You can log in to the service not only from your mobile phone, but also from your computer’s browser. However, the second option has many limitations, so users have found ways to use the mobile app on their PC. In this article, we will tell you all about the mobile version of Instagram for your computer, how to use it, and where to download it.
Where to download the mobile version?
Instagram has been ported to all modern mobile operating systems. Additionally, users can view posts and communicate on their personal computers. Unfortunately, Instagram on PC has several significant limitations and lags behind the mobile version in terms of functionality. Let’s look at how to log in to the service from a computer:
- Authorize on the platform using a browser in the web version of the social network.
- Download the official utility. Recently, developers released a version for the Windows operating system. Such an application is only available to owners of the latest software builds, starting from Windows 8 and Windows 10.
These methods have significant limitations in terms of functionality. Users on a computer cannot publish photos or videos in the main feed or post stories. They can only view posts from their followers, like, comment, and communicate in personal chat.
The Instagram app for PC, created for the latest versions of Windows, can be found in the official Microsoft Store software store. To do this:
- Launch Microsoft Store on your device.
- In the search bar, type the name of the Instagram utility.
- After that, select the desired program from the search results and download it.
- The installation will be done automatically.
As previously mentioned, such a version is only suitable for viewing posts, and it is not suitable for uploading information. To solve this problem, there are many ways to use third-party applications, services, and additional extensions.
How to log in from a computer
To use the mobile version of a social network on a computer, you will need to download and install additional software on your device. Below we will consider popular methods to solve this problem.
Using an Android emulator
Special utilities have been created for using applications and programs from mobile phones on a PC. A bright example is Bluestacks, which is freely available for download and installation. Let’s see how to access the mobile version of Instagram:
- Go to the official Bluestacks emulator website and download the installation file to your device.
- Install and launch the utility.
- After opening the emulator, you will see the Play Market app store icon. Launch it and type Instagram in the search bar.
- Download the social network to your PC.
- After that, without closing the emulator, log in to your account.
Thus, you can use Instagram on your computer, just like on your smartphone, with all the standard tools and functionality. This method is suitable for those who have an outdated operating system version.
In the browser
It is not necessary to download and install additional applications on your PC. You can turn a regular web page into a mobile view by adjusting the settings in the page’s source code. Here’s the procedure:
- Open any browser on your computer.
- Go to the official Instagram page and log in to your account.
- Then, right-click on the screen and select “Inspect element”.
- An window with the page’s source code will open on the right side. On the top panel, find the option to display information and select “mobile phone”.
- On the main page, specify the smartphone model and press F5, without closing the code window, otherwise all settings will be reset and the standard web version of the site will open.
- After the site is reloaded and updated, you will see that the aspect ratio of the workspace has changed and a version of the social network for mobile phones has appeared.
This method is good, but you will have to repeat the procedure every time you want to use the social network.
Expansion
To fix the situation, a special browser extension called Instagram Web can be used, which will automatically convert pages into a mobile version with all the necessary functionality. To do this, follow these steps:
1. Launch the browser and open the settings menu located in the top corner.
2. Find the tab for additional functions and extensions.
3. You will see all the installed utilities and services attached to the browser.
4. Scroll down the list and open the full catalog of extensions.
5. Find Instagram Web and install it.
If the installation is successful, a special icon in the form of a camera should appear next to the search bar in the browser. Clicking on it will load the page in Instagram’s mobile view.
How to use them
The mobile version of Instagram for computers does not differ in functionality. Here you can also view publications, upload personal photos and videos, post short stories, and communicate with other users.
As for the official Windows application, the following control elements will greet you in the main menu:
- After logging in, you will find yourself in the news feed.
- The top panel displays the stories of your subscribers and friends.
- The navigation and control elements are located on the bottom row. By clicking on the silhouette of a person, you will move to your personal page. The heart-shaped indicator contains all your comments and likes under publications. The magnifying glass is used to search for new users or publications in the general network.
The standard application has everything except the ability to post stories, photos, and videos. Therefore, it is better to use additional applications and utilities that turn Instagram web pages into a mobile device modification on a personal computer.
The article explains how to use the mobile version of the Instagram social network on a personal computer. Such a need is associated with the fact that the standard Windows application and web page have significant limitations in functional capabilities. Only third-party programs and browser extensions can solve this problem.