The popular social network Instagram allows subscribers to share their photos and videos with other users and upload them to stories. The service is available in several versions – as a mobile application on a smartphone, tablet, and PC, as well as a web version in a browser. The latter option has a number of limitations, including the inability to upload content to the story and news feed of the page using standard tools. To solve this problem, special utilities and extensions have been developed. In this article, we will explain how to add a story to Instagram via a computer.
Using developer tools without third-party services
The social network Instagram is available to users in the form of a web version, but it has one important limitation. You cannot upload videos to your Instagram story or news feed from your computer. To fix this issue, you need to use third-party services, install extensions, or download special applications. However, there is a much easier way, just open your browser and follow a few simple steps.
- Open any browser on your personal computer. For example, we will use Yandex.
- Go to the official Instagram website and log in to your account.
- Once on the main page of the service, right-click on the screen.
- A pop-up window will appear, in which you need to select the inspect element option.
- A window with the page source code will appear on the right.
- Click on the mobile version display button on the top panel.
- After that, the information on the screen will be displayed as on a smartphone.
- Specify the phone model and scale on the top bar of the main page.
- Press the F5 button on your keyboard, after which all changes will be saved and the page will be refreshed. Note that the window with the source code cannot be closed, otherwise, you will be back to the standard web version of the service without the ability to publish content.
- After the site is refreshed, you will have access to the mobile version of the social network. Click on the button to add a new story on the top panel (the plus indicator) and upload the desired file from the device’s internal memory.
- Perform editing at your discretion, format the post using the built-in elements and tools of the service.
- Specify what will be published in your story. Done.
It is important to know that this feature is only available with permanent internet access. This method can be used not only to publish stories but also to update your news feed.
List of services for Instagram stories from a computer
If you don’t want to launch the source code window every time to load a video or image, or constantly use your computer to log into a social network, use special third-party services. These can be browser extensions or applications. Below we will consider popular and convenient ways to upload stories to Instagram.
Instagram Web Extension
First, let’s understand what extensions are on a personal computer. These are special utilities that extend the capabilities of the standard browser by adding additional functions. With Instagram Web, you can publish videos and images in stories from your computer, turning the social network page into a mobile version with corresponding extension features and a list of possibilities.
The installation and application process looks like this:
- Install the extension on your browser. To do this, go to the program and in the settings tab, find the add-ons section. Choose the corresponding extension from the catalog. This step is described for Yandex, the location of the main elements may differ on other browsers.
- After successful installation, a camera icon should appear next to the search bar. This indicates that the service is ready.
- To enter the social network, click on this icon.
- The mobile version of Instagram with the corresponding extension features will be displayed on the screen, just like on a smartphone.
- Log in under your account.
- Click on the button to add a new story. Choose the desired video or image from your personal computer memory.
- Format the post to your liking and publish it for everyone to see.
Parasite App
If you are engaged in commercial activities and promoting your product or service, then the social network Instagram will become a profitable and convenient platform for your business. Usually, account promotion work is carried out through a computer for convenience and simplicity, but the standard tools and regulations of the service do not allow uploading video clips and images to stories. This problem is solved by the Parasite application, which allows you to maximize SMM promotion and has the following functional capabilities:
- Design of deferred publications according to the established schedule.
- Simultaneous uploading of information and related content to all popular social networks, including Instagram.
To upload videos or photos to stories from a computer, you will need to take the following actions:
- Download and install the Parasite program on your PC.
- Launch the application and log in to the system using your Instagram account data.
- Find the story addition item and select the desired file from your computer’s internal memory.
- Perform editing and format the post. If necessary, perform a deferred publication and specify the exact date and time.
Note. This utility is provided for free for only 7 days of use. After that, you will have to pay a subscription fee, the amount of which depends on the selected tariff – 349 rubles, 699 rubles, 1599 rubles per month.
Chrome IG Story
This is an extension for the browser of the same name on a personal computer that allows you to watch the stories of your followers in real-time and even download them, but unfortunately, you cannot upload videos or images to your own stories using this application. Let’s look at the features of the extension:
- Launch the Chrome browser on your computer.
- On the right panel, go to the settings section and find the extensions tab.
- After that, a list of all installed additional functions will appear. Scroll down to the end and find the tab for all available applications.
- A catalog of extensions will appear on the screen. Find the corresponding one in the list and install it.
- After activation is complete, an indicator will appear next to the search bar.
- By clicking on the icon, an authorization window will open, where you need to enter the login and password for your social network account.
- You will be able to see all the stories that your friends and followers have posted, and if necessary, download them, but you won’t be able to add your own videos.
SMM Planner
The service is a convenient and simple tool for SMM promotion on social networks. With its help, you can set up an accurate schedule for posting stories, as well as simultaneous posting of posts on multiple platforms on the Internet. In addition, the site allows you to upload videos and images to Instagram from your PC. To post stories on Instagram from your computer:
1. Enter the address of the delayed posting SMMPlanner service in the browser search bar.
2. Register a new account or log in using a profile from any social network.
3. On the main page, find the Instagram section. After that, enter your login and password for your account and click the connection button.
4. The system will ask for confirmation and send a security code to the specified phone number.
5. In the main menu, select the post publication function, and then “Schedule post”.
6. On the new page, a content upload window will appear. Select the desired video or photo from your device’s memory. Add a description, link, and geolocation.
7. Check the box that the content will be posted in Instagram stories.
8. Send the publication to the feed.
Services of this kind are suitable for experienced people who conduct commercial or advertising activities on social networks. After all, such services contribute to the automation of promotion.
Through the Bluestacks emulator
If you’re not in business and just want to use Instagram on your personal computer and upload a video to your story, use an Android emulator called Bluestacks. This utility allows you to install and work with mobile apps on your PC, including Instagram.
Here’s how to add and post a story on Instagram:
- Download the Bluestacks program to your personal computer from the official website. Don’t download software from suspicious sources, as this can lead to virus infection.
- Launch the utility and open Play Market in it.
- In the search, find the Instagram app and install it.
- Without leaving Bluestacks, launch the social network and log in with your account.
- After that, the mobile version of Instagram will open, where you can upload videos and images to your story without any restrictions.
- Click on the add story button and select the desired file from memory.
- Format the publication as you see fit, using standard tools and graphics.
- Send the recording to the public.
This method allows you to use all the features of the popular social network without restrictions on your PC.
The article discusses effective and convenient ways to post a story on Instagram from your computer. You’ll need to install special extensions or additional apps, as the standard tools and interface of the service don’t allow you to upload content to the network from your PC.