Have you ever noticed that you’re unable to copy and paste images and videos right onto Instagram?
It seems like it would be a useful feature, but you aren’t able to do it exactly like that. You’ll need to first download an image or video before you’re able to share it via Instagram.
Is there any other way to copy and paste videos without having to go through the extra steps?
Instagram has a variety of limitations but you may be happy to know that there are a couple things you can do to enhance the functions of Instagram and access a type of Instagram clipboard of sorts.
While you’ll still need to have the majority of your photos and videos downloaded, there are some neat things you can do with the Instagram clipboard and it may enhance your user experience and the way people interact with your content.
What is Instagram Clipboard?
So, what is a clipboard, anyway? This is basically a simple functionality that most computers have, allowing you to save copied items that can be pasted in another area.
This is what happens when you copy an image from Google, for instance. If you use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+C, or even tap and hold an image if you’re using a smartphone, you’ll copy that selection and store it to the clipboard.
If you want to paste that selection, you can hit Ctrl+V, or tapping and holding until the paste option appears. This can be done on pretty much all websites, computer screens, and more. This means that you don’t have to download and upload the content; you can simply copy it and paste it to another spot, making it very convenient.
So, what about Instagram? Is there an Instagram clipboard?
There isn’t a direct Instagram clipboard that allows you to paste content from other areas to the platform in the way of content. You’ll have to download and upload the photos that you want to share via Instagram.
That said, you can still use copy + paste functions in different text areas of Instagram, including your captions, comments, and DMs. That makes it easier to work with when you need to put specific text, emojis, or other elements into your Instagram captions.
If you’re looking to use Instagram clipboard for your photos and videos, however, it’s not quite as simple. In the next section we’ll discuss how it might be possible.
How Do You Use Instagram Clipboard?
If you want to use the Instagram clipboard, you’ll have to find the image you want to share. Copy that image and go to the Instagram app.
Press the plus sign in the top right icon and select any image from your gallery.
Once you select that option, choose the filter, and navigate to the final screen, you’ll appear at the section where you can post your caption. You’ll be able to attach text that you copied from elsewhere, but no photos are able to be copied.
In the past, you used to be able to copy a photo and paste it into Instagram stories, but that no longer works. You can copy the image and it will paste a link to the photo, but you can’t paste images directly in via the Instagram clipboard.
Instagram Clipboard for iOS
If you want to easily upload images and post them, you aren’t going to be able to use copy and paste, but you can use saving and downloading to copy the image and upload it to Instagram.
Here, we’ll give you a brief walkthrough of how to do that and avoid the lack of the Instagram clipboard feature. This is how you should do it on an apple device.
Step 1
The first thing you need to do is check out the web and find a picture that you want to upload to your Instagram. You can save this image to your device or even take a screenshot; if you have one of the newer iOS devices you’ll click the top left and the right button at the same time and you can crop the image as you’d like to post it later.
Step 2
Once you have the image(s) you want to post, navigate to the Instagram app and open it. Tap the plus sign icon in the top right if you want to create a post, or if you want to post a story, you can do so by swiping to the right and adding a photo from your camera roll.
Pick the photo you want to upload and then click next, following the editing steps for the type of photo you wanted to add.
Step 3
Complete any final edits and captioning that you want to add and that’s it! The photo that you saved from the web or downloaded via screenshot can now be posted to Instagram even though there’s no Instagram clipboard feature.
You can then go into your camera roll and delete the photo if you no longer want to keep it there. That’s the best way to get an Instagram clipboard alternative.
Instagram Clipboard for Android
The process of using Instagram clipboard is similar for Android users. You’ll do three steps as well, and you won’t be able to copy the visual element, but you’ll
Step 1
Find the image that you want to post to Instagram on the web and save it to your device or take a screenshot (devices are different, so consult your particular device instructions for taking a screenshot). You can then navigate to Instagram.
Step 2
Upload the file either to Instagram feed or to Instagram stories so that you can make any final adjustments. You can also paste the Instagram caption or the Instagram story text that you want to appear to take advantage of the Instagram clipboard feature.
Step 3
Post the final product and enjoy! You can delete the file that you downloaded or screenshotted if you don’t wish to have it anymore on your device. That way, you keep things cleared up and your device won’t get jammed up.
3 Instagram Clipboard Hacks
Here are some of the different things you can also use Instagram features to do in place of an Instagram clipboard. They’re not exactly the same as a clipboard function, but these similar tasks can help you in a couple of different ways.
Save Your Own Videos
Why be limited to copy and pasting? You can use Instagram to take photos and videos directly, then save them to your own device instead of simply posting them. Look for the download icon, which is an arrow pointing downward to a line.
You can do this via Instagram stories and take photos and videos from directly within the app, edit them, and then save them as you want.
Save Content as Collections
Instagram allows you to save content that others have posted, and you can even save it into different collections so that it’s easier to organize and check out later.
Saw a funny meme? Want to save that recipe for later? Have some fashion or fitness inspiration you want to check out sometime soon? You can make it easy via the Instagram Save feature.
At the bottom right of Instagram content, you can save the post and then put it into the album of your choice.
To view them later, tap the Menu icon at the top right of your profile page. Tap Saved and you’ll see your albums and all the posts you’ve saved. Very useful!
Use a Special App
You can use the Repost app to take other content from Instagram and repost it to your own profile. While this doesn’t allow you to copy & paste, it’s a very good way to share content from other users, and you can even include their original captioning and add some of your own.
Instagram Statistics: Why You Need the Platform
While the Instagram clipboard may not be something that everyone is talking about, some of the tips and tricks we’ve mentioned here can be helpful in posting the type of content that you envision.
It’s also very useful when you need to copy a caption with special fonts, formatting, or emojis.
Instagram is incredibly popular even without a strong Instagram clipboard feature, and the usage statistics sure do back that up. If you’re wondering why it’s in your best interest to become familiar and proficient in using Instagram, we’ve got some stats just for you.
Instagram has a huge impact on business, marketing, and purchasing decisions. Here are some of the most impactful Instagram stats:
- Instagram has over 1 billion monthly active users, and 500 million of those were active on a daily basis in January of last year.
- 72% of the teenage demographic is on Instagram in the US.
- 2 out of 3 users take advantage of Instagram to connect with brands and businesses
- 90% of all Instagram users follow at least 1 business profile
- Instagram consistently increases in the amount of time spent on the platform, with a 14% increase (3.2 minutes max) in 2020.
- 130 million users take advantage of Instagram shoppable posts to gain a deeper understanding of products that interest them.
These are just a few of the most impactful Instagram statistics. There are tons more, and you can check out our blog post for Instagram stories stats. You don’t want to miss it!
Final Thoughts
While the Instagram clipboard doesn’t allow you to copy images as easily as you would from Google over to a Word document, for instance, you can still perform some copy-paste functions and use them in areas for text inputs, such as in comments, captions, and DMs.
You can also save photos from the web and simply upload them to Instagram, deleting them later. It’s not as straightforward as copying, but it’s very similar once you get used to it.
Hope you enjoy playing around with the Instagram clipboard!
