Uploading To Instagram Without Losing Image Quality

Something I noticed when posting to Instagram from my desktop was that the image quality was significantly worse than the version I had uploaded, with the blurred epitome inevitably getting less than favourable engagement. Afterwards some thorough inquiry though, I've managed to compile some reasons equally to why Instagram might exist reducing the image quality on your posts.

There are a few reasons why the image quality is reduced when uploading straight from your PC, one of which is that you are not following Instagram's max resolution guidelines, which is currently set at 1080 x 1350px. Any image that is greater than the said resolution will exist fabricated smaller by Instagram and thus may affect the quality of the image.

Secondly, it too depends on the format of the paradigm that you are using. Instagram's default format for images is JPEG (.jpg), meaning that whatever epitome that is uploaded in PNG (.png), BITMAP (.bmp), or anything other than JPEG, will be converted to JPEG and as such loses some of the quality during the conversion.

  • READ: How I Gained Over 100,000 Followers On Instagram
  • READ: How To Use The Right Hashtags For YOU
  • READ: The BIGGEST Fault I Meet People Making On Instagram

When you consider the number of images that are being uploaded to Instagram every single 24-hour interval and the server power that is needed to run the platform, you'll soon forgive Instagram for reducing file sizes where possible. Attempt to continue your paradigm file size to a minimum (without affecting prototype quality) to avoid having information technology be poorly compressed by Instagram.

Concluding but not least, Instagram is predominantly a mobile-based app, and every bit such prioritises uploads from mobile (or tablet) devices when it comes to quality. This means that images uploaded via your desktop, such as with the developer tools method, can sometimes come across a reduction in image quality when uploading to Instagram.

How to avoid losing Epitome Quality on Instagram (with Photoshop)

For many people, who have pictures of themselves, their domestic dog or the local beach, paradigm quality doesn't really tend to affair. Even so, if you're a creative like me who designs content for their concern and wants to establish themselves as a professional, then maintaining quality with your uploads is very important.

I like to create my Instagram content using Photoshop, but the same principles will utilize to whichever photograph editing software you are using. In Photoshop you will want to prepare upwardly a new file or artboard and fix it to Instagram's maximum resolution (1080 x 1350px). One time yous have created your design, you lot need to get to File > Export > Save For Web (Legacy)…

For those that don't know, saving in this way will allow you to alter the quality and file size of your final image. In the superlative right of the Salvage For Web window, under Preset, you volition want to select JPEG as the file type. Below that, you can change the overall quality of the image, starting from Low all the style upward to Maximum.

Hither is a screenshot of the Save To Web window for my Bruce Lee mail in Photoshop. I have highlighted the areas you demand to monitor in order to reduce size and maintain image quality, such as the quality setting and dimensions of the image.

Again, the reason for lowering the quality of the dropdown is to reduce the file size of the image and thus avoid Instagram taking the pinch into their own hands. You can monitor the size of the epitome in the lesser left (to a higher place example: 837.8K).

A lot of the fourth dimension, yous will actually find that the Very High or High setting reduces the file size significantly; without actually affecting the sharpness of the image itself. You will want to cull the setting that achieves the best residue between the ii.

In one case you're happy with the epitome file size and quality, you lot can hit the relieve button to save it to your computer. Post-obit that, you will want to upload your new paradigm to Google Drive where yous will so download it to your mobile (or tablet) device. You can and then upload the image directly to Instagram from your mobile.

If you really desire to make the most of your post and get as much appointment as possible, then you'll want to also check out this ultimate guide I wrote for using hashtags on Instagram.

Conclusion

Instagram can often reduce the quality of your images during uploads for a wide number of reasons, only if you're looking to maintain quality then yous should look to upload a high-quality, compressed JPEG file (max resolution: 1080 ten 1350px) directly from your mobile or tablet to avert any further compression by Instagram.

You can follow me on Instagram here!

Have any feedback or questions about this post? Permit me know in the comments below!

Something I noticed when posting to Instagram from my desktop was that the image quality was significantly worse than the version I had uploaded, with the blurred image inevitably getting less than favourable engagement. After some thorough research though, I've managed to compile some answers reasons as to why Instagram might be reducing the image quality on your posts.
Did you detect this post on improving the image quality of your Instagram posts helpful? If and then, I would be very grateful if yous could pin this image to Pinterest!

