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How to Post Photos on Instagram from a Desktop Computer or Laptop

Instagram is designed to be mobile-only, but if that doesn't work for you, here are a few options for uploading directly from your computer to Instagram without using a phone.

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Last updated about 2 weeks ago // Originally published about 1 year ago

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.

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 computer directly to Instagram without needing to use your phone. They include third-party apps and browser tricks. Some are free; some are paid. Each 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 Uplet, 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 ones 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.

Uplet

Uplet Instagram Uploader-2 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 a more detailed guide on using Uplet to post to Instagram that includes more screenshots.

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 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 mobile device so that the posting feature becomes available. It’s called user agent spoofing, and I’ve put together a detailed guide on how to use user agent spoofing with Instagram with major browsers.

Advantages of this method are that it’s free and doesn’t require installing a third-party app or plugin. But there are also disadvantages–not all Instagram features are available through the website. Examples of features that aren’t available with this method are filters, in-photo tagging, and multi-photo posts. It doesn’t include scheduling functions. And while it’s pretty straightforward to do, it’s still not as simple as a third-party app like Uplet.

Gramblr

Gramblr takes a quite different approach. It’s more complicated, but it also offers a lot more features. There are versions for Mac and Windows and is free for the basic functionality.

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.

Gramblr Instagram Uploader-2

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.

I’ve put together a more detailed guide to using Gramblr to post to Instagram. It also includes more screenshots.

You can find Gramblr here.

Deskgram

deskgramThis 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.

LR/Instagram

LR/Instagram is a new option for Lightroom users. It’s a plugin that enables a Publish Service linked to your Instagram account.

If you’re already using Lightroom, it’s very convenient to be able to post directly without need to export the files and upload them as a separate process. You can crop and add padding with Lightroom’s normal editing tools, and there’s no need to open a web browser or other app. You can also add a caption and hashtags from within Lightroom. It doesn’t allow some of the other synchronization options that publish services typically offer–you can’t edit the photo or caption and republish it, for example. You don’t have access to Instagram’s built-in features (although you can, of course, use the much more powerful filter options in Lightroom), and there’s no scheduling functionality.

lr-instagram

It’s shareware, with a $10 licensing fee, and you can download it here. I also have a detailed write-up on LR/Instagram.

Other Options

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. It appears that this extension is no longer available.

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Comments

  1. Hi!
    What about the pic size´- you have this button on IG to make sure your photo is not cropped after posting?

    Reply

    • Some of these options give you the option of retaining the original aspect ratio or cropping to square. Which particular method are you referring to?

      Reply

  2. I have amassed a little bit of information now about IG in the past few weeks.
    I tried a software called “Flume” from a Berlin startup which is quite excellent from what it offers.
    BUT like all those little apps I guess it sort of violates IG’s terms of services.

    You might not be banned if you use it but you will be SHADOW BANNED. I uploaded a whole bunch of photos via the “UI Agent trick” in Safari (or FF or Chrome) and I used to get quite instant feedback.

    THEN I switched over to the tool “Flume”. And after a few days I realized although I was constantly uploading new images the response was only thru people who followed me already.
    Then I checked my hashtags and I could not find the photos at all. Shadow banned.

    I THEN switched back to the “UI Agent trick” via Safari and the likes kept coming in and the photos could be found again via hashtags.

    So I can just point out. If you want organic growth and you want that people see your photos DON’T use those little apps that violate the API usage of IG.

    What works is that you edit hashtags afterwards from your Mac/PC very conveniently. You can reply to comments very quickly. But DO NOT UPLOAD photos via these tools. It will bite you in the long run because you becom invisible.

    Reply

  4. Hello , Thanks For This Great Post i Want To Mention That You Can Upload photos directly from your Computer Browser to your Instagram account without needing your phone, schedule Instagram posts by creating a calendar to publish on the required day and time to get more followers, and manage multiple accounts and post on any account at the same time Using https://www.InstaGhost.com

    Reply

  5. Quick and dirty way to do it is to get your desktop browser to emulate a mobile browser.

    Don’t just set the user agent, actually go into what might be called Responsive Mode or Development Mode.

    You just need to make sure it’s simulating some kind of mobile device like an iOS phone or tablet, or an Android device.

    For example, in Safari on Mac I can just press Cmd+Alt+R and enter Responsive Mode and the mobile version of the app, with the upload button, is right there at the bottom.

    I am not sure if it’s loading all the upload options but if you’re already doing editing in another software package, it may not matter too much.

