Does Instagram Notify When You Screenshot a Post?
Ever wondered how some Instagram profiles look so polished with neatly organized story highlights? If you’ve been scrolling through Instagram and noticing those perfect little circles under users’ bios—those are Instagram Highlights, and they’re a game-changer for keeping your best stories permanently visible.
So, how do you create your own? Whether you’re a personal user, influencer, or business, knowing how to add highlights on Instagram can help you showcase important moments, promotions, or personal milestones.
In this guide, we’ll break down everything you need to know about Instagram Highlights—how to create, edit, customize, and optimize them for maximum impact. Let’s dive in!
What Are Instagram Highlights & Why Do They Matter?
Before jumping into the “how,” let’s clarify the “why.”
Instagram Highlights are curated collections of your Instagram Stories that remain on your profile indefinitely. Unlike regular Stories, which disappear after 24 hours, Highlights stay put—making them an essential tool for:
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Showcasing your best content (travel, food, fitness, business updates, etc.)
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Branding your profile with visually appealing categories
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Answering FAQs about your business, services, or personal life
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Driving engagement by keeping followers engaged beyond a single post
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Boosting sales and marketing by keeping product/service promotions in view
Now, let’s get into the step-by-step process of adding Highlights to your Instagram profile.
How to Add Highlights on Instagram? (Step-by-Step Guide)
Creating Instagram Highlights is a breeze. Whether you’re using fresh stories or older ones from your archive, here’s exactly how to do it.
Step 1: Post a Story on Instagram
Before you can add a Highlight, you need a Story to work with. Here’s how:
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Open Instagram and tap the “+” icon at the bottom.
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Select “Story” and either capture a new photo/video or upload from your gallery.
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Edit your Story with text, stickers, music, or GIFs (optional but recommended).
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Tap “Your Story” to publish it.
Once your Story is live, you’re ready for the next step.
Step 2: Save Your Story to Highlights
After your Story is posted, follow these steps to add it to a Highlight:
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Go to your profile by tapping your profile picture in the bottom right.
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Under your bio, you’ll see a “+ New” option—tap it.
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Select the Stories you want to include in this Highlight.
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Tap “Next” and choose a title for your Highlight.
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Select a cover image (either from your Stories or a custom design).
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Hit “Done”—and that’s it! Your Highlight is now visible on your profile.
If you want to add older Stories to a new Highlight, don’t worry. Instagram automatically archives your Stories, allowing you to access past content.
For more details on how Instagram Story archives work, check out Instagram’s official guide.
How to Edit or Delete Instagram Highlights?
Your Instagram Highlights aren’t set in stone. You can edit, update, or remove them anytime to keep your profile fresh and relevant.
Editing a Highlight
Want to update a Highlight? Follow these steps:
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Go to your Instagram profile and tap the Highlight you want to edit.
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Tap the three-dot menu in the bottom-right corner.
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Select “Edit Highlight.”
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Add or remove Stories as needed.
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Tap “Done” to save changes.
Deleting a Highlight
If a Highlight is outdated or no longer relevant, here’s how to remove it:
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Open your Instagram profile and select the Highlight you want to delete.
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Tap the three-dot menu and choose “Remove from Highlight.”
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If you want to delete the entire Highlight, tap “Delete Highlight.”
Once deleted, you can’t restore a Highlight—so double-check before confirming.
How to Customize Instagram Highlight Covers?
Your Highlight covers are the first thing people see when they visit your profile. A well-designed cover can make your profile look more professional and visually appealing.
How to Change Highlight Covers
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Open your Instagram profile and select a Highlight.
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Tap the three-dot menu > “Edit Highlight.”
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Tap “Edit Cover” and choose a new image from your gallery or Stories.
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Adjust the size and positioning as needed.
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Tap “Done” to save changes.
Pro Tips for Highlight Covers
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Use branded colors to maintain a cohesive Instagram aesthetic.
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Design icons or text-based covers using tools like Canva or Photoshop.
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Ensure clarity—avoid overly detailed images that don’t stand out.
For creative Instagram Highlight cover design ideas, check out this detailed tutorial on Canva.
Best Practices for Instagram Highlights
Want your Highlights to look professional and engaging? Here are some expert tips:
✅ Keep Titles Short & Clear
Avoid long, confusing titles. Instead, use 1-2 words like “Travel,” “Tips,” or “Behind the Scenes.”
✅ Organize by Category
Group related Stories together—don’t mix random content in one Highlight.
✅ Use a Consistent Theme
Matching cover designs and fonts give your profile a clean, polished look.
✅ Regularly Update Highlights
Refresh your content every few weeks to keep followers engaged.
✅ Leverage Highlights for Business Growth
If you run a business, use Highlights to showcase:
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Product demos
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Customer testimonials
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Special offers & promotions
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Answers to common questions
Instagram Highlights are more than just aesthetic—they’re a powerful tool for engagement, branding, and storytelling. Whether you’re showcasing personal memories or promoting your business, learning how to add highlights on Instagram can elevate your profile and keep your best content front and center.Now that you know the ins and outs, go ahead—curate your first set of Highlights and give your Instagram profile a fresh, polished look!
FAQs About Instagram Highlights
1. Can I add a Story to Highlights without posting it?
No. Your Story must be posted first before you can add it to Highlights. However, you can hide it from your main audience by adjusting your Story settings.
2. How many Instagram Highlights can I create?
There’s no limit to how many Highlights you can have, but each Highlight can hold up to 100 Stories.
3. Can I add music to my Instagram Highlights?
Yes! If your Story had music before adding it to a Highlight, the music will remain.
4. How do I rearrange Instagram Highlights?
Instagram automatically moves the most recently updated Highlight to the front. You can’t manually rearrange them.
5. Can other people see who viewed my Highlights?
No, Instagram only tracks Story views for 24 hours. Once it becomes a Highlight, you won’t see viewers.
6. How do I make custom Highlight covers?
You can design them using tools like Canva, Adobe Spark, or Photoshop, then upload them via the “Edit Cover” option.