Mike Walters

Mike Walters

I Build Killer Landing Pages That Really Get Results... Guaranteed

Mike Walters

Mike Walters

I Build Killer Landing Pages That Actually Become Results... Guaranteed

This Postal service Has 56 Comments

  1. Slap-up post, I was asking myself how much information technology shrink quality of photos when I transport prototype to myself over messenger then post it on Instagram. And then I read this article and used the Google Drive. I must say there is a bit more than depth and then sending over messenger. And so yeah Google Drive works fine.

    1. Mike Walters 28 Sep 2020 Reply

      Hey Abraham, glad to run into that information technology worked for you using Google Drive. That's what I currently use! Posting straight from Creator Studio works well too of course.

  2. Lily Crocker i Oct 2020 Reply

    Hi! Is in that location a manner to exercise to this from a mobile device? I do not accept photoshop on my computer and am not looking to pay for it. Any tips?

    1. Mike Walters 1 Oct 2020 Reply

      Hello Lily, you should find that uploading a photo from your telephone should work well regardless of which editing software that you're using. Instagram is primarily a mobile-based app, so it'due south but natural for the mobile uploads to be of good quality. In that location volition always be some level of compression, given the sheer number of photos that Instagram'south servers have to shop, simply not plenty to ruin a photo. Hope this helps 🙂

    2. Wesley i Nov 2020 Reply

      I'd recommend using Google's Snapseed app or Adobe Photoshop Express. Both of them are free and let you customize the export settings of your photos to specific resolutions and quality.

      1. Mike Walters 1 Nov 2020 Reply

        Great suggestions Wesley 🙂

  3. Ollie sixteen Oct 2020 Reply

    Hi, have you tried this method with other tools such every bit powerpoint? The nuts seem to be the same. I've tried to set the aforementioned hight width but when I export the epitome to jpeg and save, ship to phone and finally transfer to instagram, instagram comprasses the image afterwards a while. Whatever thoughts?

    1. Mike Walters 18 Oct 2020 Answer

      Hi Ollie, I haven't created carousels or posts using PowerPoint but the theory should be the same. There is ever going to be a small chip of compression by Instagram when uploading to their platform, however, you can minimize this but uploading the image through the mobile app or via Instagram [Facebook] Creator Studio. Attempt uploading through one of those platforms and see how it goes

      1. Pavle Bogdanovic 4 Nov 2021 Reply

  4. Sophia 19 October 2020 Answer

    Hullo! My friend took some photos using her iPhone vii plus and sent me the photos which I then I edited on my iPhone 11, and when I went to postal service the images to instagram, the photos came out blurry! What tin can I do to my photos to make certain they post at a better resolution because this photo was taken on an iPhone, not a DSLR and so i'thou confused as to how information technology would be blurry. Thank you!

    1. Mike Walters 20 Oct 2020 Reply

      Hello Sophia, I guess it might depend on how your friend sent those photos to you. I know that in the by, I'd transferred some files over using Facebook Messenger and they lost some of the motion picture quality during that transfer. If you make sure to upload them to the Google Drive (or something similar) and then download them from there, you might find that the picture quality is a lot amend – depending on how y'all upload it of course. Upload the flick via your mobile or Facebook/Instagram Creator Studio. Let me know how it goes 🙂

  5. Antonia 20 Oct 2020 Answer

    I utilise Canva to blueprint my posts what would y'all suggest to save the quality?

    1. Mike Walters twenty Oct 2020 Reply

      Hi Antonia. Luckily for you, at that place are many great content creators that use Canva to pattern their posts. I would advise saving as JPG and uploading either directly from the Instagram mobile app or via Facebook/Instagram Creator Studio

  6. Mike Walters xx Oct 2020 Reply

    Haha! Well I tin't imagine information technology's inexpensive to host billions of photos/videos 😅

  7. Alfonso iv Nov 2020 Reply

    Artwork
    Fine lines: get dirty and/or slightly moved.
    Thick lines: flattened.
    Colors: mixed, simplified, exagerated or all of them.

