How to check your Instagram messages on your computer

Regardless of what you think about the platform, Instagram is steadily and increasingly becoming one of the most popular apps. It doesn’t matter whether you are a millennial or an older person, Instagram is still a fantastic app.

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However, if you want to use Instagram on the web, it’s a bit frustrating. There is an interface where you can view Stories and your timeline, but what about DM’s? In that case, you’ll have to dive a bit deeper.

Check Instagram messages on your computer

It took Facebook/Instagram a long time before a proper web interface was introduced. There are even some who are (im)patiently waiting for a proper iPad application.

But for those users that want to be able to use Instagram on the web, you currently don’t have the ability to view Direct Messages. Luckily, there has been a workaround that was discovered and now makes it possible.

The following steps will create a shortcut to your DM’s, and to a pseudo-desktop app for Instagram. We will note that you will need to perform these steps in Google Chrome, as they won’t work with Safari.

1. Open Instagram.com in Chrome
2. Launch Developer Tools
   1. Three dots in top right-hand corner
   2. More Tools
   3. Developer Tools
3. Switch to mobile (iPhone/Android) mode
4. Reload page
5. Click on DM button
6. Hit the three dots > More Tools > Create Shortcut

Once you have gone through and created your shortcut, Chrome will give you another prompt. From here, you can rename the app, change the icon, and then confirm.

After confirmed, the new Instagram shortcut will be placed in the “Chrome Apps” folder. If you have other Chrome apps installed, they can also be found here. If not, a new folder will be created, and then you can move the shortcut wherever you would like.

Conclusion

We admit that this isn’t the prettiest method to access Direct Messages from Instagram on your computer. However, short of trying a third-party app or not doing it at all, this is your best bet.

If you have found a better way to access Instagram DM’s, please let us know in the comments below. Additionally, if there are some apps that you are using on your computer to access Instagram, show them off so that we can try them out!

As always, if you have any questions or run into issues, sound off in the comments below and we’ll be sure to help!

Andrew Myrick

Andrew is a freelance writer based on the East Coast of the US.

He has written for a variety of sites over the years, including iMore, Android Central, Phandroid, and a few others. Now, he spends his days working for an HVAC company, while moonlighting as a freelance writer at night.