Instagram is first and foremost designed as a mobile app. You’re really supposed to upload from your phone, using photos you took on the phone, and in real-time (or at least, non-automated).
But that doesn’t work for everyone. Maybe you like to edit your photos in something like Lightroom first. Maybe you want to upload photos or video taken on a camera that’s not your phone. Or maybe you just don’t like typing long captions on your phone and would prefer to use a real keyboard.
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Sure, you can email the photos from your computer to your phone, save them on your phone, and then upload through the Instagram app. But that’s pretty cumbersome and tedious. You can also use something like Hootsuite to schedule your Instagram posts, but their approach really only gets you halfway there and doesn’t bypass the need to use your phone to do the actual posting–it’s more like a reminder service. Buffer and Sendible tackle it basically the same way.
But other options do exist that might work better for some Instagram users, whether you’re using it for social media marketing or sharing photos privately with friends and family.
Here are several other ways to post from your PC directly to Instagram without needing to use your phone. They include third-party apps and browser tricks. Some are free; some are paid. Some work on both Mac and Windows; some work on only one or the other. Each app or service and hack works a bit differently, and each has its own pros and cons.
Two things to note. Firstly, Instagram very strongly encourages users to upload images from their mobile devices, and it’s not unheard of for accounts to be flagged or even closed when uploading from other sources, especially when it involves multiple images. So if you choose to use a third-party app to upload to Instagram, it’s worth doing so with some caution.
Secondly, to interact with Instagram and post on your account, some of these apps and services require your login details. Unless otherwise noted, I have used the apps and services listed here and haven’t come across any adverse consequences, but you should still be cautious before handing over login details to third-party services. The safest options are ones like the user-agent spoofing method where you don’t hand over your login details to third-parties.
Via a Web Browser
Normally, when you open the Instagram site in your desktop’s web browser you get a stripped-down version of the site. It allows you to do some things like comment on photos, but it doesn’t include a way to create new posts.
Several newer browsers have a function that can be used to make the Instagram site think you’re accessing it with a mobile device so that the posting feature becomes available. It’s called user agent spoofing. You can do it yourself–I’ve put together a detailed guide on how to use user agent spoofing with Instagram with major browsers–or you can use a browser plugin that does the heavy lifting for you, such as Desktop for Instagram or User-Agent Switcher for the Chrome browser.
Advantages of this method are that it’s free and doesn’t require installing a third-party app or plugin (unless you’re going the browser plugin route, of course). It also doesn’t require you to hand over your login credentials to a third party. But there are also disadvantages–not all Instagram features are available through the website. So you might run into limitations on features such as in-photo tagging, multi-photo posts, or stories. And there’s no way to schedule posts using this method.
Uplet
Uplet is one of the simplest options if you’re using a Mac. It’s a third-party paid app available at the Mac App Store.
It’s very simple, but it gets the job done. I’ve found it to be lightweight, easy to use, and to work as advertised.
Its core is a drop panel. Simply drop the photo files onto it, fill out the caption info, and hit send. You can upload multiple photos or videos at once (each posts as a single post). It doesn’t have any filters or advanced editing features, but that simplicity is a big part of its appeal. One feature that has been recently added, though, is the ability to work with multiple Instagram accounts and toggle between them.
So if you’re on a Mac and looking for something straightforward, it’s well worth a look.
I’ve put together a more detailed guide on using Uplet to post to Instagram that includes more screenshots.
Deskgram
This is a desktop app for interacting with Instagram. There are versions for PC and Mac.
The reason I say “interacting” is that there are two versions that allow different things, although that’s not as clear as it could be in the app’s documentation.
The free version acts as an Instagram viewer, so you can do things like view images, add comments, and like images. To actually upload images or videos and tag them you’ll need to upgrade to the Pro version for $2.99 a month. (Video upload is not available in the Windows version.)
It’s straightforward enough to use. The screen looks like the older version of the Instagram mobile app and works basically the same way—it’s essentially an emulator without needing to install a separate emulator host. It doesn’t have scheduling or batch uploading options.
You can download it here: PC | Mac.
