How to Access Instagram from PC (with Pictures)

2024 Author: Samantha Chapman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-01-15 13:47

This article explains how to access and manage an Instagram account directly from your PC using the official website or the platform app for Windows 10. Both of these solutions allow you to view the profile and posts you have published or people you follow, check stories, manage likes, comments or read and reply to messages. Also, you can have access to the "Explore" tab. The only limitation is that it is not possible to publish a new video or a new photo from a PC. To overcome this problem, you can decide to install the famous Android emulator called Bluestacks which will allow you to create new posts on Instagram using a desktop computer or laptop.

Steps

Method 1 of 2: Using the Website or App

Step 1. Visit the Instagram website using your computer browser

The main page of the official Instagram website will be displayed. This way you will be able to consult the posts you have published and those of the people you follow, view the stories, read and reply to messages, manage your profile settings and follow new users. However, it is not possible to publish a new post or a new story using the Instagram website.

• If you want to use the application you can download and install it for free from the Microsoft Store. The Instagram app for PC works in exactly the same way as the website. Follow these instructions:

  • Access the "Start" menu and select the item Microsoft Store;
  • Click on the "Search" field;
  • Type the keyword instagram;
  • Click on the Instagram appeared in the search results list;
  • Click on the button Get;
  • Once the installation is complete, click on the button Start to run the Instagram app or click on the corresponding icon in the "Start" menu.

  

  Step 2. Enter the login credentials of your personal Instagram account and click on the Login button

  This will bring up the main page of your Instagram account profile.

  • If you want to use the Facebook account to log into Instagram, click on the button Log in with Facebook and follow the instructions that will appear on the screen.
  • If you don't have an Instagram account, click on the button subscribe displayed below the fields in which to enter the login credentials and follow the instructions that will appear on the screen.

  

  Step 3. Scroll through the list of posts from people you follow

  Scroll down the page using the appropriate browser bar to view posts from users you follow. Using the "Search" text field, you can search with a specific username or tag. The "Search" field is located at the top of the page.

  You can return to the main screen of your account from anywhere on the Instagram website by clicking on the stylized house icon located at the top right of the page

  

  Step 4. Click on a post's heart-shaped icon to "Like" it

  This will tell the person who shared the photo or video that you liked their post.

  

  Step 5. Click on a post speech bubble icon to post a comment

  Unless the user who posted it has disabled comments on his posts, the icon in question will be visible within the post box, to the right of the heart-shaped "Like" icon. Alternatively, you can click on the text field Add a comment… located at the bottom of the post box, below the list of existing comments so you can start typing your comment right away. Once you've typed your message, press the key Enter to publish it.

  

  Step 6. Click a post's paper airplane icon to share it

  The sharing options list will be displayed. Depending on the privacy settings of the person who posted the photo or video in question, you may be able to share the post with other people directly on Instagram or other social networks.

  • Click on the option Share on Direct to share the post with other users within Instagram.
  • Click on the item Copy link to copy the link of the post to the system clipboard and be able to paste it wherever you want.
  • Choose to share the post on another social network (for example Facebook or Twitter) by clicking on the corresponding icon.

  

  Step 7. Click on the compass icon to access the "Explore" tab

  It is located at the top right of the page. Within this section of the profile you have the opportunity to consult the most viewed or recommended Instagram posts by people you are not yet following.

  

  Step 8. Review the notifications you have received

  You can access the notification panel using one of the icons displayed in the upper right corner of your account page. Click on the heart-shaped icon, located to the left of your profile, to view the list of notifications relating to "likes", comments, people who have chosen to follow you and other users.

  

  Step 9. Click on the paper airplane icon to view the list of Direct messages you have sent and received

  It is located in the upper right corner of the page.

  • To read a message, click on the sender's name listed in the left panel of the card.
  • To reply to a message you have received, type the text of your message in the field visible at the bottom of the page and press the button Enter.
  • To reply to a message with a photo or video, click on the photo-shaped icon visible in the text field located at the bottom of the message, select the image you want to send and click on the button You open.
  • To send a new message, click on the icon depicting a sheet of paper and a pencil visible in the upper left part of the window (in the "Direct" section), choose the person to write the message to, click on the link Come on, then compose the message you want to send.

  

  Step 10. View the stories

  Your Stories are listed at the top of your account's Home screen, which you can access by clicking on the stylized house icon in the top right corner of the page. Click on any of the circular icons where your friends' profile picture is displayed to be able to watch their active stories.

