When Instagram was first released, you could only upload photos in a 4:5 ratio for portrait images. Now, Instagram supports image ratios of 1:1 for square photos, 4:5 for portrait photos (tall), and 16:9 for landscape photos (landscape). You can upload an image with a size of 320 x 320 pixels to 1,080 x 1,080 pixels. In addition, you can take advantage of third-party applications to set the image to a suitable format for Instagram. Another trick to follow is to use an app to crop the photo into a square grid. If you upload the photos to Instagram in the right order, they will appear as one large image in a grid on your Instagram profile. This wikiHow teaches you how to upload a large photo to Instagram.
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Method 1 of 5: Crop Photos on Instagram
Step 1. Open Instagram
This app is marked by a rainbow colored camera icon. Tap the icon on the home screen or app menu to open Instagram.
Step 2. Touch +
It's in the bottom center of the screen. This icon serves to create a new upload.
Step 3. Select a photo
You can touch any photo you want to upload to Instagram.
Step 4. Touch the slicer icon at the bottom left corner of the screen
The slicer icon looks like two right angles at the two ends of the icon forming a square. You can see white boxes at the top, bottom, or side of the photo, depending on the orientation of the photo.
- Alternatively, you can touch and drag the image to adjust the cropping of the image. You can also enlarge the image by placing your thumb and forefinger on the screen and then dragging them in opposite directions.
- If you upload an upright (portrait) oriented image to Instagram, the top and bottom of the image will be cropped. If you want, prepare the image in advance using a third-party app for Android or iPhone devices.
Step 5. Touch Next
It's in the upper-right corner of the screen. The filter page will be displayed after that.
Step 6. Select a filter for the image (optional) and touch Next
If you want to apply a filter to the image, tap the desired filter at the bottom of the screen. Otherwise, touch Next ” in the top right corner to continue. If you use a filter, make sure you choose the same filter for all images to make it look consistent.
Step 7. Touch Share
The image will be uploaded to Instagram afterwards.
Method 2 of 5: Loading Images in Square Format on Android Device
Step 1. Download and install Square Pic
Square Pic is a third-party application that allows you to convert images that are too tall to be displayed on Instagram into a suitable shape (square). Follow these steps to download and install No Crop & Square for Instagram.
- open Google Play Store.
- Type " No Crop & Square " into the search bar at the top of the screen.
- Touch " No Crop & Square ”.
- Touch " Install ”.
Step 2. Open Square Pic
Square Pics are marked by a red icon that looks like a line running through the cropping square frame. Touch the icon on your device's home screen or app menu to open Square Pic. You can also select the button “ Open ” in the Google Play Store window after the app has finished downloading.
Step 3. Touch Gallery
It's below the main image, on the left side of the screen. The icon is below the default image on the left and looks like a stack of photos.
Step 4. Touch the image manager app
You can open your device's gallery (recommended), Google Photos, or another image app that comes pre-installed on your phone.
Step 5. Touch the photo
You can browse photos or albums using Square Pic. Select the image you want to set up for Instagram.
Step 6. Touch Background
This icon looks like a sheet of glass at the bottom of the screen. A list of backgrounds you can add around an uncropped image is shown below.
Step 7. Touch the background
By default, the selected background is a blurred version of the image you are editing. Touch the icon that resembles your image to select that background, or select one of the other colored squares at the bottom of the screen to use a different background.
Step 8. Add a frame (optional)
If you want to add a colored frame around the image, touch “ Border ” below the screen. The icon looks like the one in the other picture. Touch one of the colored circles at the bottom of the screen to select a frame color. Select the circle icon crossed by the line if you don't want to use a frame.
Step 9. Select the image layout shape (optional)
If you want the image to have a shape other than a rectangle, touch “ Layout ” below the screen. After that, touch the shape that you want to apply to the image.
Step 10. Apply additional features to the image (optional)
There are several other features you can apply to images on Square Pic. Use the following options at the bottom of the screen to edit the image further:
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” Crops:
This icon has options to crop the image, as well as rotate and flip it.
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” Filter:
This icon has a number of filters that you can choose from to change the appearance of the image.
