Instagram recently added a long-awaited feature to its iOS app that will make life easier for budding and experienced users of the photo-sharing service. The latest version of the app, which rolled out on Monday, adds the ability to share from other apps to Instagram, as first spotted by iMore.
Previously, Instagram would only grab images from your device’s camera or the built-in Photos app. Now, however, you can create an image in your favorite third-party photo app, and then share it directly to Instagram.
Sharing to Instagram is live.
The new functionality comes courtesy of extensions first introduced in iOS 8. To activate the new functionality, open your non-Instagram photo app of choice, choose an image, and tap the share icon.
Next, in the section offering all the various sharing options (like Facebook, Twitter, and Mail), swipe until you see the More button. Tap that and you’ll get a listing of all the various apps you can share to. Swipe down until you see Instagram and tap the slider button to put it in the “on” position (it will turn green).
Once that’s done, sharing to Instagram is ready to go.
Why this matters: Apple introduced iOS 8 and extensions way back in the fall of 2014, so it’s about time Instagram added this functionality. Instagram started its life on the iPhone and it’s more complete integration with iOS will be appreciated by many longtime users. Perhaps this will soften the blow of Instagram’s new algorithm-based feed, instead of the old chronological timeline. Now all Instagram has to do is modernize its app a little more, and allow users to zoom in on photographs.
Author: Ian Paul, Contributor
Ian is an independent writer based in Israel who has never met a tech subject he didn't like. He primarily covers Windows, PC and gaming hardware, video and music streaming services, social networks, and browsers. When he's not covering the news he's working on how-to tips for PC users, or tuning his eGPU setup.