Uplet is a perfect solution to help you upload multiple Instagram videos directly from your Mac. Create as many videos as you like on your desktop, improve them with Uplet’s editing tools, and share them all to your Instagram followers feeds with just one click. Use the app to post your numerous photos as well. But wouldn’t it be awesome if you can just upload videos to Instagram from a computer directly. Turns out, you can. Here are a few native Instagram desktop clients as well as third-party apps that will allow you to post videos on your Instagram stories, feed, reels, and even IGTV. Let’s check them out. Upload photos and videos to your Instagram Account from your Mac. This app helps you to upload photos and videos to your Instagram Account from your Mac. Instagram Uploader lets you upload multiple high-resolution photos without compromising their original quality and add original captions from the convenience of your Mac keyboard. Instagram has become the go-to place for sharing photos and videos, but it’s primarily available on mobile phones. IPhone and iPad users can access Instagram without any restrictions, but Mac users are left in the lurch without any dedicated Instagram app. Of course, Mac users can access Instagram through the official website, but there are. Another way to upload photos to Instagram from a Mac is an emulator. One of the most consistent and trusted emulators we've come across is Bluestacks, a free Android emulator that can be.
Instagram has always been a heavily mobile-focused app, and it was only relatively recently that you were even allowed to access it from a non-mobile device. This makes managing an Instagram account for a business quite a difficult task.
It’s easy to take photos with a mobile phone, it’s easy to use one of the many image editing apps to tweak them, and it’s easy to upload them. What’s much more difficult is uploading video.
Video on Instagram comes in two forms: low quality hand-cam videos and well-produced content. The former come about because people take video directly from their iPhones or Android devices, do some very basic editing with whatever tools are available, and post it online.
The primary problem here comes from the fact that phones are, well, probably some of the worst devices to use to try to edit video. They can take source video alright, though the hardware is still a decade behind what modern mid-quality video cameras can do. Resolution will be poor, stabilization will be minimal, and you always have the issue of people waving their phones around. Not to mention the issue of vertical video in letterbox format.
Phones do not have enough power (yet) to run good video editing software. Most phone-based video editing comes down to cropping, stabilization via algorithm, and maybe some basic effects.
Phones also often have size limitations on files. You only have so much space to work with, so you can’t process very long or very high quality videos.
The solution to all of this is to use a more traditional method for producing video. Use a real video camera to shoot your source video, with professional tools for stabilization, lighting, and audio. Use professional software, be it Lightworks, Adobe Premiere, Avisynth, or whatever you prefer. Edit your videos and keep the sources in high quality, while processing downscaled renders for various purposes. You can have high quality videos, even up to 4K, on YouTube and Facebook. You can convert gifs and shorter clips for use on the web or on social media. With the source available, you can even produce different cuts for different purposes.
There’s just one problem. You can’t upload a video from the web interface of Instagram. You actually can’t post via the web at all, nor can you post from third party programs. You need to circumvent this limitation to be able to post your video on Instagram.
So how do the pros do it, and how can you do it too?
Method 1: Airdrop
Airdrop is a feature available in modern iPhones and Mac computers. It’s an ad-hoc service available since OSX 10.7 and iOS 7. It essentially creates a wireless connection between your Mac and your iPhone, which allows direct transfer of data. It can operate over WiFi or Bluetooth, though it does not work over 4G data or whatever other cell plan you might have.
Obviously, this method only works if you have a Mac with an up to date version of OSX, and an iPhone with at least iOS 7. If you do, you can use Airdrop when both devices are connected via either WiFi or Bluetooth. Airdrop allows you to send a file from your Mac to your iPhone, and it has no known size restrictions for the file.
Simply create your video on your Mac and Airdrop it over to your iPhone, where you can access it via the Instagram app and post it. It’s worth noting here that a video can only be up to 60 seconds long, and a minimum of three seconds long. The maximum resolution of video on Instagram is 1080p, with a framerate of 30fps, and a 5,500 kbps bitrate.
