Short answers to the questions people send most often. If yours isn't here, the how it works page explains the whole pipeline, and the contact page reaches the developer directly.
Does IGCOMPRESSOR upload my photos?
No. Every step runs in your browser using the Canvas API and a Web Worker. There is no upload endpoint. You can verify this in the Network tab of your browser's developer tools, or by turning Wi-Fi off after the page loads and using the tool anyway.
Why do my Instagram photos look blurry even though the original is sharp?
Instagram scales anything wider than 1080 px down to 1080, forces a crop if the ratio is outside 1.91:1 to 4:5, and re-encodes everything as JPEG. A big camera file goes through all three. A 1080 px file at the right ratio in the 500 KB to 1 MB range goes through only a light re-encode and keeps its look.
What size should an Instagram photo be in 2026?
1080×1350 (4:5) for most feed photos, 1080×1440 (3:4) to fill the new grid exactly, 1080×1080 for squares, 1080×1920 for stories and reels. Profile pictures show at 320×320; upload 720×720.
What is the best file size for Instagram?
Between 500 KB and 1 MB for a 1080 px JPEG. That is the range the default presets aim for. Much smaller and Instagram's second compression pass shows blocks; much larger and it compresses harder.
Should I export at 1080 or 1440 px?
1080 px is the documented safe width. Some newer app builds serve sharper images from 1440 px uploads. The Instagram presets have a 1440 px option under More options so you can test it on your own account.
Does it work with iPhone HEIC photos?
Yes in Safari on iPhone, iPad and Mac, which decode HEIC natively. Chrome and Firefox cannot open HEIC. On an iPhone, share the photo as a JPEG or set Settings › Camera › Formats to Most Compatible.
Does it support RAW files?
Yes for common formats (ARW, CR2, CR3, NEF, RAF, DNG, ORF, RW2). A small open-source decoder is loaded only when you drop a RAW file, and the tool uses the full-size preview embedded in the file, which is what most RAW editors show by default.
How many photos can I process at once?
Up to 50 per batch, each up to 80 MB. There is no daily limit and no account. Download them one by one or as a ZIP.
Can I compress a photo to an exact size like 20 KB or 100 KB?
Yes. Use the Exact size mode, type the cap, and the tool finds the best quality that fits. If a form also requires a minimum (for example 20 to 50 KB), set Min (KB) under More options and the file is padded to reach it.
Why is the output a JPEG and not PNG?
Instagram, Facebook and most apps convert uploads to JPEG anyway, so PNG only makes the file bigger. You can choose PNG or WebP under More options in the Exact size and Custom modes.
Is the metadata removed?
Yes. The exported file has no EXIF data, so no GPS location, camera serial number or embedded thumbnail leaves your device.
Does the tool work offline?
Yes. After the first visit the site installs a service worker and can be opened without a connection. On Android you can also install it as an app from the browser menu.
Is it free? Is there a watermark?
Free, no watermark, no account. The site is supported by a small number of ads.
Can it stop Instagram from compressing my photo?
No tool can. Instagram always re-encodes uploads. What a correctly sized, sharpened JPEG does is remove every other step, so the only thing left is a light re-encode that you will not notice.
How do I turn on high-quality uploads in the Instagram app?
Profile › menu › Settings and activity › Media quality (Android shows Data usage and media quality) › turn on Upload at highest quality. Also switch off Use less mobile data while posting.