How to send high-quality photos in Instagram DMs on your iPhone

Instagram is a visual platform, and sharing photos through direct messages (DMs) is a popular way to connect with friends and followers. However, many users feel that the image quality degrades when sending photos through DMs. This can be frustrating when you want to share a particularly stunning shot. 

Thankfully, there are a few things you can do on your iPhone to ensure your Instagram image quality is maintained when sending photos via DMs. This article will walk you through the steps to optimise your settings and the sharing process, so your images arrive crisp and clear.

Check your Instagram upload settings

Instagram automatically compresses images to save data and make loading faster. While this is great for general browsing, it’s not ideal when you want to share high-quality photos. Although there isn’t a specific setting to disable compression for DMs, the quality of the image you upload initially does impact the quality of the image received. Therefore, it’s best to ensure your initial uploads to your feed are the highest quality possible. 

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Go to your Instagram profile, tap the three lines in the top right corner, and select “Settings and privacy.” Then, tap “Data Usage” and make sure “Use Less Mobile Data” is toggled off. While this setting primarily affects uploads to your feed, it’s a good first step in ensuring the highest quality image is available to Instagram.

Share the original image

The most crucial step in preserving image quality in Instagram DMs is to share the original image from your iPhone’s photo library. When you’re in a DM conversation and tap the camera icon to send a photo, ensure you select the image directly from your photo library. Avoid taking a photo directly through the Instagram DM interface, as this often results in a lower-resolution image. Instead, choose the image from your camera roll, which will send the highest resolution version available.

Avoid editing within Instagram

While Instagram offers editing tools, editing a photo within the app before sending it via DM can sometimes lead to further compression. If you need to edit your photo, do so using your iPhone’s built-in photo editing tools or other photo editing app before you add it to Instagram. This ensures you’re working with the highest quality image from the start.

Consider sending via other methods for extremely high-resolution images

For professional photographers or anyone needing to share extremely high-resolution images, Instagram DMs might not be the best solution. Even with the above steps, some compression can still occur. 

If you absolutely need to share an image without any loss of quality, consider using alternative methods such as AirDrop (for Apple devices), email, or a cloud storage service like Google Drive or Dropbox. You can then share the link to the image via Instagram DM. 

Keep your Instagram app updated

It’s always a good idea to keep your Instagram app updated to the latest version. Updates often include bug fixes and improvements, which may include optimisations for image handling and sharing. Go to the App Store and check for any available updates for Instagram.

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By following these simple steps, you can significantly improve the quality of the photos you send in Instagram DMs from your iPhone. While some level of compression might always be present, these tips will ensure your images remain crisp, clear, and closer to their original quality, allowing you to share your visual stories with confidence. If you wish to transfer your Instagram photos to a PC, you can check this post.