Your video also needs to be in the MP4 format. If your rendered video file isn’t in the right format, Instagram won’t recognize it as a valid video and your upload will fail. Thankfully, it’s easy to convert. You can download Handbrake, which is an open source, free video converter. It’s a little tricky to use – it’s not made for casual conversion – but it should be pretty easy to simply take a source file, change the file format, and re-encode it in a way Instagram will recognize it.
There are other options for converting video files, but they might not work on Mac. I haven’t vetted all of them, for obvious reasons. Just use Handbrake, or whatever video editor you used to produce the video in the first place.
To actually use Airdrop, it must be enabled on both devices. For your iPhone (or iPad) you need to swipe up from the bottom to enable both Bluetooth and WiFi. Then tap the Airdrop button and make sure it’s set to either Contacts Only or Everyone. Using “Everyone” is dangerous, as you might send a file to people you don’t know, so I recommend using Contacts Only. Make sure you’re logged into iCloud as well. On your Mac, you need to launch Finder and click on Airdrop. Make sure it’s set to Contacts Onl as well, and that you’re logged into iCloud.
Next, find your video file. Take that file and either drag-and-drop it into the AirDrop window, or control-click it and choose Share, then Airdrop from the share menu. In either case, you need to choose the right contact – which will be your iPhone – and send the file. Once the transfer completes, you will be able to upload the video to Instagram.
Method 2: Cloud Storage
If you’ve produced a video on your Mac but you don’t have an iPhone, or your iPhone is using an older version of iOS and does not have a compatible version of Airdrop, you will have to use another method to transfer your video.
The easiest method is to use a form of cloud storage. The two most common options are Dropbox and Google Drive. Drive in particular is already installed on most Android devices, so you only need to register your account to activate it and install Drive on your Mac.
For Dropbox, you need to just visit the Download page and it should automatically detect that you’re on OSX and begin the appropriate file download. Run the file to install Dropbox, create an account, and configure your cloud storage. Make sure that you have enough storage space for the video file you want to upload! Particularly large files might be restricted on a free version of Dropbox.
You also need to download the Dropbox app for your smartphone. Assuming you’re running Android, you can find it here. They also have a version of their app for Windows Phone, if that’s what you’re using. Log in to the same account you created earlier and sync your data. Your video should appear, allowing you to upload it to Instagram quickly and easily.
Any time you want to upload a video in the future, simply add it to your Dropbox on your Mac and it will be accessible from your mobile device.
Google Drive works in pretty much exactly the same way. You can find the Drive app for Mac on their download page. Android devices should already have the app installed, but if not, the same page will provide it, or you can get it through the Play Store. There is no official app for Windows Phone, but there are third party options like Metro Drive, if you want to use it.
Google Drive simply adds itself as a folder on your Mac, just like any other folder or network drive. Add your video files to the folder and they will be synced with the cloud. The next time your mobile device syncs with the cloud, the video will appear, and you can upload it to Instagram.
Again, make sure that your video file meets the specific format and size requirements for Instagram or you won’t be able to upload it.
Method 3: User Agent Spoofing
Using Safari on your Mac allows you to do some tricky configuration in order to trick Instagram into allowing you to upload files and create posts. What you need to do is go to the Safari preferences drop-down and the Advanced tab. Make sure you turn on Show Develop Menu in Menu Bar. This adds developer options, which are generally used by people who develop apps and software to test for compatibility.
Next, go to Instagram and log in. Click on the Develop menu, find the User Agent option, and change it to Safari iOS 10 iPhone. This will change the data your browser sends to the web, and consequently the data Instagram receives. Instagram will refresh in your browser and load the mobile version, as long as this workaround still works.
From there, Instagram will function almost just like the mobile version, just with clicks instead of taps. The only caveat is that you can’t actually upload videos, just images. You also lose access to a lot of the editing and filter options. So, you know, this method isn’t viable for posting a video, but it can work for images if you want something quick to do while a video encodes.
Method 4: Emulators
Similar to spoofing a user agent, you can use an emulator to make your Mac appear to be a different device as far as Instagram is concerned. Emulators basically create a fake mobile device on your Mac, which runs apps as they would run in a mobile environment. Think of it like Wine, VirtualBox, or Boot Camp, but for a mobile operating system.