    This causes young artists to wait worse than they are simply because Instagram can't fifty-fifty requite a F***1000 guide on how to utilize their site other than "tap here to upload". How virtually giving a proper tutorial or creative tips instead of creating 100 filters every month? I swear with social media…

    1. Mike Walters six Nov 2020 Reply

      Haha, I feel your pain Alfonso. It's true that some people'southward Instagram posts don't exercise their work justice!

  8. This is actually helpful but i have a question, i was familiar with this workflow of reducing the resolution of your prototype manually, but this helped me to better that workflow, that being said, after doing all that and brand sure that my epitome looks correctly for spider web and hi-quality, when i postal service it on Instagram in getting a terrible Banding peculiarly in the sky area, i have remove all banding before as i said looks perfect in all web applications, so seems that IG still compressing my file for some reason, do you accept any idea nearly this? Cheers in Avant-garde

    1. Mike Walters 10 Nov 2020 Reply

      Hi Tony, thanks for reaching out. I likewise suffer from the aforementioned banding issues on Instagram. I believe that the platform just isn't suited to such high-level photography. Which is ironic, given the premise of the platform. I've since tried to avoid gradients where possible. I'm pitiful I can't assist much further!

  9. Sofia 16 Nov 2020 Reply

    Hi! I use Canva on both my laptop and iPhone. After downloading images from the mobile app and uploading them to Instagram, they still experience lower quality and a slight change in color. Do yous have more tips on this? Thanks!

    1. Mike Walters 18 Nov 2020 Reply

      Hi Sofia, I can't really say without seeing the images simply there will ever exist some form of compression when uploading to Instagram – no affair what you lot exercise. Every bit for the color difference, could it be that you lot're viewing the epitome from a different device? I know that the colours between my iPhone, tablet and desktop all differ. Let me know!

  10. Mike, cheers for this. It'due south incredibly helpful info. I've been using this workflow, more or less, in Photoshop for the last couple of years, just have always noticed a drop in quality one time I put my files on Instagram. Farther, I've been interested in making stop motion videos and have noticed that, over again, the drop in quality is evident in the last product whenever I try to upload to IG, with just enough mistiness showing that I haven't even so posted whatever of these. I'thousand going to adjust my workflow and try the videos again. Bookmarked this article for reference.
    – Laura

    1. Mike Walters 24 November 2020 Respond

      Hey Laura, never tried uploading stop motion videos to Instagram myself but I look forward to hearing your results!

  11. ER 27 November 2020 Reply

    What virtually bit depth? Doesn't Instagram limit images to viii bit jpgs?

    1. Mike Walters 2 Dec 2020 Reply

      Unfortunately, I tin can't find whatever confirmation from Instagram regarding the limitation of bit depths. I'chiliad curious as to how yous constitute this data?

  12. Annabelle Mostert 1 Dec 2020 Reply

    Hi,

    Maybe this is a featherbrained quetion, merely i have created the file in photoshop to the size specification you gear up out to a higher place.
    How do i re-size my image ti fit instagram afterwards making information technology (1080 x 1350px). I understand how to save for web but not how to re-size it.
    Thanks

    1. Mike Walters 1 Dec 2020 Reply

      Hello Annabelle, not a silly question at all. 1080x1350px is a great size for Instagram for portrait photos. If yous are after a square epitome then you lot would demand to alter the Canvas Size in Photoshop before yous Save For Web. You lot can change the Canvas size by going to Image > Canvass Size. There might be a link icon which is selected to lock the ratio (to 1080x1350px). You will need to unselect this to change it to 1:1 ratio.

  13. Eric 7 Dec 2020 Answer

    What if you practise all this and information technology'southward however desaturated? I've exported in .jpg, sRGB colour space, same dimensions you describe, and it'southward withal messed up. Simply almost every one of my pictures is from what I tin can tell. They wait fine on my phone, on the calculator, even in the screen on IG where I upload the moving-picture show. I make my posts ahead of time and save them, and even that little thumbnail looks fine. It'south simply when it gets uploaded, it goes all incorrect.

    1. Mike Walters 8 Dec 2020 Answer

      Hey Eric, that is a tough one and I understand your frustration. I would have to estimate that it's down to the size of the (epitome) file. Perchance effort compressing information technology as much as possible, without reducing the quality of the image, and see how that fairs when uploaded to IG?

