The basic steps for posting a photo on Instagram

To add a photo to Instagram, open the app and tap the plus sign icon at the bottom of the screen (on iPhone or Android). Select "Post" from the menu that appears. Then choose a photo from your phone's camera roll, or take a new one using Instagram's built-in camera. After you pick your photo, you can edit it with filters and brightness adjustments, write a caption, add location tags, and choose who can see it before you share.

If you're posting from a computer, go to Instagram.com, click the plus sign icon in the top navigation bar, and select the photo file from your computer. The editing and sharing options work the same way as on your phone.

The whole process takes about two minutes once you've decided what to post and what to say about it.

Key Takeaways

  • On your phone, tap the plus sign at the bottom of the Instagram app, choose "Post," and select a photo from your camera roll or take a new one.
  • You can add filters, adjust brightness, write a caption, and tag your location before you post.
  • Instagram lets you choose whether your post is visible to everyone, only your followers, or specific people you select.
  • You can post from a computer by going to Instagram.com and clicking the plus sign in the top navigation bar.

Editing your photo before you post it

After you select a photo, Instagram shows you editing tools before you write your caption. You can explore built-in filters (like Clarendon, Juno, or Lark) by swiping left and right through the filter options. Each filter changes the color tone and brightness of your photo in a different way.

Below the filters, you'll see adjustment buttons for brightness, contrast, saturation, and warmth. Tap any of these to slide the adjustment up or down until the photo looks the way you want it. You can also crop the photo, rotate it, or straighten it using the tools in the top right corner of the editing screen.

If you don't like your edits, tap "Cancel" to start over. Your original photo stays in your camera roll unchanged.

Writing captions and adding location tags

After you finish editing, tap "Next" to move to the caption screen. In the text box that says "Write a caption," you can type anything you want — a description of the photo, a quote, a question for your followers, or nothing at all. Captions can be as short or as long as you want.

Below the caption box, you can tap "Add location" to tag where the photo was taken. Instagram will suggest nearby locations based on your phone's GPS, or you can search for a specific place by typing its name. Adding a location makes your post show up when other people search for that place on Instagram.

You can also tag other Instagram accounts in your caption by typing @ followed by their username. If you tag someone, they'll get a notification that you mentioned them.

Choosing who can see your post

Before you tap "Share," look for the "Advanced Settings" section on the caption screen. Tap it to see options for who can see your post. By default, your post is visible to everyone who follows you and anyone who searches for you on Instagram.

If you want to limit who sees the post, you can hide it from specific people. Tap "Hide like and view counts on this post" if you don't want people to see how many likes or comments your photo got. You can also turn off comments entirely by tapping "Turn off commenting."

These settings explore only to this one post. Your next post will use your default settings unless you change them again.

Posting multiple photos at once

Instagram lets you post up to 10 photos or videos in a single post, called a carousel. When you tap the plus sign and select "Post," look for a square icon with multiple layers in the top right corner of the photo selection screen. Tap it to turn on "Multiple select" mode.

Then tap each photo you want to include. The order they appear in your post is the order you tap them. You can rearrange them by holding and dragging each photo to a new position. After you've chosen all your photos, tap "Next" and edit, caption, and share them the same way you would a single photo.

People viewing your post will see the first photo, then swipe left to see the others. Each photo in the carousel can have its own filter and brightness adjustments.

Saving a draft instead of posting right away

If you're not ready to share your photo yet, you don't have to post it when ready. On the caption screen, before you tap "Share," tap the back arrow in the top left corner. Instagram will ask if you want to save your draft. Tap "Save Draft" and your photo, edits, caption, and settings will be saved.

To find your draft later, open the app and tap the plus sign again. At the top of the photo selection screen, you'll see a "Drafts" section showing any photos you saved but didn't post. Tap a draft to open it and finish editing or posting whenever you're ready.

Drafts stay saved on your phone until you delete them or post them. They don't take up much space, so you can keep several drafts at once.

Troubleshooting common problems when posting photos

If Instagram won't let you post, the most common reason is that your internet connection is too slow or dropped while you were uploading. Make sure you're connected to WiFi or have a strong mobile signal, then try posting again.

If the photo won't load from your camera roll, try closing the Instagram app completely and opening it again. On iPhone, swipe up from the bottom of the screen to close the app. On Android, tap the square icon at the bottom and swipe up on the Instagram card. Then open Instagram again and try selecting the photo.

If you see an error message saying the photo doesn't meet Instagram's requirements, the file might be too large or in a format Instagram doesn't support. Most photos taken on modern phones work fine. If you're uploading an older file or a screenshot, try taking a fresh photo with your phone's camera instead.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I edit a photo after I've already posted it?

You can't change the photo itself after posting, but you can edit the caption, location tag, and who can see the post. Tap the three dots in the top right corner of your post and select "Edit." You can also delete the post and upload it again if you want to change the actual photo or its filters.

What's the best size for a photo on Instagram?

Instagram works best with photos that are square (1080 by 1080 pixels) or slightly taller than they are wide. Your phone's camera takes photos in the right size automatically. If you crop or edit a photo on your computer before uploading, aim for a width of at least 1080 pixels so it doesn't look blurry.

Can I post the same photo to my Instagram story and my feed at the same time?

No, stories and feed posts are separate. A story disappears after 24 hours, while a feed post stays on your profile. You have to post to each one separately, but you can use the same photo for both if you want.

Why does my photo look different on Instagram than it did on my phone?

Instagram compresses photos to make them load faster, which can change colors slightly. The brightness and colors also look different depending on what device someone is viewing your post on — a phone screen shows colors differently than a computer screen. This is normal and happens to everyone's photos.