Instagram made a major change to its service recently, allowing photo uploads from its mobile site for the first time. When accessing the Instagram website on an iPhone or iPad, there's now a new photo upload button.

Prior to the update, Instagram only allowed photo uploads from its mobile apps, and the iOS app is limited to the iPhone, so iPad users were forced to download an iPhone-only app with an unoptimized layout to upload photos to the social network.

instagramipad
The Instagram website on mobile devices was previously only available for browsing photos, liking content, searching, and viewing notifications, but now it's possible to upload photos. A new Explore tab is also rolling out on the web.

In a statement to TechCrunch, Instagram said it's designed to help people "have a fuller experience" on the social network. TechCrunch points out that the mobile upload feature is vital for Instagram's global growth, as many people in developing countries may not be able to download the app due to cellular connectivity and data concerns.

"Instagram.com (accessed from mobile) is a web experience optimized for mobile phones. It's designed to help people have a fuller experience on Instagram no matter what device or network they are on."

Photo uploads are only available when the Instagram mobile site is accessed from an iPhone, iPad, or other smartphone or tablet. The desktop site does not allow for photo uploads.

Top Rated Comments

dan9700 Avatar
94 months ago
Why dont they just make the app work on ipad like everyother app durrrr
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
AlexH Avatar
94 months ago
spoof user agent?
Just tested it, and it works just fine. Only issue is figuring out how to crop an image...
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jamisonbaines Avatar
94 months ago
Userbase on iPad might be so low it's not worth the effort for an iPad native app. A hurrr de hurr duuur duurrr.
There should be approximately zero iPad apps by that logic.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
AlexH Avatar
94 months ago
what do you mean crop an image? Use Paint, or Fotor's crop tool ('http://www.fotor.com/app.html#!module/basic/tool/BasicEdits') which let's you choose an aspect ratio and crop without distortion, it's wonderful
I'm talking about the ability to crop & adjust the aspect ratio within Instagram. When I trick the mobile site into thinking my Mac is an iPad, the ability to edit the aspect ratio and crop is gone. Just noting it. I'm aware of the process for making those edits before uploading.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
OldSchoolMacGuy Avatar
94 months ago
We'll see a bunch of services now use this as a way to upload photos. Keep in mind that this will violate the Instagram TOS and may result in your account being suspended or banned. These services will likely be shutdown too as we've seen happen to some lately. It also means sending your login and password off to a 3rd party and hoping they're good enough to secure it. No thanks.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

iPhone SE 4 Vertical Camera Feature

iPhone SE 4 Production Will Reportedly Begin Ramping Up in October

Tuesday July 23, 2024 2:00 pm PDT by
Following nearly two years of rumors about a fourth-generation iPhone SE, The Information today reported that Apple suppliers are finally planning to begin ramping up mass production of the device in October of this year. If accurate, that timeframe would mean that the next iPhone SE would not be announced alongside the iPhone 16 series in September, as expected. Instead, the report...
iPhone 17 Plus Feature

iPhone 17 Lineup Specs Detail Display Upgrade and New High-End Model

Monday July 22, 2024 4:33 am PDT by
Key details about the overall specifications of the iPhone 17 lineup have been shared by the leaker known as "Ice Universe," clarifying several important aspects of next year's devices. Reports in recent months have converged in agreement that Apple will discontinue the "Plus" iPhone model in 2025 while introducing an all-new iPhone 17 "Slim" model as an even more high-end option sitting...
Generic iPhone 17 Feature With Full Width Dynamic Island

Kuo: Ultra-Thin iPhone 17 to Feature A19 Chip, Single Rear Camera, Semi-Titanium Frame, and More

Wednesday July 24, 2024 9:06 am PDT by
Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo today shared alleged specifications for a new ultra-thin iPhone 17 model rumored to launch next year. Kuo expects the device to be equipped with a 6.6-inch display with a current-size Dynamic Island, a standard A19 chip rather than an A19 Pro chip, a single rear camera, and an Apple-designed 5G chip. He also expects the device to have a...
iPhone 16 Pro Sizes Feature

iPhone 16 Series Is Less Than Two Months Away: Everything We Know

Thursday July 25, 2024 5:43 am PDT by
Apple typically releases its new iPhone series around mid-September, which means we are about two months out from the launch of the iPhone 16. Like the iPhone 15 series, this year's lineup is expected to stick with four models – iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max – although there are plenty of design differences and new features to take into account. To bring ...
icloud private relay outage

iCloud Private Relay Experiencing Outage

Thursday July 25, 2024 3:18 pm PDT by
Apple’s iCloud Private Relay service is down for some users, according to Apple’s System Status page. Apple says that the iCloud Private Relay service may be slow or unavailable. The outage started at 2:34 p.m. Eastern Time, but it does not appear to be affecting all iCloud users. Some impacted users are unable to browse the web without turning iCloud Private Relay off, while others are...