Other Alternatives
Here are some other alternatives that are available but that I’ve found less useful for one reason or another.
Instagram on PC via Bluestacks: Bluestacks is an Android mobile emulator that runs on your computer. You can then install and run mobile apps inside it, including the Instagram app. I couldn’t get this to work properly on Mac, but your mileage might vary.
Instagram from Computer: This is a Chrome browser extension. I haven’t tried it and can’t vouch for it. UPDATE: It appears that this extension is no longer available.
Gramblr offers a lot of features, and I initially found it to work well. But I no longer use or recommend it. While I never encountered any unwanted behavior, too many other people have reported problems.
It works a little differently to the other options on this page. There are two parts to it, an app that you install on your computer and a web service. They work together in getting your photos from your desktop to posting on Instagram. The desktop app part of it is a utility app that really just runs in the background. Once you’ve installed it, you open it to launch the main Gramblr screen and then it just quietly takes care of things behind the scenes. All your main interactions are with the web service. There’s also a full suite of image editing tools like exposure controls and sharpening. There are also features like filters, frames, stickers, adding text overlays, and redeye correction. It also offers scheduling.
LR/Instagram integrates with Lightroom, allowing you to upload directly. As of the the beginning of 2020, LR/Instagram is no longer a viable way to post directly to Instagram. The developer’s note on their website says: “Service Note: Instagram has updated their protocol and currently plugin does not work. We are investigating the issue and the plugin will be updated when a fix is available.” That note has been there since at least the summer of 2019.
Flume Pro is a Mac Instagram client that I found to work well some time ago, but I no longer use or recommend it. I’ve received several reports from readers more recently that it is no longer working as expected with full functionality, and it may have been abandoned.
Noel Bailey says
I’m totally bemused here!
Instagram is fundamentally (or at least I thought it was when I opened an account yesterday) for photo sharing/viewing/commenting?? i.e. I assumed, as would any half-sensible person, that you could simply upload images from your PC (Why would Instagram care whether they originate from your desktop or cellphone?)
So yeah, I open Instagram up – and am immediately confronted by hundreds of photographs in which I have no interest whatsoever – they’re not mine and not even particularly interesting – simply cluttering up the screen. I want to see MY photos there (just in MY account)_- that’s it!
No matter – I shrug my shoulders and look for the photo-uploader….nothing but four meaningless symbols up there…you even have to click them to see what they are – options irrelevant to anyone wanting to upload pictures. No “Help” tab, no instructions for anything anywhere….obviously a billion plus people globally don’t care!
I have to fall back on Google to find HOW to upload photos from a PC, Basically you can’t, without inordinate trouble and complications. I have still to find instructions how to upload even from a mobile device – which I rarely use either and since 95% of my photos are on my PC it’s hardly relevant anyway.
Maybe a stupid question but why does Instagram not have its own photo-uploader that hundreds of other sites manage to offer (not of Instagram’s ilk and purpose admittedly) It would have made life so much easier…but of course that isn’t the way of things in 2020 is it?
Noel Bailey
David says
Yes, Instagram is fundamentally a different kind of beast than, say, Flickr. It’s designed first for sharing photos taken on your phone from your phone.
Chris says
Buy a 3rd party app. Thanks. Just say that from the beginning…
Anthony J Travis says
I bought a 3rd party app – Flume.
It no longer works and three months on, there is no response to requests for technical support.
Presumably this great little app was banjaxed by Facebook’s World Domination Gremlins @Instagram, and the developer has had to abandon it. It’s now no longer on the app store. Nice while it lasted though
Vikram Rajput says
Follow this and u can post on Instagram through your PC or Laptop.
Michael Thomas Warren says
What kind of sense does it make that something works only with a phone? You can’t even see the tiny pictures. Of course I have a rule against paying for applets so I’m speaking of free software only. If it really works there’s no reason for a price tag because you’re only paying for future support, or in some case paying for ads and spam.
Anthony J Travis says
Thanks – a really useful article.
I paid for Flume Pro last year.
It worked great until about three months ago, now just freezes at 80% of upload.
I’ve contacted their tech support twice but have heard nothing.
