Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. 9grid is 100% free to use with no hidden costs. You can create unlimited grids, split photos, and use the available export formats and quality controls without any subscription or payment.

No account is required for basic features. You can start creating grids immediately.

9grid supports common image formats including JPG/JPEG, PNG, WebP, and HEIC. You can export as PNG or high-quality JPEG.

You can create grids from 1x1 up to 12x6. Popular Instagram layouts include 3x3, 3x1, 1x3, and 2x3.

Upload your image, select 3x3, adjust the crop area if needed, then click Cut & Download. Upload pieces in reverse order so your profile looks correct.

Yes. Advanced Settings offer a custom watermark, tile numbering, and Instagram anti-crop padding; you can also choose PNG, JPG, or WebP with adjustable quality.

You can upload images up to 50MB. High-resolution images work best for profile grids.

PNG uses lossless encoding and is best for graphics, screenshots, or text. JPG and WebP are re-encoded at the quality you select, which reduces file size and works well for photographs.

Use PNG for graphics, screenshots, or images with text. Use high-quality JPEG for photographs when smaller files matter.

This can happen when exporting PNG from a compressed JPEG. If file size matters, export as high-quality JPEG instead.

Yes. Image processing happens directly in your browser and photos are never uploaded to any server — we have no way to see them.

No. Images are processed client-side and downloaded straight to your device. Features like Recent Works keep data only in your browser's local storage.

9grid works without an account. To remove locally stored data such as drafts or recent works, simply clear this site's data in your browser settings.

Check that the file is under 50MB, uses a supported format, and that your browser is up to date.

Instagram compresses images. Start with high-resolution images and export as high-quality JPEG to minimize compression.

Re-upload all tiles in reverse order. For a 3x3 grid, post #9 first and #1 last.

Instagram inserts every new profile post at the top-left thumbnail. The tile that belongs in the top-left must be published last; the bottom-right tile must be published first. Reading order and publishing order are opposites. See the posting-order guide on the blog for the full 3×3 map and multi-row sequences.

No. A carousel is one post with multiple slides — add slides in forward order inside the composer. Reverse order applies to profile mosaics made of many separate posts, not to carousel slides.

Yes. Export numbered tiles locally, then upload from your phone gallery. Moments albums usually follow reading order in the album picker; Xiaohongshu multi-image notes need captions that still make sense mid-swipe. Start near 3240×3240 for crisp nine-square cells after mobile compression.

For Instagram-style 1080px tiles, aim for about 3240×3240 for a 3×3, 3240×4320 for a 3×4 puzzle, and at least 3240px wide for a 1×3 carousel. Soft screenshots become obvious after the split because each cell is smaller than the original.