Instagram Rolling Out Web Profiles

Instagram is finally launching Web-based profiles, the company announced on Monday.

"You've asked for Instagram on the Web and we've listened," the Facebook-owned photo-sharing service wrote in a blog post. "Over the next few days, we'll be rolling out Instagram profiles on the Web!"

As avid Instagram users known, the only way to currently view someone's profile is through the app. You can share individual Instagram photos on Facebook or Twitter to make them viewable on the Web, but there are no Web-based profiles where all your Instagram photos are stored. But now, Instagram is growing up and expanding its presence online.

Unsurprisingly, the new Instagram Web profiles look a lot like Facebook profiles. On the top of each profile, there's a banner image featuring a mosaic-like selection of your recently shared photos, similar to the cover photo on your Facebook profile. Underneath that is your Instagram profile photo and bio, followed by a grid of thumbnails, organized by date. Your profile will include all the photos you have shared to Instagram.

The Web profiles should make it much easier to view your friends' artsy Instagram snaps online, as well as discover new users, Instagram said. In addition, you'll now be able to follow users, comment and like photos, and edit your profile directly from the Web.

To view your profile, or explore someone else's, navigate to instagram.com/[username]. If you don't see your new Web profile right away, don't fret; Instagram is rolling them out for all users over the course of this week.

However, there's one thing you still won't be able to do from the web – upload photos to Instagram.

"Instagram is focused on the production of photos from mobile devices so users are not currently able to upload from the Web," Instagram said. "We're excited about how Web Profiles will make it easier to browse and share content on the web for all our users."

If your Instagram photos are set to public, anyone will be able to see your profile on the Web. You won't even need to be an Instagram user to view someone's public profile online. If your photos are set to private, they will only be visible to logged-in Instagram users you have approved.

Rumors first surfaced back in July that Instagram was playing around with expanded Web profiles.

For more, see PCMag's reviews of Instagram for Android and Instagram for iOS.

About Our Expert

Angela Moscaritolo

Managing Editor, Consumer Electronics

My Experience

I'm PCMag's managing editor for consumer electronics, overseeing an experienced team of analysts covering smart home, home entertainment, wearables, fitness and health tech, and various other product categories. I have been with PCMag for more than 10 years, and in that time have written more than 6,000 articles and reviews for the site. I previously served as an analyst focused on smart home and wearable devices, and before that I was a reporter covering consumer tech news. I'm also a yoga instructor, and have been actively teaching group and private classes for nearly a decade.

Prior to joining PCMag, I was a reporter for SC Magazine, focusing on hackers and computer security. I earned a BS in journalism from West Virginia University, and started my career writing for newspapers in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.

The Technology I Use

My little Florida beach bungalow is brimming with smart home tech. I have a smart speaker or display in every room, allowing me to control other connected devices by voice. The Nest Hub on my bedside table lets me set wake-up alarms, control my smart light bulbs, and set the temperature on my smart thermostat. I use the Amazon Echo Show 8 on my kitchen counter to browse recipes, reorder protein powder, check the weather, and watch the news while I do dishes.

Because I suffer from allergies, air purifiers are essential. My favorite model is the Dyson Purifier Cool TP07, which doubles as a fan and continuously sends indoor pollution data to its companion mobile app.

My pitbull Bradley sheds, so a good robot vacuum is a must. I currently use a premium Ecovacs Deebot that can both vacuum and mop, empty its own dustbin, and wash its own mop cloth.

For fitness, I like to mix up my routine with cycling, indoor rowing, running, and strength training in addition to yoga. I take classes on the Tonal 2 smart strength training machine, I row indoors on an Aviron machine, and track my beach runs with an Apple Watch while listening to music on my Apple AirPods Pro. On the weekends, I love riding e-bikes like the rugged, beach-friendly Aventon Aventure for fun and fitness.

My job involves a lot of virtual meetings, so a quality webcam, microphone, and ring light are important. I use the Jabra PanaCast 20 webcam, the Elgato Wave: 3 microphone, and a Yesker tripod ring light.

As for my preferred phone platform, I'm an iPhone person, but I've also extensively used Android for product testing.

Read the latest from Angela Moscaritolo

Read full bio