How to Add Highlights on Instagram

Let’s talk about one of Instagram’s coolest features: Highlights. All those epic Stories you spent time perfecting, the ones that disappear in 24 hours, given a second life right on your profile. That’s exactly what Instagram Highlights do – a genuine engagement magnet.

They’re like the trophy shelf of your best content, letting you showcase your style, organize your vibe, and keep your audience coming back for more. And, if you want to add Highlights on Instagram that are creative, clean, and totally you, you’re in the right place. Stick around, and we’ll show you exactly how to turn this feature into your new favorite storytelling tool.

What are Instagram Highlights?

Highlights let you turn temporary Stories into something that sticks around permanently to reach and engage more viewers. Normally, Stories are a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it thing, disappearing after 24 hours. But Highlights let them stay on your profile, front and center, forever (or until you remove them).

Think of it like this: Instagram Highlights are like the greatest hits album of your favorite Stories. Whether it’s your foodie adventures, travel escapades, or behind-the-scenes magic, Highlights let you organize and show off your vibe in a way that feels totally you.

Why Creating Instagram Story Highlights is Important?

Here’s the thing – Highlights are way more than just pretty circles on your profile. Get it right and they’re the best possible way to keep your content organized, captivating, and totally unforgettable. Let’s break down why posting Highlights is a big deal:

1. Organize Content for Easy Access

Think of Highlights as your personal Instagram filing cabinet, making it a breeze for followers to find exactly what they need. From before & after transformations to your latest projects, it’s all neatly categorized, so no one has to scroll endlessly to get inspired.

2. Extend the Lifespan of Stories

Normally, Stories disappear in 24 hours – but Highlights are permanent. Whether it’s an unforgettable trip or exciting tutorials, your audience can relive your moments long after they’ve been posted. You worked hard on that Story, so you might as well make it last.

3. Showcase Key Moments or Products

Highlights are perfect for showing off your signature style or star products. Share behind the scenes (BTS), drop amazing product reviews, or highlight glowing UGC (user-generated content) to connect with followers and leave them wanting more.

How to Create Instagram Story Highlights

Creating Instagram Story Highlights might seem tricky, but it’s actually super simple once you know the basics. Whether starting fresh or organizing past content, here are the 4 ways to make a Highlight directly from your Story up in just a few clicks:

Way 1: Save Active Stories as Highlights

Step 1: Open Instagram and tap your profile picture in the bottom right to access your profile.

Step 2: Tap “+ New” option.

Step 3: Choose the story or stories you want to include, then tap “Next” in the top right.

Step 4: Select “Edit Cover” to pick a cover photo and add a name for your Highlight.

Step 5: Tap “Done” in the top right, and your Highlight is ready to go.

Way 2: Turn Archived Stories into Highlights

Step 1: Go to your profile and tap the three-line menu in the top-right corner.

Step 2: Select “Archive” to access your previously shared Stories.

Step 3: Browse your archived Stories and choose the ones you want to highlight.

Step 4: Tap the “Highlight Icon” at the bottom of the screen.

Step 5: Decide whether to add your selected stories to an existing Highlight or create a new one.

Step 6: Customize the cover photo and name your Highlight before saving it to your profile.

Way 3: Add Stories to Current Highlights

Step 1: Head to your profile by tapping your profile picture in the bottom-right corner.

Step 2: Select the Highlight you want to update and tap the three dots in the top-right corner.

Step 3: Tap “Edit Highlight” from the dropdown menu.

Step 4: Choose Stories and select the story or stories you’d like to add to the Highlight.

Step 5: If needed, update the name of the Highlight in the text box.

Step 6: Tap “Done” to save your changes.

Way 4: Create Highlights Without Posting Stories

Step 1: Upload the Story you want to use but delete it immediately after posting.

Step 2: Wait 24 hours for it to appear in your Recently Deleted section.

Step 3: Go to your profile and tap the three-line menu in the top-right corner.

Step 4: Tap “Your Activity”.

Step 5: Choose the “Recently Deleted” option and choose the deleted Story and Restore it.

Step 6: Return to your profile, open the restored Story, and tap the three-dot menu and select “Edit Highlight”.

Step 7: Then tap “Stories” to add it to your desired Highlight and tap “Done”.

Pro Tip – How to Archive Highlights on Instagram

When you add Highlights on Instagram, archiving is automatic – you don’t need to do a thing! As long as the Story Archive feature is turned on (find it in Settings > Privacy > Story > Save to Archive), your Stories will automatically save after 24 hours. You can access them anytime to create or update Highlights.

How to Edit Your Instagram Story Highlights

It’s not enough to just add Highlights on Instagram and hope for the best. Keeping your Highlights fresh and polished is essential, but also pretty simple. If you want to refresh a highlight, reposting stories can also add new life to your existing Highlights, ensuring they stay relevant and engaging. Here’s how to edit highlight content and details to keep your audience interested:

Step 1: Tap your profile picture to go to your profile, and select the Highlight you want to edit.

Step 2: Press the “Edit Highlight” option (found by tapping the three-dot menu or holding down the Highlight).

Step 3: To change or update content, select or deselect stories.

Step 4: To rename the Highlight, simply type a new name in the text box.

Step 5: Adjust the cover photo by selecting “Edit Cover” and uploading a new image or picking one from your stories.

Step 6: Remove stories you no longer need to keep things current and relevant by tapping “Remove from Highlight” option.

Making just a few necessary changes here and there is a great way to keep your Highlights on point.