  

  Step 11. Check and manage your profile

  To view the posts you have published, click on your profile picture visible in the upper right corner of the page, then select the option Profile.

  • To edit your profile, click on the button Edit your profile located at the top of the page.
  • To change your account configuration settings, click the gear icon displayed at the top of the profile page. The option is also present in the menu that appears Go out to log out of your account.

  Method 2 of 2: Using BlueStacks to Publish Photos and Videos

  

  Step 1. Visit the Bluestacks website

  If you need to publish new posts and stories from your computer, you will need to install and use an Android emulator that allows you to install the Instagram app for mobile devices. Bluestacks is a free and simple to use emulator that you can take advantage of if you have a Google account.

  

  Step 2. Click on the green Download Bluestacks button

  It is placed in the center of the page. In some cases you will have to scroll down the page to be able to click on the download button.

  If the installation file is not automatically downloaded to your computer, click the button Download or Save when required.

  

  Step 3. Install BlueStacks on the PC

  Double-click on the BlueStacks installation EXE file and follow the instructions that will appear on the screen to complete the installation of the program on your computer.

  • If at the end of the installation BlueStacks does not start automatically, you will find the corresponding icon in the "Start" menu.
  • BlueStacks will take a few minutes to boot up, especially if the computer you're using doesn't have much computing power.
  • If you are asked to perform additional configurations, follow the instructions that will appear on the screen until the main screen of the BlueStacks program is displayed.

  

  Step 4. Sign in with your Google account

  At this point you must perform the same initial configuration that you should perform on any Android mobile device by entering the login credentials (username and password). Read this article to find out how to create a new account.

  

  Step 5. Click on the My Apps tab

  It is listed along the left side of the BlueStacks window.

  Remember that BlueStacks occasionally displays an advertisement on the screen when you access a new tab, launch an app, or open a folder. If a pop-up window relating to an advertisement appears, wait the indicated time displayed in the upper right corner of the window, then close it by clicking on the icon X visible in the upper right corner.

  

  Step 6. Access the Google Play Store by clicking on the icon

  

  It is characterized by a multicolored triangle facing right. It is visible on the main screen of Bluestacks.

  

  Step 7. Type the keyword instagram into the search bar, then press the Enter key

  The Play Store search bar is located in the upper right corner of the window. A list of results will be displayed.

  

  Step 8. Click the Install button

  It is blue in color and is placed in the lower right corner of the Instagram app pane.

  Click on the button I accept, if required, to start the application installation.

  

  Step 9. Click the Open button when the installation is complete

  It is green in color and will appear in the same potion where the button was previously Install. This will launch the Instagram app.

  

  Step 10. Log in with your Instagram account

  Enter your email address (or username or phone number) and password. This way you will have access to the Instagram account within Bluestacks using the mobile app, just as if you were using an Android smartphone or tablet.

  • You may need to click on the button Log in placed at the bottom of the Instagram page.
  • If this is your first time accessing Instagram, read this article to find out how to publish content within the platform.

  

  Step 11. Click the + button to create a new post

  It is located in the center of the bottom of the screen.

  

  Step 12. Select the Other option from the drop-down menu located in the upper left corner of the window

  The Android "Open From" menu will appear.

  

  Step 13. Click on the Pick from Windows option listed in the left pane of the window

  The Windows file manager will be displayed.

  If you are asked to authorize the program to have access to files on your computer, click on the button OK or Allow.

  

  Step 14. Select the photo or video you want to post, then click the Open button

  The chosen photo or video will be placed in the Instagram post and uploaded to the Google account.

  • Depending on the size of the file, uploading to Instagram may take some time.
  • If at the end of the upload you do not automatically return to the Instagram screen, click on the tab Instagram displayed at the top of the Bluestacks window. If the "Instagram" tab is not present, click on the Home button in the shape of a stylized house located at the bottom of the window to return to the Home screen of the device. At this point, start the Instagram app again and click on the button + to create a new post. You should be able to click on the photo or video you just uploaded.

  

  Step 15. Click on the Have button

  It is displayed in the upper right corner of the device screen.

  

  Step 16. Edit the post and click the Next button

  You can use the options at the bottom of the window to apply filters to the brightness and colors of the image or you can click on the option Edit to make customizations.

  

  Step 17. Add the information you want and click the Share button

  Enter a description or caption by typing it in the text field located at the top of the app window, then add a tag related to the location or whatever you prefer. To publish the new post, click on the button Share visible in the upper right corner of the app window.