    Reply

  8. It’s a real pain in the rear that Instagram doesn’t directly allow people to upload photos to their IG profiles from their desktop PC or laptop. I’m just now starting out on Instagram again and trying to do some creative marketing and this is really causing me to jump through extra hoops to make this Instagram marketing and IG photo thing work.

    Reply

  13. You absolute star, David, thank you so much! You have made my life a lot easier, believe me. I’m now using Gramblr and it’s brilliant. Thank you, once again. ;-)

    Reply

  15. I use Instapic and it’s amazing – only thing I can’t do is schedule but that’s no bother to me. It has all of Instagram’s editing tools, cropping, captioning and tagging. Oh, and multi-account function.. It’s available in the Win 10 store.

    Reply

    • Tried it as well on your suggestion and I like it so far. Very easy to use and similar in many ways to Instagram.

      Reply

  18. Thanks for the info!
    I tried BlueStacks, and after one day they were forcing me to download additional apps onto my computer OR require me to Upgrade for $2.99/mo. Such crap. But now I have other options!

    Reply

  19. Hey , Its really really very helpful for me….now i can use Instagram easily and friendly…
    so , Thank you very much….for helping me and bye…..see you soon with another query……right??????

    Reply

  21. Instagram from Computer – Just tried this. There is an initial Instagram user check on your Instagram account which pops up as a Check-Point before it will upload. You have to answer a question on your Instagram page to confirm it is you sending from your computer to the program. Then, it sends your pic from the computer in seconds. Worked without a hitch.

    Reply

    • This is the Chrome extension app. Attached easily to browser and you get a button in right hand upper corner to use when you want to upload.

      Reply

  22. I use plany.io it’s quite new but it works well. I use it to send my DSLR pictures on Instagram.

    Also, unlike Gamblr you don’t have to download anything, it works on the web browser.

    Reply

    • I just tried it with two video files, an MP4 and a MOV, and they’re both working for me. It took a little while to prep the file–particularly the MOV file, which took about 30 seconds of the spinning progress indicator for a 10-second video file–but ultimately they both came up in the browser. Not sure why it wouldn’t be working for you, but something to try would be a browser refresh or even a different browser. The drag and drop uses javascript, and maybe the javascript didn’t load properly. If it’s not that, I’m not really sure, sorry, and best bet might be to try to contact their support team directly.

      Reply

      • Grambir is very good and easy to use but some HW profiles combined with Wi10 can result in fatal issues of Start menu and Grambir itself until u wipe him out from Task manager or from other parts of W10.

        Reply

    • same thing here but mine showed up and i moved it to its own spot on the application bar because applications was not working then i tried to open it and it says “you can’t open the application Gramblr because it is not supported on this type of mac” but the gramblr website said upload for mac os x and thats what have so i clicked it

      Reply

    • Well, yes, that’s also an option, as is emailing it to yourself and saving it to the camera roll that way. But with several steps, two devices, and a phone keyboard, it’s not everyone’s cup of tea.

      Reply

  28. I’m currently using Grambler and the only issue I’m facing is that it does not publish my posts with the caption I put in. The image is published minus the caption. Am i doing any mistake? Guys, have you faced a similar problem?

    Reply

  31. Hello! I’m on an iMac (10.6.8), and downloaded the Mac version of Grambler. The installation window comes up, but when I drag the Grambler icon over the Applications folder icon, it won’t let me drop it in there. a little note at the bottom of the window reads: “*File damaged? You must “Allow apps downloaded from anywhere” in System Preferences > Security & Privacy”. I also cannot see anything like that under my system prefs! Can anyone help or advise?

    Reply

  33. thanks for the helpful post! I don’t have mobile signal where I live but need to use instagram for my business and was stuck

    Reply

  36. THANK YOU for this very well done post. It contained everything I needed and you weren’t trying to sell anything. Loved it. Thanks again.

    Reply

      • Grambler won’t let me upload multiple pictures at a time. And I get application errors when I try to upload pictures that were taken at portrait angle.

        Reply

        • I stand corrected on uploading multiples. You’re right–you can only do one at a time, although you can have multiple in your scheduling queue. I’m also getting that error with portrait images when I try now. Best bet would be to contact Gramblr support. It looks like someone has previously raised it, but it doesn’t seem to have been resolved.

  40. Hi!
    What about the pic size´- you have this button on IG to make sure your photo is not cropped after posting? I know you said you can crop it here, but how does it reflect the actual displaying on IG? Thank you!

    Reply

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David Coleman Photography

I'm a professional travel & location photographer based in Washington DC and traveling all over. Seven continents. Dozens of countries. Up mountains. Under water. And everywhere in between. CONTACT

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