Instagram is one of the most popular social media platforms today, and it’s a great way for friends and family to communicate and share pictures with one another. Another great feature that Instagram has is Direct Messaging, which allows users to converse with one another one-on-one, without the prying eyes of other people.
When you think of Instagram, you usually associate it with mobile devices or tablets. However, what happens if you badly need to reply to someone’s DM and you don’t have your smartphone with you. Well, don’t lose hope if ever this happens to you. If you need to use Instagram as soon as possible and you only have a laptop or computer with you, there’s an alternative way for you to access your Direct Messages.
The Different Ways You Can Access Instragam Messages via Computer
In this article, we’ll teach you four different ways to use Instagram via PC if ever you’re in a pinch. These methods are simple, and most importantly, free to use.
Download the Instagram App
Instagram is one of the big leagues when it comes to social media popularity, so it’s only natural that it has a downloadable app for Windows and MacOS. After all, popular sites such as this need to access all possible platforms, and that includes computers and laptops. One way you can check your Instagram DMs during an emergency is to download this app on your device’s respective store.
In this case, we’ll be using a Windows computer. To begin downloading the app, head over to the Windows Store, which you can access through the Start Menu. From there, type in Instagram on the search function, located on the upper-right side of the screen. Once all the suggested apps load, look for the right Instagram app that you want to download.
It’s pretty straightforward how to proceed from there since all you have to do is click the Download or Get button. Afterward, you can run the app and use Instagram like you normall would.
Try Out Android Emulators
If, for some reason, you don’t want to download the Instagram app on your PC or laptop and you don’t have an Android device near you, why not try downloading and using an Android Virtual Machine (VM), otherwise known as an Android Emulator? With this program, you can run a window that emulates an Android device and even allows you to download Android apps and games through it.
There are several apps out there that you can download, such as Bluestacks and Nox Player. These are two of the more popular Android emulators out there. Through your emulator of choice, simply search for Instagram in the designated Play Store and download the app like usual. You’ll be able to access Instagram (and your DMs) on your PC once the app has been successfully downloaded.
Check Out Third-Party Software
If you’re willing to try out third-party apps that are in no way associated with Instagram’s developers, then apps such as the IG DM app could be a great option for you to try. It works just like how you’d expect Instagram to, but it also offers its own functionality and features that you may be interested in. What makes it different from the other Instagram apps, however, is that it focuses more on the Direct Messaging aspect of the social media platform.
Use a Google Chrome Instagram Extension
There’s practically a Chrome extension for everything, so it’s no surprise that there are several for Instagram. These extensions are convenient because, with just a simple click of a mouse, you are given access to Instagram through a small window on your browser. If you prefer this method, simply browse through the various Instagram extensions available on the Chrome Webstore. Then once you’ve found one that suits your needs, install it to your browser and you should be good to go.
Conclusion
While most of us can’t live without our phones, it can’t be helped sometimes that we forget our smartphones at home or leave it somewhere by accident. When this happens, you can rest easy knowing that you can still communicate with your Instagram followers via these apps.