I guess Instagram is now blocking it?
Seems wrong that they are still advertising and taking money for it…
Steven says
I’m facing to the exact problem! Is a great tool but no update/no support since 4 months now :(
Jay says
Flume stopped working and I’m angry at them for not updating it. I want my money back for the license.
David says
Thanks for the tip. I haven’t tried that one but will check it out.
Maria says
Hey!
Thanks for the great information. I’d like to suggest one more alternative – inssist. A little Chrome extensions that allows posting photos & videos from your PC directly to Instagram without needing to use your phone.
I honestly believe it’s quite helpful tool and it’s free!
Mark Bennett says
Your link to Uplet on the Apple App Store no longer works, as in, the app appears to be no longer available on the App Store. I have downloaded it directly from https://mac.eltima.com/ and it seems to work as you advertised — no real features beyond drag-and-drop and image (the Open… menu command probably works, too), type a caption, and click whatever the “post” button is. (I don’t recall what that button is called or labeled because, thankfully, they give you 5 free postings before you need to drop $19.95 (+ VAT in some countries). They have a family pack (five users) and a business license, plus for an extra $9.95 you can get lifetime upgrades. I’ll choose my 5 (now 4) postings carefully and, if it continues to work, spring for it.
Mark Bennett says
Update on Uplet: I purchased a single-user license for Uplet ($19.95 in the U.S.) and have been posting, pretty much, one image a day. It works well, no problems, easy to use.
So, at least one person’s experience.
David says
Thanks for sharing your experience with it.
Anna Rexia says
Desktop for Instagram worked like a charm for me until a couple days ago (March 2020). Now it’s sending me on a repeated loop of “sign in” requests where I can’t upload anything from my laptop. I’ve cleared my “all time” cookies & cache to no avail. Ugh. Such a bummer. Was great while it lasted though!
Black Tulip says
Yep, same here. Good to see that in the current situation Facebook has nothing better to do than stop people using its stuff! As you say, it was good while it lasted.
Dan Wilson says
Great. I am running a 15+ year old desktop with ubuntu linux. I don’t have or want a smart phone (my flip phone is fine). I guess I won’t be able to list my teespring store on instagram. :(
David says
It has been a while since I used Linux, but the method above for spoofing the user agent should work in Firefox for Linux and other browsers. It won’t give you the full functionality of the dedicated mobile app, but it might have enough to cover the basics. Another option is to use one of the social media managers like Hootsuite, Sendible, or Buffer. They’re often paid services–at least, to get full functionality–but you can use them through a web browser without the need to install anything.
Earthanddust says
You can get a hand-me-down smart phone (android) and not a plan. As long as the operating system is new enough, login to your wifi and use that for internet access on the phone to download Instagram, then move photos from linux (desktop) to the quasi phone and upload. It’s an extra step but a way for me to still carry a dumb phone, keep my Linux desktop and have an instagram for my business.
Beth says
DO NOT buy Flume, their carrousel posts have not worked for months and after several attempts to support, no one answers. They continue to advertise their features which don’t work. I consider this false advertisement. Only postings of single pictures work. Thats it
David says
Thanks for the tip. I haven’t used it for a while, but you’re now the second person who has raised issues with it, so I’m going to add a note to the top of this post.
Greg Nikas says
Hi David,
I purchased Flume Pro after reading your post and it worked beautifully until it didn’t. I was using it mainly for single photo posts, did a carousel post that worked, did single posts then tried to do another carousel post which it wouldn’t do. I tried resetting Flume, uninstalling it then reinstalling, etc, etc,. Now it won’t open at all. When I try to login, a white window flies open then shuts quickly. Have you experienced this or heard of it? Is there a fix? I’m on a MacBook Pro OSX 10.13.6. Thanks fo any help you might be able to share. Best, Greg
B McKim says
Tried Bluestacks. Total fail.
Susan says
Desktop for Instagram worked like a charm on my PC – it was very quick to install and easy to use. Thank you so much for this information!
Black Tulip says
Thank you for this, very helpful. Suggestions I’d come across elsewhere had no effect whatsoever, but I installed Desktop for Instagram and it did the trick.