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” Ratios:
With this icon, you can change the aspect ratio of the image such as 1:1 (square photo for Instagram), 4:5 (plain portrait for Instagram), 9:16 (TikTok), 16:9 (widescreen), and 3:4 (for portrait photos).
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” Adjustments:
This icon has options to adjust the brightness, contrast, hue, saturation, and fading of the image.
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” Texts & Snaps:
Both of these options allow you to add text to images.
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” Stickers:
With this option, you can add emojis and stickers to the image.
Step 11. Touch Save
It's in the upper-right corner of the screen. You may need to view the ad while the image is being saved.
Step 12. Touch the Instagram icon
This icon has rainbow colors. You can see it under the "Share to" menu.
Alternatively, you can touch " Others ” to see a complete list of apps you can use to share images. If you don't want to share the image right away, tap “ Done ” in the upper right corner of the screen to save the image to the device gallery.
Step 13. Select the sharing option and touch Just Once
There are three options you can use. Select an option and touch Just Once ” to indicate that you only want to select that option for the currently editing image. Use one of the following options to upload an image to Instagram:
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” Direct:
This option will send the image directly to other Instagram users. To use the options, touch “ Direct " and select " Send ” next to the Instagram user you want to send the image to.
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” Feeds:
This option will upload the edited image to your Instagram feed. To use it, touch “ Feed " Select the arrow in the top right corner of the screen. If you want, select a filter and touch “ Next " After that, select " Share ”.
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” Stories:
This option will upload the image to the Story segment. To use it, touch “ Stories " After that, select " Your Story ” in the lower-left corner of the screen to upload the image to the Story segment.
Method 3 of 5: Loading Images in Square Format on iPhone or iPad
Step 1. Download and install Insta Square
Insta Square is a third-party application that allows you to convert images that are too tall for Instagram display into a suitable shape or format (square). Follow these steps to download Insta Square to iPhone:
- open App Store.
- Touch " Search ” at the bottom of the screen.
- Type "Insta Square" into the search bar.
- Touch " Insta Square ”.
- Touch " GET ” next to Insta Square.
Step 2. Open Insta Square
Insta Square has an icon that looks like a rainbow colored cutter square frame. Touch the icon on the device's home screen to open Insta Square.
Step 3. Select an image
Touch an image from the “Camera Roll” folder to select the image you want to prepare.
Step 4. Touch Canvas
This option is the first option at the bottom of the screen and has a square icon. With this option, you can specify the aspect ratio of the image.
Step 5. Touch 1:1 or 4:5 and touch
These two options are the first choices on the aspect ratio list. Both are suitable for Instagram. Tap the check icon on the right after you've selected an aspect ratio.
You can also choose the ratio " 2:1" for Twitter," 4:3" for Facebook " 5:7" for Pinterest," 7:4 ” for YouTube, and a variety of other options.
Step 6. Touch Borders
The icon looks like a grid square at the bottom of the screen. With this option, you can select the grid squares at the bottom of the screen.
Step 7. Select the frame type and touch
A frame will be added around the image on upload. Use the options shown to adjust the frame, then touch the checkmark to select it. Available frame options include:
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” Blur:
” Touch the two circle icon to select a frame with a blurry view. This option will add a blurred version of the image being edited to the top and bottom of the image.
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” Mosaic:
” Touch the five small square icon to select the mosaic blur. This option will add a checkerboard mosaic to the top and bottom of the image being edited.
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” Colors:
” Touch the eyedropper icon to select a colored border. Select one of the colored rectangles to select the frame color.
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” Patterns:
” Touch the star icon to select a patterned frame. After that, select one of the patterns at the bottom of the screen to select a frame. This option requires a Pro service subscription.
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” Stretches:
” Touch the six-line icon to select a stretched version of the image being edited as the frame.
Step 8. Make further adjustments to the image (optional)
Touch the other icons at the bottom of the screen to make additional edits to the image. Additional options available include:
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” Filter:
” Touch the magic wand icon to select a color filter. To use this feature, you need to subscribe to the Pro service.
