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How to Upload Photos to Instagram Without Opening the App

1 minute read
TIME.com stock photos Social Apps iPhone Instagram
Elizabeth Renstrom for TIME
By Lisa Eadicicco

Instagram just made uploading photos and videos to its platform a little bit quicker for iPhone users.

A recently released update introduces a shortcut that allows Instagrammers to publish photos directly from the iPhone’s Photos or Camera app. While it’s possible to add a caption through this shortcut, users will have to launch the Instagram app to apply filters.

Apple has allowed third-party apps to plug into its core features like the camera since iOS 8 debuted in 2014, but Instagram only just started supporting this feature.

Here’s how to access the shortcut:

  • Launch the Photos or Camera app on your iPhone.
  • Select the photo you’d like to upload to Instagram.
  • Tap the share button.
  • A list of apps should appear under the selected image. Scroll over to the right and press the More button.
  • Find Instagram in the list of apps and make sure the switch is toggled on.
  • Press the Done button in the upper right corner to return to the Share screen.
  • Now the Instagram icon should appear in the selection of apps underneath your photo. Tap the icon to share the selected image to Instagram.

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