  14. Eric 9 Dec 2020 Reply

    I'yard not 100% but that might have worked. I posted one this morning that got desaturated again, tried exporting it from Lightroom with lower quality (I had information technology set to 100, at present I'thou effectually 75) then posted that version. Information technology looked to be a trivial more than saturated than the previous i, so I think yous're on to something. Thanks!

    1. Mike Walters 9 Dec 2020 Reply

      I'chiliad glad that it helped a bit! Thanks for getting dorsum to me Eric

      1. Eric 29 Dec 2020 Reply

        Thanks for responding, that'south pretty rare anymore. Anyways they are yet desaturating my pictures. I recollect what I did earlier might take helped a bit, but information technology's still very noticeable. My consign settings from Lightroom are: .jpg, sRGB, quality at 76, resize to fit checked, width ready to 1080, summit left blank, resolution 72, sharpen for screen, standard, the default settings for metadata, and then a watermark which is merely my name in the bottom right corner, no image or annihilation similar that. I don't get it. I edit in Lightroom initially, export at 300 ppi and in AdobeRGB, open that file in Photoshop, brand edits at that place, save a copy, import that into Lightroom so I tin export with those settings. It'southward a little convoluted but it works for me I judge. Any thoughts?

        1. Mike Walters 11 Jan 2021 Reply

          No problem, happy to exist one of the rare ones! I'grand really not sure to be honest, information technology sounds similar you lot've done a lot of things right. What are the sizes of the files that y'all're trying to upload?

          1. Eric 21 January 2021

            One of the ones that got desaturated is 446Kb and is 1080×720. I'grand at a loss lol Thanks for helping me try to effigy this out.

          2. Mike Walters 12 February 2021

            Hmm, 446kb might be a bit too much for Instagram. If you were using Photoshop then I presume that was at a Very High to Maximum quality setting. Maybe lower the quality earlier uploading to Instagram to reduce file size

  15. Jalal Mustafa 10 Dec 2020 Respond

    I was exporting PNGs from corel draw for instagram uploads and quality was decreasing. now i will use jpegs after seeing this article. also using 1200×1200 resolution. should i opt for 1080×1350.?

    1. Mike Walters 10 Dec 2020 Answer

      Hey Jalal, 1080×1080 is perfectly fine for Instagram. The 1350 resolution is just the recommended size for portrait images.

  16. Matt L 1 Feb 2021 Reply

    Before exporting a pic to post on IG, do you save/downsize the file to to IGs recommended attribute ratio/max resolution specs? Ie 1080, To avoid potential compression loss?

    Or do you simply mail service what's most likely a much larger/higher resolution file and allow information technology automatically go through the compression algorithm to scale information technology down/lower the image quality to fit the app?

    If yous've experimented can you even tell much of a difference on a smartphone?

    1. Mike Walters 12 Feb 2021 Answer

      Hey Matt, good question. I really only keep all of my canvas sizes to the recommended 1080×1080 or 1080×1350, so I oasis't experimented with larger sizes. That existence said, it'southward best to keep the file size as low as possible to avoid unnecessary compression by Instagram's platform. All of my posts are created on desktop using Photoshop so I'm not sure about smartphone files, but in the past I've noticed that photos taken on my iPhone tend not to be ruined with compression. Let me know if you find anything useful when experimenting!

  17. Arash 7 February 2021 Respond

    Give thanks you Mike!

    And so…
    1080 x 1080
    1080 x 1350 only for portrait images

    300dpi or 72dpi? and how about ppi?
    is at that place any limit for Kb or Mb?

    1. Mike Walters 12 February 2021 Answer

      Hey Arash, to be honest I'grand non sure on the exact ppi, kB or MB that Instagram volition accept but it's best practice to keep it as depression equally possible. I can confirm that those ratios are best for both square & portrait images.

  18. I don't have a question merely a thanks for your incredibly helpful article and responses.

    1. Mike Walters 12 February 2021 Reply

      Cheers Elizabeth! Capeesh the feedback 🙂

  19. Laini fourteen Apr 2021 Reply

    I take tried uploading a logo using all the correct dimensions for Instagram. Tired saving in all ways like JPEG and PNG. Looks smashing in monitor. Sizing right and when I upload the logo it looks terrible. Any tricks with logos with text?