David says
Glad it’s helpful!
Bozana Mirjanic says
The extension Instagram from desktop is working. ;)
Black Tulip says
Desktop for Instagram on Chrome seems to have been updated to ‘Desktopify’ (with a green icon instead of the former pink one). No idea why, but it works, and that’s all that I’m concerned about!
Some Bloke says
Why does Instagram go out of their way to stop you from uploading from your computer? Especially when it’s so easy to circumvent. That doesn’t make sense. Why is nobody asking this question? Why is nobody answering it? surely I can’t be the only one who notices this makes no sense from a business standpoint. Does Instagram just hate money?
aeh says
Up until a month ago or so I was able to choose from a number of places to upload, such as Facebook, which I don’t use, when i went to Share. Now the App logo no longer appears. It used to be so simple! What happened?
Paul says
You can also use the User-Agent extension on Google Chrome and choose mobile browser mode that, at least let you upload photos, not vids.
Kathy McConnell says
I am really far behind on technology. I need a class for posting on instagram.
Aubrey says
I just want to thank you for posting this. I have an ipad that I used to use, but unfortunately it broke to the point I can no longer use it, so I’ve been searching for a way to post using a laptop for almost 2 years now. So thank you so much!!
cheryl says
i have Instagram installed on my android phone and it works fine. I also have instagram on my laptop it worked fine UNTIL a couple of days ago. Now I am not able to like or post a comment. What happened? I use the laptop when I am at home on wifi bc i like the larger screen. Plus I do not have unlimited data on my phone.
How can I use instagram on my laptop they way it was with the ability to like and post comments?
Thank you for your time and any suggestions you can offer.
Enjoy your day!
Some Bloke says
Have you tried clearing your cookies and cache?
s says
Hi
Thanks a lot.
Desktop for Instagram worked for me.
Now I am really happy.
Danny Man says
Hey, I would like to know how to get extra likes on my instagram pictures.
Delphine F says
Hey guys,
I am looking for a no crop app to use on my PC and post on Instagram.
Any recommendation?
David says
Sorry, but I’m not sure what you mean by a no crop app. If you mean one that preserves the full aspect ratio rather than forcing a square, most of these options have that available now.
Delphine Fisher says
I am looking to upload the full image on Instagram from my PC. On my phone I use the No crop app or the Square Quick app. I am looking for such app on my PC
.
David says
That functionality is built in to Instagram itself now–you don’t need a separate app to upload and display non-square images. You can toggle as part of the upload process using the button at the bottom left–it’s available on both the regular Instagram app and if you use the user agent spoofing method described above from a PC browser. Other PC apps above also have that same functionality built in one way or another as an option when you upload. More info here.
Delphine Fisher says
Thanks a lot!
Randy says
Thanks so much. The chrome extension works great.
Fakaza -Fakaza2018 says
Thank you for this info. Now i can use instagram on my laptop well.
dee Beigh says
If Chrome’s Developer/Mobile view method doesn’t immediately work, try setting it’s view to “iPhone 6/7/8” and refresh your browser. Maybe that’ll help, if your PC has a lot of Admin restrictions (e.g., at work). I always try to avoid downloading unnecessary stuff whenever possible as a matter of principle (i.e., security).
mz says
Thanks for the information.
jennifer says
This was so helpful, thank you
David says
I’m glad!
Brian says
I tried all the methods listed for PC and none worked. This article is useless.
David says
Did you try the Desktop for Instagram browser plugin for Chrome?
R says
Thanks this finally worked. Desktop for Instagram extension.
Only concern is that the browser reports it is Not Secure. Not sure what to do about that.
edgariraguha01 says
can u just tell me how to post on ig using a pc
That Guy says
Forbes put out an article. SUPER easy to follow. 4 steps. NO FILTERS – but, again – super easy – no downloads.
Here is the article. Im not a russian hacker or nigerian king looking to send you to an adult site – hahaha Just trying to help.