Organize Your Instagram Story Highlights Effectively

A well-organized profile isn’t just eye-catching – it’s engaging. When you organize Highlights the right way, you make it easy for visitors to navigate and engage with your best content. Start by grouping them into themes like travel, product launches, or events.

This keeps things clear and streamlined. If you’re not getting views on Stories, reevaluating your highlight organization could make a difference. Use cover images that are simple, recognizable, and match your branding for a cohesive, professional vibe.

Always arrange Highlights in a way that’s visually appealing and logical, ensuring your audience can easily see and explore everything you have to offer. And, if you want to add some personality, incorporate emojis into your Highlight names for a playful touch. Interactive Stories like polls and quizzes can also create a fun, engaging feel.

Tips to Enhance Your Story Highlights for Higher Engagements

If you want to post Instagram Highlights that stand out and hook your audience, a few simple tweaks can make all the difference. Here’s how to turn those little circles into major engagement boosters:

1. Update Highlights Regularly to Stay Fresh

Keep your profile dynamic by updating it with new Highlights that reflect your latest best content. Remove anything outdated and replace it with fresh material to maintain relevance. Regular updates not only hold your audience’s interest but also encourage them to return and explore more. Plus, it could even help you get more story views over time.

2. Create Appealing Story Highlight Covers

Epic covers instantly elevate your profile’s vibe. Use branded colors, custom icons, or consistent designs to make highlight covers that feel cohesive and professional. Change highlight covers occasionally where you plan to keep Highlights long-term to renew interest in them. Think what would grab your attention, and ensure your covers do just that.

3. Use Descriptive Highlight Names

Keep it simple, clear, and fun. A relatable name will draw viewers toward the content they love. Skip vague labels and opt for words that spark curiosity or inspiration. For example, use “Wanderlust” instead of “Travel.” Thoughtful names are key to catching users in the moment before they lose interest. 

4. Analyze and Adjust Your Strategy

Leverage Instagram Insights insights to refine your Highlights by analyzing views, taps forward, and exits. Understanding the Instagram story viewer order helps identify which stories resonate most. Always add Highlights on Instagram based exclusively on this data to ensure your Highlights connect with your audience and deliver the content they enjoy.

Common Mistakes to Avoid While Making Instagram Story Highlights

Instagram Highlights are your first impression, so they need to send the right message. When done right, they grab attention, boost engagement, and make your profile memorable. However, even small missteps can affect their effectiveness and turn viewers away. Watch out for these common errors to keep your profile sleek, engaging, and unforgettable.

1. Using Low-Quality Highlight Covers

Low-quality or pixelated covers are unacceptable. They not only look unprofessional but also discourage people from exploring your Highlights. Invest time in creating sharp, vibrant designs to catch attention. Also, make sure to fix story blur issues early on to avoid harming your overall aesthetic. Quality visuals = a quality profile.

2. Overloading Highlights with Too Many Stories

While it’s tempting to include everything, overcrowding photos in Highlights is a sure way to overwhelm your audience. Keep each Highlight focused and streamlined so viewers can absorb the best content without scrolling endlessly. A little editing can make all the difference.

3. Using Irrelevant Stories in Highlights

Don’t mix travel Stories with product launches. Including unrelated content confuses your message and makes it harder for viewers to connect. Ensure every Story you post as a Highlight fits the theme – it keeps your audience engaged and maintains your profile’s credibility.

4. Ignoring Consistent Branding in Covers

Clashing fonts, colors, or styles in Highlight covers – big branding missteps. Consistency in cover designs helps reinforce your visual identity and creates a professional, polished profile. Align covers with your brand’s look for better recognition and a cohesive, lasting impression.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How Do I Pin Highlights on Instagram?

You don’t need to! Instagram automatically “pins” your Highlights right below your bio on your profile. The newest ones appear first, but you can rearrange them anytime for the perfect lineup.

2. How Many Highlights Can You Have on Instagram?

There’s no limit to how many Highlights you can create. But remember, quality over quantity – stick to what’s meaningful to keep your profile looking clean and curated.

3. How Do You Download Instagram Highlights?

To save a Highlight creatively, tap and hold the one you want. Choose Convert to Reel, then let Instagram work its magic. Once the Reel is ready, tap the Share (airplane) icon, scroll across, and select Download.

4. How Can You Save Highlights on Instagram?

Simply tap your Highlight, then hit the three-dot menu in the bottom-right corner and choose “Save Story.” This downloads all the stories within that Highlight straight to your camera roll as a video.

5. Can You See When Someone Views Your Instagram Highlights?

No. While Instagram lets you see views for active Highlights (within the 48-hour window), you can’t see exactly when someone views your Highlight. Instagram doesn’t offer time stamps for that.

6. Can You See Who Views Your Instagram Highlights?

Yes. For the first 48 hours after adding a story to a Highlight, you can view who watched it. After this period, the view count is no longer available – Instagram doesn’t keep it permanently.

7. Can Anyone See Your Highlights on Instagram If Your Account Is Private?

No. If your account is private, only your approved followers can see your Highlights. Privacy settings for Highlights follow the same rules as the rest of your profile content.

8. Does Instagram Notify When You Screenshot a Highlight?

No, Instagram doesn’t notify users when someone screenshots a Highlight. Feel free to capture inspiration from others, but remember to give credit if you share their content.

9. How to Rearrange or Reorder Highlights on Instagram?

To rearrange Instagram Highlights;

• Go to your profile and locate the Highlight you want to move.
• Tap and hold the Highlight, then select “Edit Highlight” from the menu.
• Add a recent story temporarily to bring the Highlight to the front and save the changes.