Posting To Instagram On Desktop Now Available For Some Users
Instagram has confirmed that it is now testing a feature that users have been demanding for years - the ability to post photos and videos from desktop computers. Right now, the Instagram desktop client allows users to check their feed, see Story updates, follow or unfollow people, and even chat with friends over DM. However, the inability to create a new post has been frustrating, especially for folks who handle the social media marketing side for brands.
The desktop interface for Instagram was first launched back in 2012, and it then received a major design makeover in 2015, and a Progressive Web App (PWA) is also available for Windows 10 machines. There is a workaround that switches things to mobile view on a desktop browser such as Chrome or Safari, but it is not really as convenient. Some third-party clients and even emulators can also be used to post new Instagram content from a laptop or desktop, but these are not ideal solutions either.
Things are about to get easier for desktop users, however. A Facebook spokesperson confirmed to Bloomberg that the company is testing the ability to create a new Instagram post from a desktop browser. Only a small bunch of users are currently part of the test and it remains unclear if it is a closed beta test or just a random server-side selection. Also, it is not yet known when the feature will be rolled out widely for all users. Moreover, this is an experimental feature at the moment, which could mean the company pull the plug if the experience doesn’t meet expectations.
As per screenshots shared by social media consultant Matt Navarra, who was among the first people to spot the feature, the core Instagram UI for desktop won’t change a lot. Instead, users will only see a new ‘+’ at the top, just like the one on the mobile app. Once users click on it, they will be taken to the next page where they can either drag-and-drop an image or hit the ‘Select From Computer’ option to pick a file from their local storage.
Just like the mobile app, the Instagram website on desktop will allow users to select a canvas size (original, square, portrait, and landscape), edit aspects such as brightness and contrast, and apply filters as well. It also looks like users will have the option to add an alt text and even turn off notifications. However, the interface might be tweaked as Instagram continues to test it among the small circle of users, and the final version might look a little different. Instagram was first spotted testing an early version of desktop posting last month.
Of course, the biggest benefit here is the ability to post content from a secondary machine, and not being limited to the mobile app. For users who handle marketing, it could be much easier for them to just select the material stored on their computer and post it to Instagram. Right now, the only official solution to post new content to the Instagram Feed from a computer is by using the Creator Studio. However, it is only available to users with an Instagram business profile or those with a creator account.
Source: Bloomberg, Matt Navarra/Twitter