LINK: https://www.forbes.com/sites/tjmccue/2018/08/30/how-to-post-on-instagram-from-pc/#2817d5a3516a
David says
That’s the same user agent spoofing technique mentioned above and covered in detail here. Some users haven’t found it to work all the time, and there are some limitations on posting because it uses Instagram’s mobile website rather than the app itself.
Brian says
I tried the Forbes steps and they didn’t work. There is no tablet icon.
edenexy says
i still dont get it though. how is it possible that i cant upload my pictures with ma laptop. Geez! i havent seen worse.. i cant even upload my videos as well. why is it like this?
dragyneslayre says
The Desktop for Instagram Chrome extension (plug in) still exists and works BEAUTIFULLY!!!!
Judy Shelton says
I can’t find that one.
Timothy McClanahan says
https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/desktop-for-instagram/nlhjgcligpbnjphflfdbmabbmjidnmek?hl=en
Shantanu Malakar says
Thanks, sir. It works for me.
Robert says
do you know where to get it?
Timothy McClanahan says
https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/desktop-for-instagram/nlhjgcligpbnjphflfdbmabbmjidnmek?hl=en
Tracey Stepanchuk says
Yes I just tried it and it does.
yeeted says
Can u just tell me how to fcking post on insta w/ a mac
David says
Using a web browser or the Flume or Uplet apps are good places to start.
D Fish says
Chrome browser/open more tools/open developer tools/type instagram in url bar, add photos and tags…..works!!!
Ann says
Worked for me. I take photos with a DSLR camera to share. Thanks!
Robert Edwards says
Where is the URL bar once you’ve opened Developer Tools?
JANE says
You just type it into your URL bar. How do you “add photos and tags”? I don’t see an option for that. Should I?
Lui says
Thank you, for the useful information
yzorg says
This just reeks tracking in its finest:
“… Instagram very strongly encourages users to upload images from their mobile devices…”
Roy says
BTW, really great, well-written post.
Roy says
Why TF is Instagram so popular? It seems almost useless. #1 for this reason that you can’t use your computer with it. That is a limitation! Why would people move from Facebook, which does the same things and more to Instagram which is a stripped down version of Facebook??? Also, unless I am mistaken, I am now discovering that you can’t put links in IG posts either so you can’t even promote your business!!! What is the point of Instagram????
Felipe Celline says
Man, I believe the point is: people seek for new social apps/sites to try to run away from their old and not so close friends and family (these social circles are, at least for me, veeeeery boring and complicated to accept our “real life”)
Most of people dont want to create fake profiles in FB, e.g, cause their would feel like “cheating”, “being corrupt”.
So they run away, first teens and early adults, to another app that most of people still dont use or dont know how to use.
See the structure of instagram: your dont have real names, you can use whatever nick you want, change it whenever you like… it’s very “liquid”, you know?
jordan says
Less garbage filling up your feed, and its more easily consumable. Go from video to photo with half a screen swipe. Our generation prefers the stripped down version without the cumbersome complications.
You can put links in your bio, and you can pay to promote a post which allows you to link to outside websites
yeeted says
i agree lol
Actual says
Thanks for the tips.
But the truth is the Instagram engineers are smart/young/clueless to think that people only use their phones for everything.
Mary says
That’ s the point!
Mike says
No, actually people DO use their phones more now, even older people. A very small minority uses computers for everything nowadays, most use the phone mostly or even exclusively.
Jim says
Would someone please comment on this:
When I go to install Desktop for Instagram on chrome browser it requires me to agree to this:
“[App can] READ AND CHANGE ALL YOUR DATA ON THE WEBSITES YOU VISIT””
WHAT??! Isn’t this a major security breach?
Isa Goldberg says
Hi David, thanks so much, this was a very helpful article! We’re going to try out Deskgram…
Max says
Hi David, I’m Max, we are building Storrito.com to create, post and schedule Instagram stories via a desktop computer. We also solved the hard parts like adding Instagram’s story hashtags, usertags and geotags. The normal Instagram feed posts described in your article will be supported soon. I would love to get feedback, if you find Storrito useful to share your beautiful photos as Instagram story. Best regards, Max
April Hope says
Max, this sounds great. Will there be a free version as well?
Max says
Yes, we offer 10 story posts each month for free.