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” Adjustments:
Touch the slider bar icon to make manual color adjustments to the photo. With this option, you can adjust the brightness, contrast, saturation, exposure, temperature, shadow level, sharpness, and vignette effect of the image. Tap the tick icon on the right side of the screen when you're done editing.
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” Crops:
” Touch the two right angles icon to crop the image. You can specify the cropping aspect ratio at the bottom of the screen. After that, touch and drag the image to adjust the cropping. Select the tick icon on the right side of the screen when you're done cropping the image.
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” Text:
” Touch the letter “T” icon to add text to the image. Use the on-screen keyboard to type text into the image.
Step 9. Touch the square icon with arrow
It's in the upper-right corner of the screen. Select this icon when you are ready to upload the image to Instagram.
Step 10. Touch Instagram
A list of apps you can use to upload images will be displayed.
Step 11. Touch the Instagram icon
The image will open on Instagram afterwards.
If you don't see the Instagram logo, swipe the app bar to the left and tap “ More " After that, select " Copy to Instagram ”.
Step 12. Touch Next
It's in the upper-right corner of the screen. The filter page will be displayed after that.
Step 13. Select a filter for the image (optional) and touch Next
If you want to apply a filter to the image, touch the filter you want to use at the bottom of the screen. Otherwise, touch Next ” in the upper right corner of the screen to continue. If you use filters, make sure you apply the same filter to all images to keep the overall appearance of the image consistent.
Step 14. Touch Share
The image will be uploaded to Instagram afterwards.
Method 4 of 5: Creating Profile Mosaic on Android Device
Step 1. Download and install 9Square
9Square is an app that lets you split an image into small images and upload them to your Instagram profile. Follow these steps to download 9Square on an Android device:
- Open the Google Play Store.
- Type "9Square" into the search bar at the top of the screen.
- Touch " 9Square ” in the search results.
- Touch " Install ”.
Step 2. Open 9Square
9Square is marked by a blue icon with a white 3 x 3 grid. You can touch the button Open ” in the Google Play Store window to open 9Square, or select the application icon on the home screen or application menu to open 9Square.
Step 3. Touch the image icon in the center of the screen
This icon looks like a stack of photos on the main page of 9Square.
When you first open 9Square, the app will ask you if you want to allow 9Square to access images and media files on your device. Touch " Allow " to continue.
Step 4. Select the image source
Touch an icon to select a source. Choose " Camera ” to take a picture with the device camera. Touch " Files ” to open the image from the file folder. Choose " Gallery ” to open an image from the device gallery.
Step 5. Select an image
You can use the camera to take a photo or touch the image you want to split into thumbnails and upload to Instagram.
Step 6. Determine the grid type
Touch one of the grid formats at the top of the screen to select a grid type. Select “3x1” for a single line drawing. The “3x2” format is suitable for photos with wide screen dimensions (16:9 ratio). The “3x3” format is suitable for square-shaped photos. The “3x4” format is suitable for wider portrait images, and the “3x5” option is suitable for taller portrait images.
You can upload a “3x1” format image to your Instagram profile/feed page as a single line of images that people can see by swiping left on their feed page
Step 7. Adjust the cropping of the image
Touch and drag the square in the center of the image to change the position of the image. Select and drag the corners of the square to enlarge the cropping frame. The square frame and thin white lines in the center of the screen show the cropped image as you crop it.
Step 8. Touch Crop and select Save All.
A page showing the final image after cropping will be displayed. In addition, the page also shows the order of uploading images to Instagram. Touch Save All ” to save all images to the phone.
Step 9. Touch Save All
The image will be cropped and saved to the phone in a separate album.
Step 10. Type in the album name and touch Save
Name the album with a descriptive name like "[Image Name] Grid" or something similar. Touch " Save ” in the top right corner of the screen when you're done. The image will be saved to the phone afterwards.
Step 11. Open Instagram
Step 12. Upload the first photo to Instagram
The first photo that needs to be uploaded is the photo in the lower right corner of the image. Follow these steps to upload photos to Instagram:
- Touch " + ” in the lower-middle corner of the screen.
- Select the image in the lower-right corner of the large grid.
- Touch " Next ”.