The best, most fully-formed emulator to use is Bluestacks. Bluestacks is an Android emulator that works on both Mac and PC. Since it’s Android, you will need to have a Google account you can use to interact with Google services.
Download and install Bluestacks on your Mac, then log into the new Android “device” with your Google account. Using the Android emulated environment, launch the Play Store and download Instagram. Use this Instagram app to log in and upload your video, create your post, and use the site.
Ideally, Bluestacks will work perfectly as if you were using an Android device. You might be a little unfamiliar with how the system works if you’re used to iOS, but it should be fairly easy to do the simple navigation necessary to set up Instagram.
Method 5: Third Party Apps
There are a number of different programs you can use to fake having a mobile device for the purposes of Instagram. These are basically emulators bundled with Instagram and their own shell, making them somewhat fluid to use but limited in their functionality.
The two primary Instagram apps for Mac that I’ve found are Flume and Uplet.
Uplet is more of a business tool. It doesn’t have feed browsing or general app usage utility. Instead, it’s simply a bulk uploader for media. It supports multi-accounts and video uploads, which is really all we need for this exercise. It has a free trial version, but the full version will cost you $20 for a single Mac license.
Flume is more of a desktop client for Instagram and works more like a skinned emulator with a single app. You will need to purchase the $10 license in order to use the uploader; otherwise, it’s simply a browser that looks pretty.
There’s one major caveat to using a third party app like these or any of the others you might find. Since posting is not allowed via API, any third party program that offers PC or Mac posting or media uploads is using a workaround. Generally, this means you’re logging into Instagram via one of these apps, which means these apps are passing your credentials through. They will claim to not keep or store your credentials, but you can never be 100% certain that they aren’t somehow saving the data. Always use extra security and take precautions before exposing your login information to a third party.
Regardless, one of the five methods above should get you where you need to be in terms of posting on Instagram. Oh, and if you’re looking for PC instructions rather than Mac instructions, check out this article instead.
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Do you love Instagram, but hate posting photos and videos from the tiny screen on your phone? Do you keep Instagram captions short and sweet to avoid typing with your thumbs? As awesome as Instagram is, there is one huge downside to the platform. Instagram is steadfast in its dedication to remaining a mobile app, which means it lets you post only from a phone or a tablet.
Does that mean that you can’t ever post to Instagram from a Mac? Not necessarily. Here’s our complete guide to help you upload to Instagram from your Mac.
Can I post on Instagram from my Mac?
While it’s totally possible to post to Instagram from your Mac using various methods, they are not without limitations. As we go over your options, we will mention any drawbacks or limitations that you should be aware of so you can choose the best Instagram posting method available.
After years of posting to Instagram from your iPhone, you probably have tons of similar photos and multiple copies with and without edits. Try Gemini Photos: it lets you find and delete similar pics with a few taps.
Download on the App Store
How to upload to Instagram from your Mac
Instagram makes it easy to browse through your feed on your Mac, as well as like posts and comment on them, but to actually upload photos, you have to be a bit savvier. You can upload to Instagram directly from your browser using a few extra steps, a third-party app, or an Instagram scheduler. Here’s how you can post to Instagram from your Mac using these methods.
Post to Instagram from a Mac using Safari
If you already use Apple’s native Safari as your browser, you’ll be happy to know that you can upload to Instagram from your Mac without a whole lot of extra work. The secret is to use developer tools, so that you can view Instagram exactly as if you were using an iPhone or iPad.
First, open Safari on your Mac.
Go to Safari > Preferences > Advanced.
In the Advanced menu box, tick the checkbox that says Show Develop menu in menu bar.
Open Instagram in Safari.
From the top menu, go to Develop > User Agent > Safari > iOS 11.3 iPhone (or current version of iOS).
Your Instagram will now show up exactly as it looks on your iPhone, and you can click the upload icon to post photos as usual.
There are some limitations to using Safari in Develop mode:
You can only upload single photos to your Instagram profile, not videos or galleries.