    1. Mike Walters twenty Apr 2021 Reply

      Howdy Laini, it often comes downwards to the size of the file. It may be best to lower the quality when saving the file, to ensure that the file size is as low as possible, then that Instagram doesn't compress the epitome likewise much. Have a play around with this and run across what works best for you.

  20. Alex four May 2021 Answer

    Howdy, Mike! I think I take 2 questions for you lot. 😀
    1. I am curious virtually your stance on this: I post a regular portrait photo on feed, one of 1080 x 1350px, then I desire to post the same picture show on IG Story and IG automatically does a zoom-in on this picture then that it fits nice in the IG Story dimensions, i.eastward. 1080 x 1920px, just the image looks a little blurry after it is posted on IG Story. Is it better and like a best practice to have the pictures for the feed in 1080 x 1350px and those for stories in 1080 x 1920px? I work in social media and I am going crazy with some pictures I mail that are loosing quality when posted 🙁 It is boring, just it may be better if my pictures for feed would exist in the recommended dimensions of 1080 ten 1350px / 1080 ten 1080px and for stories 1080 10 1920px? 2.Also, you lot're saying that if I take my picture with my phone (I take a Samsung S21 Ultra) and I mail service it merely like it was shot, at that place won't be quality loss? The pictures taken with this phone accept, for eg. 4000 x 3000px 2.75 MB. Should I depression resolution and mayhap even the quality even on these pictures I accept with the phone? Maan, this is nuts! Hate IG for this😒
    Thank you in advance for your reply!

    1. Mike Walters 25 May 2021 Reply

      Hey Alex, lamentable for the tardily reply! Yes, y'all should create two different versions of the same graphic if yous want to share them to your post & story respectively. Alternatively, you could upload your post and so "share information technology to your story" which may be easier, if that'south the outcome you lot were after. As for your Samsung, I'm an iPhone guy but I've just noticed that my images used to upload in adequately high quality when uploading directly from my phone. I'grand non sure why this is, as the file sizes (and dimensions) seem to be very high – as yous say. Sorry I couldn't be of more than help.

  21. FAHAD xvi Aug 2021 Answer

    I Desire TO POST VIDEO IN 2K ON INSTGRAM FROM MOBILE I Export IT IN 2K BUT IT All the same COMPRESSES THE QUALITY CAN You HELP ME ?

    1. Mike Walters 17 Aug 2021 Answer

      Howdy Fahad, I would assume that a 2K video is simply too large to exist uploaded to Instagram without existence compressed. You will want to compress the video yourself before uploading to Instagram to avoid them doing so themselves.

  22. What are you mean 1350 ? I tin can upload 1080×1920 to my stories , and that is the maximum pixel than I know.

    1. Mike Walters 26 Sep 2021 Reply

      1350×1080 is the max for regular posts.

  23. Thanks! This has been driving me Nuts!!! Any recommendations on consign and upload workflow for Facebook?

    1. Mike Walters 30 Jan 2022 Reply

      Hey Andrew, how practice yous mean exactly?

  24. Mike 17 Jan 2022 Answer

    Hello, this is a great mail service!
    I take a question though, when i resize my image to 1080×1350, it gets wider? I don't empathise how to fix that, could you delight help.
    Give thanks you!

    1. Mike Walters thirty Jan 2022 Reply

      Hey Mike, no problem. Depending on which software yous're using, the solution could be every bit simple as using the reverse dimensions instead, i.e. 1350×1080. That should crop your prototype to exist taller than it is broad. Hope this helps!

  25. Suresh 4 Mar 2022 Answer

    How-do-you-do,
    I would similar to know if the image needs to be cropped @ 4 x 5 ratio before proceeding to the Export option.
    Thank you

    1. Mike Walters 4 Mar 2022 Respond

      Hey Suresh! Aye, you would need to crop information technology appropriately BEFORE exporting for spider web. You can resize it within the consign window but I don't think y'all tin conform the ratio at this bespeak

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Larn how your comment data is candy.

Mike Walters

I Build Killer Landing Pages That Really Get Results... Guaranteed