- Select a filter (optional) and touch “ Next ”.
- Touch " Share ”.
Step 13. Upload the rest of the existing photos
You need to upload each photo individually. Repeat the steps above to upload more photos. You've uploaded the first image as an image in the bottom right corner of the grid. Now, you need to upload a photo for the bottom center side. After that, upload a photo for the bottom left side. Move on to the next line above and keep uploading photos from right to left. Continue the process until you have finished uploading each image.
To upload a line of photos to the feed, tap the "+" icon. Choose " Select Multiple " Touch each image you want to add to the row, starting from the far right image to the far left image. Upload photos and swipe the uploaded image to the feed page towards the left to see all photos.
Step 14. Touch profile photo
This icon looks like a human and appears in the lower right corner of the screen. You can see the photos that have been uploaded displayed as a large grid on the profile page.
Method 5 of 5: Creating a Profile Mosaic on iPhone or iPad
Step 1. Download and install 9SquareforInstagram
9SquareforInstagram is an application that allows you to split an image into small images and upload them to your Instagram profile. Follow these steps to download 9Square on iPhone.
- Open the App Store.
- Touch the tab " Search ”.
- Type "9Square" into the search bar at the top of the screen.
- Touch " 9Square ” in the search results.
- Touch " GET ” next to “9SquareforInstagram”.
Step 2. Open 9SquareforInstagram
This app is marked with a purple icon with a white square in a 3 x 3 grid. Touch the icon on the home screen to open 9SquareforInstram, or select the button “ Open ” in the App Store window after the app has finished downloading.
Step 3. Touch Start
This button is below the image on the app's startup page.
Step 4. Touch Camera or Libraries.
If you want to take a new photo, touch “ Camera If you want to use a photo that is already in the “Camera Roll” folder, select “ Library ”.
Step 5. Determine the grid type
Touch one of the grid formats at the bottom of the screen to select a grid type. Select “3x1” for a single line drawing. The “3x2” format is suitable for photos with wide screen dimensions (16:9 ratio). The “3x3” format is suitable for square-shaped photos. The “3x4” format is suitable for wider portrait images.
You can upload a “3x1” format image to your Instagram profile/feed page as a single line of images that people can see by swiping left on their feed page
Step 6. Adjust the cut
You can preview the final cut in the center of the screen. Touch and drag the image to adjust the cropping of the image. Place your thumb and forefinger over the screen, and spread them apart to increase the size of the image.
Step 7. Touch the tick icon and select Ok
It's in the upper-right corner of the screen. The image will be cropped and saved. After the images are saved, select Ok ”.
Step 8. Open Instagram
This app is marked by a rainbow colored camera icon. Touch the Instagram icon on the home screen or app menu to open it.
Step 9. Touch +
It's in the bottom center of the screen. This icon serves to create a new upload.
Step 10. Select the image to be placed in the lower right corner of the grid and tap Next
It is important that you upload the images in the right order for the mosaic to look perfect. The first image you need to upload is the one in the lower-right corner of the grid. Touch " Next " after it finishes.
Step 11. Select an image filter (optional) and touch Next
If you want to apply a filter to the image, touch the option you want to use at the bottom of the screen. Otherwise, select Next ” in the upper right corner of the screen to continue. If you want to use a filter, make sure you select the same filter for all images to keep the overall appearance of the large image consistent.
Step 12. Touch Share
The image will be uploaded to Instagram.
Step 13. Upload the rest of the existing photos
You need to upload each photo individually. Repeat the steps above to upload more photos. You've uploaded the first image as an image in the bottom right corner of the grid. Now, you need to upload a photo for the bottom center side. After that, upload a photo for the bottom left side. Move on to the next line above and keep uploading photos from right to left. Continue the process until you have finished uploading each image.
To upload a line of photos to the feed, tap the "+" icon. Touch and hold the first photo you want to upload. Select the other images in the row, from the far right image to the far left image. Upload all photos and swipe the uploaded photos to the feed page towards the left to see the full image
Step 14. Touch profile photo
This human icon appears in the lower right corner of the screen. You can see the uploaded pictures displayed as one big grid on the profile page.
