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How to compress images for Instagram

Large photo files upload slowly and can get over-compressed by the app. Shrinking them first gives you control over the quality. The Emaki Studio compressor does this in your browser. Here is how.

  1. 1. Open the Compressor and add a photo Drop in the image you want to shrink. It is processed locally - nothing is uploaded.
  2. 2. Choose a quality level Drag the quality slider down to reduce the file size. A live before/after preview shows the trade-off so you can stop where it still looks good.
  3. 3. Check the size savings The tool shows the original size next to the new size, so you can see exactly how much smaller the file is.
  4. 4. Download the smaller image Export the compressed photo, ready to upload to Instagram faster and at the quality you picked.

Open the Compressor · Read the full guide

What size should an Instagram photo be?
Instagram displays photos at 1080px on the long edge. Keeping the file reasonably sized at good quality helps it upload quickly and look sharp.
Will compressing ruin the quality?
Not if you watch the preview. The before/after view lets you lower the file size only as far as the image still looks good to you.
Does the photo get uploaded?
No. Compression runs entirely in your browser, so the image never leaves your device.