Instagram is one of the world’s leading mobile photo sharing applications. With the company launching its web application, users do not need to have the Instagram app on their phones to start sharing photos. And much better, it also allows users to post photos from their computers.
Here are tips on how to do this with whatever browser you use.
How To Post From Your PC
Posting directly from a computer has been impossible on Instagram until now. The browser-based app changes all that. According to CNET, photo hobbyists and even casual photographers have been waiting for this feature. Without it, users would normally find it tedious to share photos shot on a DSLR camera on Instagram. One would have to download to their PC and then upload to their phones or tablets.
Before this came out, other work arounds using third party apps have been recommended, but can still be very tedious. The CNET article offers a work around that will enable users to upload photos directly from their PC, eliminating one step in the process. Here are the tips for Safari and Chrome.
1. Safari
On Safari, access the Preferences menu and choose Advanced. At the bottom of dialog box, tick the box that indicates: “Show Develop menu in menu bar.” Once this is done, open a Private tab or window.
Before going to Instagram.com, go to the Develop Menu, then User Agent and choose Safari — iOS 10 — iPhone. Sign in to Instagram.com and use the camera button to upload your photo from your computer.
2. Chrome
On Chrome, open a new Incognito window. Change the view of the browser by going to View > Developer > Developer Tools. This will call up a sidebar or a window at the bottom which displays the page’s code. Don’t be intimidated by this and instead look for the icon that has a phone and a tablet. You will find this on the upper left hand corner, next to the Elements button.
Click this to switch the view to mobile. From here, click on the camera button to upload your photo.
Take note that this work around allows you to view the app as if you were using a mobile device, thereby making the functionalities available.