Instagram is a free social media app that launched in October 2010. The app allows users to share images and videos, leave comments on posts, send messages, and interact with other users in a variety of ways. Many businesses are already familiar with how Instagram benefits business growth, so quite a few users are using Instagram Business as a means of reaching more customers.
In November 2011, Instagram released a simplified browser version which allowed users to view their main user page and personal information. As time went on, Instagram gradually began improving the browser version of the app, improving the user interface experience and adding lots of functions that paralleled the functionality of the Instagram app.
These days, the browser version of Instagram can perform most of the same functions as the app version, although the browser version still does not support hosting Instagram Live or posting Instagram Stories. But aside from these functions, the browser version of Instagram can perform all of the other major functions of the Instagram app.
| What you want to do | Instagram Web (IG web) | Instagram app |
|---|---|---|
| Browse feed, like and comment | Yes | Yes |
| Send and receive DMs | Yes | Yes |
| Post photos and videos | Yes — upload straight from desktop | Yes |
| Stories | View stories; posting is app-first | Create and view |
| Reels | Watch; filming and editing stay in the app | Full create tools |
| Go Live | Watch only | Broadcast |
| Business insights | Via Meta Business Suite on desktop | In-app professional dashboard |
Like WhatsApp Web, Instagram Web can be directly opened through a browser, so there are no software compatibility issues. Whether you’re a Windows/PC or Mac user, you can log into IG Web simply by opening your browser, navigating to https://www.instagram.com/ and entering your Instagram account name and password.
As time goes on, Instagram continues to improve the functionality of its web version. Let’s take a look at what functions are available for IG Web right now.
Instagram users can finally directly upload images and texts via the web version of Instagram!
Because the Instagram platform lets users share images and videos, many users like to edit images on software like Photoshop to make them as beautiful as possible before uploading them for friends and fans to see, encouraging more people to like and comment on the images, and attracting more followers. Lots of users wanted a way to directly upload photos to Instagram after editing them on their computers. Now it’s finally possible!
To upload photos to Instagram from your computer, just click on the + symbol located in the upper right corner of the IG webpage and select an image or video, then confirm the upload to publish the content and caption.
However, Instagram users are still unable to post Instagram Stories from the browser version. This might be because Instagram feels that the point of Instagram Stories is to share events that are happening in real-time, and mobile devices are better suited for shooting photos and videos, so the function would have limited use on a computer.
The earliest version of Instagram Web only supported likes and comments. Users were unable to send non-public messages to individuals or groups like on the Instagram app, and could not send direct messages. It was only recently that direct messages were made available for Instagram Web.
In addition to directly sending and replying to private messages from users on Instagram Web, users can also forward links to friends, just like on the Instagram app. For example, if an Instagram Web user sees a post complimenting a particular restaurant’s food and wants to share that post with their friend, they can now forward the post to their friend on Instagram Web and both people can continue the conversation as a private chat.
But Instagram Web’s direct message function doesn’t offer the greatest user experience, and it can be particularly difficult to use for business accounts operating IG Shops. This is because large volumes of private messages from lots of different customers can become disorganized and difficult to manage; there is also no way to separate conversations into different categories, which can make it difficult to place customers into certain categories or to manage customer messages.
That’s why imBee is the best platform for managing your Instagram messages. imBee connects to instant messaging apps like Instagram, Messenger, and WhatsApp and combines them into a single platform, allowing users to manage messages from multiple IM apps. Business users can divide chat flows and bookmark conversations and customers to better manage messages and customer relations.
Since its inception, Instagram has focused on building a platform for sharing images and videos, but this was before live broadcasting took the internet by storm. The launch of Instagram Live increased the depth of interactions between users by allowing them to not only post images and videos, but to also host live broadcasts that would enable real-time interactions.
Earlier versions of Instagram Web only allowed users to view posts and Stories, but users can now watch IG live streams via Instagram Web. When viewing Instagram Live broadcasts on a mobile device, audience comments appear directly on the screen, which can sometimes impact chat visuals. When viewing Instagram Live broadcasts through Instagram Web, this is not an issue, and the audience can clearly view the Live while also reading comments.
Although everyone can view Instagram Live broadcasts on Instagram Web, Instagram Web still does not support hosting a Live broadcast. That’s why Lives held by service-oriented Instagram Shops will have clothes modeling sessions. A phone is still necessary for Live broadcasting.
Instagram Explore is a customized content page based on users’ Instagram interactions, browsing habits, and followed accounts, etc. Recommendations will differ for each user’s account. Users can currently browse Instagram Explore content on Instagram Web, including images and videos, and the recommended content will be the same as the content recommended on the Instagram app.
When a user likes or comments on your post, or follows your account, the Instagram app will send you a notification. Similarly, if you are currently using Instagram Web, a small red heart image will appear at the bottom of your screen to notify you when someone performs these actions.
Instagram is wildly popular among the current generation, and an indispensable social media platform for businesses. When a business operates multiple social media and messaging accounts, managing them all can start to become tricky.
imBee is a one-stop instant messaging platform that combines instant messaging apps like WhatsApp, Messenger, LINE, WeChat, and Instagram into a single interface, saving users the hassle of jumping back and forth between multiple apps and making it easier to receive and reply to messages. In addition, imBee provides an automated instant message management functions like quick replies, conversation flow management, and chatbots, helping improve the efficiency of customer service and marketing teams.
Yes. Instagram Web runs directly in any modern browser on Windows or Mac. Open instagram.com, sign in with your account, and you can scroll the feed, post photos, send direct messages, view Stories and Live, and check notifications — no app download or software installation needed.
Yes. Instagram Web supports publishing posts from desktop. After logging in at instagram.com, use the create/upload option to select an image, add a caption, and share it to your feed — the same core posting workflow available in the mobile app.
Yes. Direct messaging is available on Instagram Web. Earlier versions only allowed likes and comments, but the web version now lets you send and receive private messages to individuals and groups, so you can manage conversations from your desktop.
Yes. When someone likes, comments on, or follows you, a notification appears on Instagram Web. The Explore page is also available, surfacing customised content based on your interactions, browsing habits, and the accounts you follow.
Businesses handling high message volumes across Instagram, WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger and more can use imBee, an omnichannel inbox that unifies every channel in one place. Teams share one workspace, route conversations, and reply faster — improving response times and customer experience without switching between apps.
Start your 30-day free trial today. Supercharge your team's productivity by over 30% and take your business to new heights of success.