This one setting may very well be making your Instagram posts look worse — possibly

At any time when I get a brand new cellphone and finally set up Instagram, the very first thing I do is dig by way of the app’s settings menu for a toggle that reads “Add at highest high quality.” In keeping with the app, when enabled, this ensures you’ll “At all times add the best high quality pictures and movies, even when importing takes longer. When that is off, we’ll mechanically alter add high quality to suit community situations.”

However right here’s the bizarre half: by default, this setting is switched off. Aren’t we within the 5G period? Isn’t this the social media platform the place individuals obsess over presenting themselves in the absolute best gentle? Why would the highest-quality uploads be an opt-in characteristic in 2023? And the way come they buried this a number of layers deep in settings? Shouldn’t or not it’s a alternative you’re introduced with after opening Instagram for the primary time?

Nobody may be sure what this toggle truly does, however it may well’t harm to ensure it’s set to on. Screenshot: Chris Welch / The Verge

Typically I ponder what distinction the toggle truly makes. Instagram doesn’t go into element on any of its assist pages; there’s no technical data obtainable on decision or video bit price limits which are put into place if the app determines that your community connection is subpar. However if you happen to add a narrative, reel, or feed publish that appears noticeably blurrier or downgraded from the unique, possibly this setting is the explanation why. I do know there’s some Instagram engineer on the market who most likely is aware of each final element, so don’t hesitate to e-mail me.

It’s significantly necessary to allow this if you happen to’ve obtained an Android system; individuals have usually complained that Instagram content material appears worse when printed from Google’s OS versus iOS. I don’t need to stir the pot on that a lot, however there’s a protracted historical past of the Android facet feeling shortchanged — even when Adam Mosseri lately shared his take that Google’s cell OS has surpassed Apple’s in general kind and performance.

No, all I can do is advise you to go trying to find this toggle — simply as I do upon each cellphone improve — to ensure all of your bases are coated. And right here’s how to try this.

Out of your Instagram residence tab:

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