Skip to main content

Your Instagram pics are about to look a whole lot better with 1080-pixel resolution

Instagram Explore
Denys Prykhodov / Shutterstock
Instagram, the popular photo-sharing app owned by Facebook, is about to get a much-needed makeover to its images. The app previously only allowed users to upload and view photos at 640 x 640-pixel resolution, but Instagram says it will soon let users upload pictures in a higher resolution of 1080 x 1080 pixels.

Users can see if their own pictures are in the new high-res format by using a desktop browser like Chrome to open up an Instagram photo page’s source code, and search for “.jpg.” The first result should show the larger version of the picture; just copy the link into a new browser window to view the larger-size image, if it’s 1080 (you can tell if there is a magnifying glass option to enlarge the photo).

A higher-res Instagram image (click to enlarge), and the 640 x 640 version below.
A higher-res Instagram image (click to enlarge), and the 640 x 640 version below. Credit: Les Shu

A photo posted by @bklyn_muckymuck on

Instagram told the Verge that it started “gradually rolling out 1080 across iOS and Android” just last week, so most users are already seeing the higher-resolution images within the mobile app.

Up until now, Instagram has always kept its image size to 640 x 640 pixels, even as smartphone cameras improved by leaps and bounds. Although it took a while for Instagram to make the big jump to higher-resolution images, at least the company is showing it’s willing to adapt to change. With the new format, users will be able to post much higher-resolution images to the photo-sharing app.

Instagram has become one of the most popular image-sharing services with more more than 300 million active users. The application allows users to take pictures and videos, and share them on social networking platforms, such as Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, and Flickr. Instagram was created by Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger, and launched in October 2010. The service quickly gained popularity in 2012, and was acquired by Facebook for $1 billion in cash and stock.

As of right now, Instagram says sharing will remain on mobile devices, with no plans to share the new feature on the Web, although it appears that the images are already being hosted at a higher resolution.

Editors' Recommendations

Karen Tumbokon
Karen is a technology, music and entertainment writer. Originally from New Jersey, Karen began her writing career in music…
Best Camera Deals: Save on Canon, Panasonic, Nikon, and GoPro
fujifilm x t4 review set 2 dm 1

Whether you're looking for the best digital cameras or the best travel cameras, there are a ton of options out there, sometimes too many options, especially for those who aren't familiar with the photography world. Luckily, we've done a lot of legwork for you and collected a range of great camera deals across the spectrum, so even if you want something more sports-oriented, like a GoPro, there are a couple of deals for those too. So, let's jump right into it.
Today's Best Camera Deals
One of our favorite deals is the Canon EOS Rebel T7 going for $400, as it's one of the better DSLR cameras on the market, and it has a reasonably budget-friendly price on it, making it a great starter camera. Of course, if you've been in the game for a while and are looking for a powerful upgrade, the Sony Alpha 7R IV is one of the best full-frame cameras on the market, and while it still costs a hefty $3,200, that's still $300 off the usual $3,500 price tag. That said, if you're looking for something more portable and action-oriented, you can't go wrong with the GoPro HERO11 Black Mini, although if you're a professional content creator, the GoPro HERO9 Black 5K is probably the one to go for instead.

Do I Need a DSLR or a Mirrorless Camera?
Like most things, this really depends on what you're trying to do. Mirrorless cameras have fewer internal moving parts, which generally means they can capture images quicker, so if you're taking pictures of action-packed stuff like sports or animals in the wilderness, a mirrorless camera is a great option. On the other hand, DSLR cameras are great for low-light conditions and are great for anything from portraits to landscapes. DSLRs are also cheaper and have much better battery life, as well as having a decade or two worth of lenses to choose from.

Read more
How to blur a background in photos
A person photographed with iPhone 11's portrait mode.

Introducing a background blur to your photos can draw attention to a specific subject, such as an individual in a portrait or an item in a still life, while also adding a professional flair to your image. This beautiful background blur, also known as bokeh, can be achieved even after shooting your photo, thanks to advances in editing software. This guide will walk you through the process on iOS, Android, Windows, and macOS.

Read more
How to download Instagram photos (5 easy ways)
Instagram app running on the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5.

Instagram is amazing, and many of us use it as a record of our lives — uploading the best bits of our trips, adventures, and notable moments. But sometimes you can lose the original files of those moments, leaving the Instagram copy as the only available one . While you may be happy to leave it up there, it's a lot more convenient to have another version of it downloaded onto your phone or computer. While downloading directly from Instagram can be tricky, there are ways around it. Here are a few easy ways to download Instagram photos.

Read more