Instagram Highlights let you pin your best story content to your profile permanently — but most people only know the basic method. In this guide, we cover how to add highlights on Instagram, how to create new ones from scratch, and the workaround that lets you add highlights without posting to your story.

What Are Instagram Highlights?

Instagram Highlights are collections of story clips pinned to your profile page, displayed directly below your bio. Unlike regular stories that disappear after 24 hours, Highlights stay visible for as long as you keep them.

Think of them as a virtual storefront. When someone visits your profile, Highlights are the first content they can browse — making them a powerful tool for personal branding and content curation. Each Highlight can be dedicated to a specific theme, product line, or topic, letting you attract like-minded followers or customers who connect with your content.

For businesses, Highlights are especially useful for showcasing testimonials, product demos, FAQs, behind-the-scenes content, and promotions — all without cluttering your main feed.

How to Add Highlights on Instagram

The standard method for creating Instagram Highlights pulls from your story archive. Here is how to do it:

1. Open your profile on Instagram.
2. Tap the "+" button below your bio (or the "New" circle if you have no Highlights yet).
3. Select "Story Highlight" from the menu.
4. Browse your story archive and select the story or stories you want to include.
5. Tap "Next" in the top right corner.
6. Name your Highlight and choose a cover image.
7. Tap "Add" (iOS) or "Done" (Android) to save.

Your new Highlight will now appear on your profile, right below your bio.

Note: Your stories are automatically saved to your archive by default. If yours aren't showing up, go to Settings > Privacy > Story and make sure "Save story to archive" is turned on.

How to Create Highlights From Scratch

You can also create a Highlight directly from a story you are currently viewing or have just posted:

1. Open the story you want to save as a Highlight.
2. Tap the "Highlight" icon at the bottom of the screen (the heart-shaped icon with a "+" symbol).
3. Choose an existing Highlight to add it to, or tap "New" to create a fresh one.
4. Name it and customize the cover.

This method is great for building Highlights in real time as you post stories throughout the day.

How to Add Highlights Without Posting to Your Story

This is the workaround most people don't know about. If you want to add content to your Highlights without it showing up in your live story feed (where your followers would see it for 24 hours), follow these steps:

1. Post the story you want to add to your Highlights.
2. Delete it immediately — before most of your followers see it.
3. Wait 24 hours for the story to move from "Recently Deleted" to your archive.
4. Open your profile and tap the three-line menu icon in the top right corner.
5. Tap "Your Activity", then tap "Recently Deleted".
6. Find the story you deleted and tap "Restore" (or "..." then "Restore").
7. Go back to your profile and tap the "+" button below your bio.
8. Select "Story Highlight" and find the restored story in your archive.
9. Add it to an existing Highlight or create a new one.

By using this method, you can keep your story feed clean while still building out your Highlights with the content you want. It is especially useful for businesses that want to add curated content to Highlights without sending notifications or cluttering their followers' story trays.

Pro tip: If the story appears briefly before you delete it, you can also toggle your account to private, post the story, immediately delete it, wait 24 hours, then restore and add to Highlights — then switch back to public. This ensures zero visibility.

Managing Your Instagram Highlights

Keeping your Highlights fresh and well-organized is important for making a good first impression. Here is how to edit or remove them:

Editing a Highlight

1. Long-press (or tap and hold) the Highlight you want to edit on your profile.
2. Select "Edit Highlight" from the menu.
3. You can rename it, change the cover image, or add/remove specific stories.
4. Tap "Done" to save your changes.

Removing a Highlight

1. Long-press the Highlight you want to delete.
2. Select "Delete Highlight".
3. Confirm the deletion.

The individual stories inside the Highlight will remain in your archive — only the Highlight collection itself is removed.

Reordering Highlights

Instagram does not offer a built-in reorder feature. However, when you edit a Highlight (even just opening and saving it without changes), it moves to the front of the row. Use this trick to reorder your Highlights by editing them in reverse order of how you want them displayed.

Tips for Better Instagram Highlights

Choose Strong Cover Images

Your Highlight covers are the first thing visitors see. Use custom-designed icons or branded images that clearly represent each category. Consistent cover designs make your profile look polished and professional.

Organize by Theme

Group your content into clear themes — products, testimonials, tutorials, behind-the-scenes, events. This makes it easier for visitors to find what they are looking for and keeps your profile structured.

Keep Content Fresh

Review your Highlights regularly and remove outdated content. A Highlight full of old promotions or expired offers hurts your credibility. Aim to refresh your Highlights at least once per quarter.

Use Highlights Strategically

Place your most important Highlights first (closest to the left side of your profile). For businesses, this might be a "Start Here" guide, your best testimonials, or your core product showcase. For personal brands, consider leading with your strongest content or most popular series.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you add highlights on Instagram without posting to your story?

Yes. Post the story, delete it immediately, wait 24 hours, restore it from "Recently Deleted," and then add it to a Highlight from your archive. We walk through the full steps above.

Can you add old photos to highlights?

Yes. Any photo or video that has been posted as a story and saved to your archive can be added to a Highlight — regardless of when it was originally posted. Just make sure "Save story to archive" is enabled in your settings.

How long do Instagram Highlights last?

Highlights stay on your profile indefinitely. Unlike stories, they do not expire after 24 hours. You can keep them visible for as long as you want and remove them at any time.

How many Highlights can you have on Instagram?

There is no limit to the number of Highlights you can create, and each individual Highlight can hold up to 100 story clips. Once a Highlight reaches 100, the oldest story is removed when a new one is added.

Can you see who viewed your Instagram Highlights?

You can see viewer lists for story clips within a Highlight for up to 48 hours after the original story was posted. After that window, viewer data is no longer available — but the content remains in your Highlight.

Instagram Highlights are one of the most underused features on the platform. Whether you are building a brand, growing your Instagram presence, or just want a better-organized profile, taking the time to create and manage your Highlights will pay off every time someone visits your page.