How to Use Instagram on the Web

Here, we discuss how to use Instagram through a browser from a laptop, desktop computer, or mobile device. Although Instagram is primarily meant for mobile devices, the experience in a browser is quite similar.

How to Use the Web Version of Instagram

Here's an overview of Instagram on the web and how you should use it.

1. Visit Instagram.com in any web browser and log in to your account or create a new one. Once you log in, you'll see your news feed tab, which has a similar layout to what you see on the mobile app.

2. As you scroll down through the posts in your news feed, you can interact with them in almost exactly the same way as the mobile app. Look for the heart button, the comment button, or the share button in every post to like it, leave a comment, or send it to a friend. You can also click the bookmark button on the right to save it to your bookmarked posts. Select the three dots in the upper-right corner to embed the post into a web page, report it as inappropriate content, and more.

3. You'll see more icons in the upper-right corner of the screen. One looks like a little compass. Select it to see a simpler version of the Explore tab that features suggested users to follow and a few thumbnails of their recent posts.

4. Clicking the heart button at the top of the screen opens a small window showing a summary of your recent interactions. Scroll down to view them all.

5. Select the user icon to view your Instagram profile. This page is what other users see when they click or tap your name.

   Click Edit Profile next to your username to change your personal information and other account details like your password, authorized apps, comments, email, and SMS settings.

6. Select any photo on your profile to view it full-size. It appears the same way as an individual post page, but with the interactions appearing to the right of the post rather than below it.

   Instagram has dedicated URLs for every profile. To visit your Instagram web profile or anyone else's, go to https://instagram.com/username. Just change "username" to whatever yours is.

Instagram Privacy Concerns

As long as your profile is public, anyone on the web can access it and see your photos. If you don't want strangers looking at posts, set your profile to private. That way only users you approve can see you—as long as they're signed in to the accounts you approved to follow you.

Posting on Instagram via the Web

Just like the mobile app, you can post to Instagram from your laptop or desktop. Here's how:

1. Once you've logged in to Instagram in your favorite browser, select Create new post (plus sign in a square).
   

2. Drag and drop photos or choose Select from computer to browse for photos on your desktop or laptop.
   

3. Drag the photos to crop and select Next.
   

4. If you want to add more than one photo, select add (two squares stacked) in the lower-right corner. From here, you can add up to nine more photos. You can also discard the photo by selecting the X on the photo thumbnail. Select Next once you've added all of your photos.
   

5. Select any Filters or Adjustments you want on your photos, then select Next.
   

6. Add a caption for your post. You can also add emoji by selecting the smiley.
   

7. If desired, add a Location.
   

8. Under Accessibility, you can add alt text for those with visual impairments.
   

9. If you want to turn off commenting, turn off the toggle under Advanced settings.
   

10. Select Share in the upper-right corner.
    

11. Once your post has uploaded successfully, you'll see the message, Your post has been shared.