The social network Instagram has gained the most popularity as a mobile application that is compatible with all modern smartphones based on Android, iOS, or Windows. In order for the system to work flawlessly and have access to all functional capabilities, it is necessary to use only the latest version. The service developers recommend timely updates. In this article, we will explain why it is necessary to update Instagram, how to do it on different mobile devices, and how to check the current version of the social network.
When and why do they update the version of Instagram?
The developers of the popular social network are constantly improving their product and adding new features for their users. Ordinary users can feel the results of their hard work by installing the latest version of the mobile application. New and interesting functional possibilities that were previously unavailable are now available in the service.
Compared to the initial version of the utility, subscribers can now exchange personal messages in direct, publish short stories in the news feed, and also make good money by engaging in commercial activities and promoting their page.
We recommend tracking the appearance of updates and installing them in a timely manner on your smartphone or personal computer, or activating automatic file downloads.
What are the advantages and benefits of updating and why should you download it:
- New features, graphics, effects, and tools for editing photos or videos are added.
- The level of account security is increased and the likelihood of hacking or fraudulent activities is reduced.
- The stability of the application is improved, errors and various malfunctions are minimized.
- Data processing speed, switching between tabs, and loading digital content are increased.
For example, in 2019, the ability to convert an account to an author status and track current page statistics, as well as new masks and effects, and an expanded recommendations section were added. If you do not install the latest version and continue to use an outdated one, you may encounter problems, such as new messages not appearing in the personal chat, the news feed not loading, or the service not connecting to the internet at all.
Therefore, track the appearance of updates and try not to delay the installation of files. It should also be noted that with the introduction of new features, the load on mobile devices increases, and the latest version may not activate on older smartphones.
How to find out which version of the application is installed on the gadget
Periodically check the availability of a new version of the software in the store, and don’t forget to check which version is currently installed on your phone. To find out, you need to go to the settings of the mobile device itself. Follow these simple instructions:
- Start your mobile phone and find the settings tab on the home screen. On most devices, it is depicted as a gear.
- Open the section of installed applications.
- A list of all active programs will appear, find the social network and click on it.
- In the next window, detailed information about the utility will appear, and the current version number of the software will be displayed on the top panel.
The location of the main elements in the settings tab may differ on different models of mobile devices. On many modern gadgets, the application will automatically alert you that a relevant update is available and offer to download it from the official software store App Store or Play Market.
Updating Instagram to the latest version on your phone
As previously mentioned, it is recommended to use only the latest version of the mobile application. You can install it yourself in two ways:
- Use the official software store within your operating system.
- Manually download the APK installation file from third-party resources on the internet and run it. This method is only suitable for Android-based phones. In this case, there is a risk of downloading a faulty firmware and picking up malicious viruses.
Below we will consider the steps for updating the social network for different operating systems – iOS and Android.
On Android
If you use an Android smartphone, the firmware principle of the mobile application will look like this:
- The Instagram app sends notifications about the latest software version to many devices automatically. When you launch the social network, you will see a suggestion to download the update. By clicking on the link, you will be directed to the Play Market software store.
- If you did not receive any notification, you can check for firmware manually. To do this, find the Play Market utility on your desktop and launch it.
- On the main page of the store, enter the name of Instagram in the search bar.
- Among the search results, find the required application and click on it.
- On the new page, you will see the “Update” button. Click on it, and the download process will begin.
On Android, you can update Instagram manually without Play Market by downloading the installation file APK from a third-party resource on the internet.
On iPhone
Instagram was initially implemented on Apple devices, and only a few years later was ported to Android. How to update Instagram on iPhone? Follow these instructions:
- Find the App Store icon and launch it.
- Go to the Updates section, located on the bottom panel.
- You will then see a list of all the apps that need to be updated to the latest version.
- Find Instagram and click on the download button.
- After activation is complete, don’t forget to restart your device to apply the changes.
How to enable automatic app updates
If you don’t want to constantly monitor the appearance of new versions, you can set up automatic updates on your smartphone. This means that the phone will independently check the installed version and search for matches in the official software store. This function will be directed to all programs installed on the mobile device. Below we will consider the procedure for activating the tool on different operating systems.
On Android
To enable the automatic download and installation of updates on Android phones, you will need to:
- Open the Play Store.
- Go to the settings panel on the left.
- Select the utility settings option.
- Turn on automatic update search. Here you can also choose the conditions for the function to work – when Wi-Fi is available or always.
- After that, the system will automatically perform all the necessary procedures when the latest software version appears.
In addition, you can find the Instagram app in the store, click on the three-dot icon, and check the box for automatic updates of the utility.
On iPhone
For owners of smartphones with the iOS operating system, the setup principle is as follows:
- On the home screen of your mobile device, find the settings icon.
- Go to the App Store tab.
- Go to the automatic downloads section.
- Turn on the checkbox and set the necessary parameters (download via mobile network or Wi-Fi).
- Done.
It should be remembered that the system will consume traffic for downloading without your knowledge.
How to update Instagram version on PC
The social network has recently become available for personal computer users. An official program was released for the Windows 8 and 10 operating systems. It should also be updated in a timely manner to avoid problems and use updated features. To do this, follow these steps:
- Launch the Microsoft Store software store.
- Find the update and download button.
- A list of installed applications on the PC will appear, as well as a notification of the need to update them.
- Find Instagram and click the install button.
To start the automatic search for Instagram updates, go to the settings section and turn on the indicator.
If you are the owner of an outdated Windows operating system and use an emulator, then the firmware installation principle will be similar to that for a mobile device.
Why isn’t Instagram updating? The reason is simple – the device does not meet the system requirements of the latest version. In this case, it is recommended to roll back to the previous version or change the smartphone.
The article explained how to update the Instagram application for a mobile phone and personal computer. We recommend using only the current firmware version and activating automatic search for updates so that the system does everything for you.