The fastest way to add a photo to Instagram

On your phone, open Instagram, tap the plus icon at the bottom of the screen, select Post, then choose a photo from your camera roll. You can edit it with filters, brightness, or crop tools before you tap Share and add a caption. On a computer, go to Instagram.com, click the plus icon in the sidebar, upload a photo file from your desktop, edit it the same way, then share it.

The process takes about two minutes from start to finish. Instagram accepts JPG and PNG files, and photos can be anywhere from 1080 by 1350 pixels (portrait) to 1200 by 628 pixels (landscape). If your photo is a different size, Instagram will automatically fit it to the feed without cutting anything off.

Key Takeaways

  • On your phone, tap the plus icon, select Post, choose your photo, edit it if you want, add a caption, and tap Share.
  • On a computer, click the plus icon in the sidebar, upload a photo file, edit it, write your caption, and click Share.
  • You can add a caption, tag people, add a location, and turn on or off comments before you post.
  • Instagram stores your drafts automatically, so you can close the app and come back to finish a post later.

Adding a photo on your phone step by step

Start by opening the Instagram app and tapping the plus icon (it looks like a square with a plus sign) at the bottom center of your screen. A menu will appear with options including Post, Story, and Reel. Tap Post.

Next, you'll see your camera roll. Tap the photo you want to use. If you want to add multiple photos to the same post, tap Select Multiple at the top right, then tap each photo you want to include. You can add up to 10 photos or videos in one post. Once you've chosen your photo or photos, tap Next.

On the next screen, you can edit your photo using filters, brightness, contrast, or saturation. You can also crop or rotate it. These tools are optional — if you want to post the photo as-is, just tap Next again. Then add a caption in the text box, tag people by typing @ and their username, add a location, and choose whether to turn comments on or off. When you're ready, tap Share.

Adding a photo on a computer

Go to Instagram.com and log in if you're not already signed in. On the left sidebar, click the plus icon. A window will open asking you to select a file from your computer. Click Select from Computer and navigate to the photo you want to upload. You can only upload one photo at a time from a computer, unlike on your phone where you can add multiple photos to a single post.

After you select your photo, you'll see the same editing tools available on your phone — filters, brightness, contrast, and crop. Make any changes you want, then click Next. Add your caption, tag people, add a location, and choose your comment settings. Click Share when you're done.

Editing your photo before you post

Instagram's built-in editor gives you several options. You can apply a filter (a preset color or tone that changes the whole photo's look), adjust brightness (how light or dark the photo is), change contrast (the difference between light and dark areas), or modify saturation (how colorful the photo is). You can also crop the photo to remove parts from the edges or rotate it 90 degrees at a time.

If you want more advanced editing, you can edit your photo in a separate app before you upload it to Instagram. Many phones come with a built-in photo editor, and free apps like Snapseed or PicsArt offer more control over color, sharpness, and effects. Edit your photo there, save it, then upload it to Instagram without using Instagram's editing tools.

What to do if your photo doesn't look right after you post it

You can edit a photo after you've posted it. Tap the three dots in the top right corner of your post, then tap Edit. You can change the caption, add or remove tags, change the location, or turn comments on or off. However, you cannot change the photo itself or apply new filters after posting — if you need to change the actual image, you'll need to delete the post and upload a new one.

To delete a post, tap the three dots in the top right corner and select Delete. Instagram will ask you to confirm. Once you delete it, the post is gone and your followers will no longer see it.

Saving a draft instead of posting right away

If you're not ready to post yet, you can save your work as a draft. On your phone, after you've chosen your photo and edited it, tap the back arrow instead of tapping Share. Instagram will ask if you want to save your draft. Tap Save Draft. On a computer, click the back arrow and select Save Draft from the menu.

Your draft will be saved in the Create menu (the plus icon). You can come back to it anytime and finish editing or posting. Drafts stay saved until you delete them or post them, even if you close the app or log out.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I add photos from my computer to Instagram on my phone?

No, Instagram's mobile app only lets you choose photos from your phone's camera roll or take a new photo with your camera. To upload a photo from your computer to Instagram on your phone, you would need to transfer the photo to your phone first using email, cloud storage like Google Drive, or a file transfer app.

What size should my photo be for Instagram?

Instagram works best with photos that are 1080 by 1350 pixels (portrait orientation) or 1200 by 628 pixels (landscape). If your photo is a different size, Instagram will automatically resize it to fit without cutting anything off. You don't need to resize your photo before uploading — Instagram handles it for you.

Can I post a photo to Instagram and Facebook at the same time?

Yes. After you add your caption and before you tap Share, look for the option to share to other platforms. On your phone, scroll down and tap Share to Facebook if you want the same photo to appear on your Facebook profile. On a computer, check the sharing options before you click Share.

What happens if I post a photo by accident?

You can delete it immediately. Tap the three dots in the top right corner of your post and select Delete. Confirm that you want to delete it. The post will be removed from your profile and your followers' feeds right away. There's no undo button after you confirm, so make sure you want to delete it before you tap confirm.