multiple videos at once
Like photos, videos can be posted to the Carousel. The number for publications is 10 pieces, but the time of each should not be more than one minute.
To post multiple videos at the same time:
- Go to « Create a post "- Gallery.
- Mark fragments of one or more clips in order.
- Continue - Add a filter for each if necessary.
- Place in Feed.
For Stories, the posting procedure is simpler: upload more than 15 seconds and mark the fragments that you want to post. When placed, the system will independently divide the media files into separate pieces of 15 seconds.
Page visitors or followers must swipe left or right to view all videos in the Carousel. Under the publication, dots indicate the number of added files.
The main disadvantage of simultaneous placement is that the description for all videos will be the same, as well as the number of "I like it". Owners of business pages will see statistics not for each individual video, but for publications in general.
Import from VKontakte to Instagram
There is no official connection between Instagram and Vkontakte. If a user connects an Instagram profile on the VK page, an album with pictures and latest videos is created. To add a video from VK to Instagram, the user will have to download it at the beginning.
After – published via the standard method. The problem is that there is no button for connecting a Vkontakte account in the official Instagram application, so reverse import is not possible.
The only social network where you can send videos for Instagram is Facebook.