Instagram’s custom filters are available, but editing features are not.
You can geotag your location, but you can’t tag other accounts.
You can also post to Instagram Stories using this same method, but again you can only post photos, not videos.
You might also like: How to save Instagram videos to your Camera Roll
Upload photos to Instagram from a Mac using Google Chrome
If you use Google Chrome as your browser of choice, you’ll find that there is a similar method for uploading photos to Instagram. Here’s how it’s done:
Open Instagram using Google Chrome.
From the top menu, go to View > Developer > Developer Tools.
This will open Developer Tools. At the top of the sidebar, click on the icon that looks like a tablet and a phone next to each other.
Now your Instagram will show up exactly as it would on your phone. You can even choose your exact phone model from the menu above the Instagram screen.
You should also see the upload icon at the bottom of the Instagram screen, but if you don’t, simply refresh the page and it will show up.
Click on the upload icon to upload your photo to Instagram. You will have access to Instagram filters, but not the editing tools. You’ll also be able to tag your location as well as other accounts.
When you’re ready to publish, click Share, and your post will appear on Instagram.
The downside to uploading to Instagram using Chrome is that it currently only works with photos, not videos or galleries of images.
Upload to Instagram from a Mac using a third-party app
If using developer tools within your browser doesn’t appeal to you, you’ve still got several options.
One of them is Uplet, a bulk Instagram uploader Mac. No need to transfer content to your phone first. Uplet will take photos or videos from your Mac and post them directly to your Instagram profile, one by one. You can customize the appearance of your posts and add captions — just as you do on mobile. Uplet and 180+ other Mac apps are available with Setapp membership, which is a very good deal.
Here’s how to use Uplet to post to Instagram from your Mac:
Install Uplet from Setapp
Log in using your Instagram credentials
Click the plus button to upload your photos/videos
Change image/video appearance by clicking on the resize button in the top left corner
Add a caption with or without hashtags to the text box below your photo
Click Share to publish your photos/videos to Instagram.
Another huge perk of Uplet is it allows you to manage several Instagram accounts very flexibly. Just click on the account picture to switch to your business/personal account. The app won’t ask you to sign in and out again, so it’s really a one-click deal.
You might also like: How to add music to an Instagram video
Post to Instagram from a Mac using a scheduler
If you don’t want to be chained to your Instagram account, but still want to post awesome photos on a regular basis, you should definitely look into an Instagram scheduler to post from your Mac.
These allow you to schedule your Instagram posts weeks, or even months, in advance. The most expensive schedulers come with lots of bells and whistles, but Later allows you to take advantage of some pretty advanced scheduling tools for free.
With a free Later account, you can schedule up to 30 Instagram posts a month using a simple drag-and-drop platform. You can add a caption and geotag your location, but you can’t schedule videos, carousel-type posts, or Stories. Also, if you want your posts to publish to Later automatically, you will need an Instagram business account. Otherwise, you will receive a notification when it’s time to publish, but you will have to do it manually.
Instagram Uploader App For Mac
Here’s how to post to Instagram from your Mac using Later:
Go to www.later.com and create a free account. If you like the platform, you can always upgrade to a paid plan.
Log in with your Instagram credentials to connect Later with Instagram.
Upload your photos to the Later media library by clicking Upload Media and choosing one or more photos from your files. You can also upload directly from Google Drive or Dropbox by clicking the appropriate icon.
Your photos will show up in the Later library. From there you can drag and drop the photos to the calendar at whichever day and time you choose.
You can view your calendar by week or by month, or you can switch to your grid by clicking Preview. When viewing your grid on the Preview screen, you can easily move things around just by dragging and dropping.
When you drag a photo to a slot in Calendar view, a pop-up will appear where you can enter a caption, geotag a location, and change the date or time.
Once you’re happy with everything, click Auto to post automatically, and then click Save.
Instagram Uploader Online
Hopefully, these tips will help you up your Instagram game by allowing you to post photos directly from your Mac. And maybe someday Instagram itself will jump on the bandwagon to make life easier for all of us.