New Way to Upload to Instagram (and Not Get Shadow Banned)

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We get asked a lot how to upload to Instagram, I even covered it a couple years back. The problem is that most of the older methods have fallen to the dreaded "Shadow Ban". If banned Instagram hides your hashtags so you don't gain followers, but stealthily so you don't notice. With that in mind, Felix Sun used a recent mobile trick to make a mini Instagram program that lets you upload via Mac or PC for free.Recently Instagram allowed mobile uploads, using the browser on your phone you can upload to Instagram without having the app installed. Using this trick you can tell your desktop's browser to pretend it's a mobile device and upload away. But it's a bit of a clumsy trick that is more advanced. Felix's program is a mini version of chrome already set to mobile, just log in the first time and upload. A dialog box will pop up to add a file then the rest is like normal.Head over to windowed.io and check it out. Upload an easy way, or at least until they ban this as well. Our official and Instagram friendly uploader of choice is Later.com. You can check it out in Toby's video here and it lets you schedule posts.If you were wondering how to do it in a browser anyway:In Safari

  • Enable the Develop Menu. Click Safari, Preferences, then Advanced. Check 'Show Develop menu in menu bar'.
  • Now while on Instagram.com. Click the new Develop button in your menu, user agent, then iPad. You may have to refresh the page.

In Chrome

  • You can install User-Agent Switcher, the new button in the top right when clicked lets you tell Instagram you are a mobile device. Just remember to turn it off when you leave Instagram.
  • Without using an extension, press F12 for Developer Tools. Click the phone icon at the top left of the new panel or press Ctrl+Shift+M. The top left option to the left of dimensions lets you choose iPad, then reload the page.

Upload DSLR Photo's from a Computer to Instagram

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Instagram Featured Image

The Official WayDSLR to Iphone to Instagram

Officially getting photos from your DSLR to Instagram you have to use the mobile only instagram app. While there are a million ways to do this such as a smart card reader, micro SD, USB, Bluetooth, or emailing yourself why not take a second to leverage the cloud. To save a bit of work transfer the photos directly to the phone with their native cloud I.E. iCloud, Google Drive, or Skydrive seamlessly. Alternatively Toby’s favorite option in this case is the 3rd party Dropbox as you just sync to the phone and export to Instagram.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r1on8fCXSuU

The Sneaky Way, or for People Who Just Don't Have a SmartphoneDSLR to PC to Instagram

Either way you've got to use the official app to create an account. Using BlueStacks or one of the other emulators listed below you can simulate a phone on your computer to get started. Once you've got the program up and running add the Instagram app so you can make an account. Otherwise if you're planning on using the Windows 8 app Instapic the much simpler solution is just borrow someone's phone for a minute to make an account.While not endorsed by Instagram the following programs use the Instagram API or Instagram APK to run and upload photos. As Instagram is not a fan of this the following can be deactivated at any time such as the Mac Uploader for Instagram. I am not including instructions as a short search on Google can provide full guides for installation.For Windows:

  • Instapic - A Windows 8 app, works fine for almost everything although it has issues cutting off comments with a square monitor

Through a Website:

  • Gramblr - photo uploader only, catch is Instagram has been disabling hashtagging for accounts that use it so its a double edged sword

Android Emulators (PC/Mac/Linux):

  • BlueStacks - Can be a bit of a sluggish resource hog but it's one of the older well known emulators that's updated frequently
  • Genymotion - Android emulator that's fast but personal use only
  • Andy - A newer emulator, easy to install but runs an older version of android
  • ARC Welder via Chrome + Instagram APK - Takes a bit to setup but makes a nice launcher for Instagram
  • VirtualBox + Android x86 - For the more technical minded as it’s a bit tricky to install
On a sidenote

If you're a chrome user a good Instagram viewer is Pixsta. While you don’t have the options of some of the other apps it's a nice platform to view and like photos from your feed versus instagram.com.

Put these new skills to the test and participate in our weekly Instagram challenges