Open Instagram Links in Safari or Chrome
Instagram opens every link in its own built-in browser. Here is how to open one in Safari or Chrome instead, and how creators can fix it for followers.
To open an Instagram link in Safari or Chrome, tap the link, then tap the three-dot menu in Instagram’s built-in browser and choose the option to open the page in your own browser. Instagram has no setting that does this for every link, so you do it one link at a time. If you are a creator, you can fix it for your followers at the link itself, which is covered further down.
Why Instagram links do not open in your browser
Instagram opens every link inside the app, in its own built-in browser. This applies to links in bios, story link stickers, messages and ads.
That built-in browser is separate from Safari or Chrome. It does not have your saved logins, and some payment buttons are missing from it. So a site you use every day asks you to sign in again, and a checkout may not offer the way you normally pay. We explain what breaks, with sources, in why Instagram links lose sales.
How to open a link in your own browser
The steps are the same idea on both phones. The wording of the menu option changes between versions of the Instagram app, so yours may differ slightly.
On iPhone
- Tap the link. It opens inside Instagram.
- Tap the three-dot menu. It is usually in the top right corner of the screen.
- Choose the option to open the page outside Instagram. It may read “Open in external browser”, “Open in Safari” or “Open in system browser”.
- The page opens in your default browser, with your saved logins.
On Android
- Tap the link. It opens inside Instagram.
- Tap the three-dot menu in the top right corner.
- Choose “Open in Chrome” or “Open in external browser”.
- The page opens in your default browser.
If you cannot find the option
- Look for a “More” entry in the menu. The option is sometimes one level down.
- Copy the address. Tap the menu and choose the copy option, or touch and hold the address at the top of the screen, then paste it into Safari or Chrome.
How to tell which browser you are in
| What you see | Where you are |
|---|---|
| An Instagram bar across the top, with a close button and a three-dot menu | Instagram’s built-in browser |
| Your browser’s own address bar, tabs and bookmarks | Safari or Chrome |
| You are signed out of a site you normally stay signed in to | Almost certainly the built-in browser |
Can you turn Instagram’s built-in browser off?
No. At the time of writing, Instagram has no setting that makes every link open in your own browser, and changing your phone’s default browser does not affect it. The menu option above is the only way to do it as a visitor, one link at a time.
Other apps that open links in a built-in browser, such as X and Reddit, usually offer a similar menu option.
If you are a creator: fix it at the link
You cannot ask every follower to find a menu. Most people never notice it, and the moment they are deciding whether to sign up or buy is the worst time to give them a task.
A Bouncy deeplink notices when it is tapped inside Instagram’s built-in browser and is built to open the destination in the visitor’s own browser or app, where saved logins and one-tap checkout work. Your followers tap as usual and land in the right place.
In Bouncy’s own customer results, creators who swapped a direct link to their subscription page for a Bouncy deeplink saw conversions rise by 47% on average.
Setting one up takes a few minutes:
- Create a free Bouncy account. The free plan includes one deeplink.
- Create a deeplink that points at your page.
- Put it in your Instagram bio and your story link stickers.
- Tap it from your own profile, on your phone, to check where it opens.
The full walkthrough is in create a Bouncy link for your Instagram bio. For stories, see the guide to Instagram story links.
Instagram changes how its app handles links from time to time, and no link tool controls that. Check your own link again after a big Instagram update.
FAQ
Q: How do I open an Instagram link in Safari? A: Tap the link, then tap the three-dot menu in the top right of Instagram’s built-in browser and choose the option to open it outside Instagram. Depending on your app version it reads “Open in external browser”, “Open in Safari” or “Open in system browser”.
Q: How do I open an Instagram link in Chrome on Android? A: Tap the link, tap the three-dot menu in the top right corner, and choose “Open in Chrome” or “Open in external browser”.
Q: Can I make Instagram always open links in my browser? A: No. At the time of writing Instagram has no setting for this, and your phone’s default browser setting does not change it. You have to use the menu for each link.
Q: Why am I logged out when I open a link from Instagram? A: Instagram’s built-in browser keeps its own cookies, separate from Safari or Chrome. A site you are signed in to in your normal browser does not recognise you there. Opening the page in your own browser brings your saved logins back.
Q: I am a creator. Can I make my link open in my followers’ browser for them? A: That is what a deeplink is for. A Bouncy deeplink is built to open your page in the visitor’s own browser when it is tapped inside Instagram, so followers do not need to use the menu. The free plan includes one deeplink.