Last Updated on November 10, 2024 by Val Razo
Instagram Highlights offer users a way to preserve and showcase their best content on their Instagram profile well beyond the typical 24-hour limit of Instagram Stories. Positioned just below the profile picture and bio, Highlights provide an effective way to curate a visually appealing display of memories or important moments that reflect your current personality and interests.
Whether you’re showcasing multiple photos, creating curated highlights for a brand, or just sharing specific stories for followers to see, Highlights can make your Instagram profile more engaging and relevant. However, as time goes on, you may want to update your profile, delete an entire highlight, or even edit existing ones to keep your profile page fresh.
In this step-by-step guide, we’ll cover how to edit or delete Instagram Highlights easily on both iPhone and Android devices. We’ll walk through how to remove stories, add new ones, and provide insider tips for making the most out of your Instagram’s Highlights feature. Let’s take a closer look!
Steps to Delete a Highlight on Instagram
Deleting an Instagram highlight is a straightforward process that allows you to remove content you no longer want displayed on your profile page. Here’s a step-by-step guide to delete an entire highlight or specific Instagram Stories within it, keeping your profile curated and up to date.
How to Delete a Highlight Individually
- Navigate to your Instagram profile by tapping your profile picture in the bottom right corner of the Instagram app.
- Find the highlight you want to delete and tap it.
- In the bottom right corner of the highlight, tap the three dots (also called the “more” button) to reveal options.
- Select “Delete Highlight” if you wish to delete the entire highlight. A pop-up will appear asking if you’re sure.
- Click “Delete” to confirm. This will remove the highlight permanently, including all stories in it.
Tips for Managing and Deleting Instagram Highlights
- Want to delete only a specific story? Tap on the highlight, navigate to the story you wish to remove, and then tap “Remove from Highlight” instead of deleting the entire highlight.
- Double-check before deleting to ensure you’re removing the correct story or highlight.
- For those seeking more details or having privacy concerns, the Instagram Help Center offers resources for managing story visibility and privacy settings.
Keeping highlights relevant and up-to-date not only reflects your current self but also makes it easier for followers to engage with highlights that make sense to your profile and brand. This step ensures your Instagram profile remains visually appealing and only showcases content you want people to see.
When I first created my Instagram highlights, I was excited to showcase every memorable moment. But over time, I realized my brand had evolved, and some of those stories no longer represented me. I decided to go through each highlight, removing stories that felt outdated and adding new ones that aligned with my current personal brand. Now, my highlights are a perfect reflection of who I am today, and they make my profile look much more polished.
How to Edit an Instagram Highlight
Editing an Instagram highlight is just as straightforward as deleting one. This process allows you to add stories, adjust the cover image, and remove specific items to keep your highlights relevant. Whether you’re on iPhone or Android, here’s a quick guide to make changes.
Adding and Removing Stories to Highlights
- Navigate to your Instagram profile and tap on the highlight you want to edit.
- To add stories, tap the “Edit Highlight” option beneath the highlight.
- You’ll see a list of Instagram Stories that you can add. Select the items you wish to include by tapping them.
- To remove stories, uncheck any selected story. When unchecking, remember that these stories will be removed from the highlight but not deleted from Instagram entirely.
- Once you’ve made your choices, click “Done” to save the changes.
Tagging and Customizing Highlights for Better Coverage
Customizing highlights helps create coverage that’s both relevant and visually appealing. Here are a few additional tips:
- Edit the highlight cover by selecting a new cover image that best represents the content. This image will appear on your profile page as a circle above your bio.
- Consider tagging or adding descriptive text within your Instagram Stories to make it easier for followers to understand what the highlight covers.
- Curate your highlight’s content so it effectively reflects your current interests, preferences, or brand identity.
With these simple steps, you can easily edit or delete highlights to ensure your Instagram profile stays engaging and up-to-date.
At one point, my highlights were so cluttered that they actually made my profile look overwhelming. I took a weekend to delete older highlights and stories that no longer fit. By only keeping my most relevant and meaningful stories, I felt like my profile immediately looked cleaner and more professional. Now, I do this every few months to make sure my page stays fresh and aligned with my goals.
Additional Tips for Organizing Your Instagram Highlights
Organizing your Instagram highlights can make your profile more visually appealing and help followers find content that’s relevant to them. Here are some creative tips to help you make the most out of this feature and keep your profile page looking curated and fresh.
Using Stories to Build Highlights
The highlights feature on Instagram allows users to add stories directly to their profile. To make the most of this:
- Post stories that are relevant to themes or categories you’d like to showcase, then add them to the appropriate highlight.
- Use highlights as a journal of special moments, important milestones, or key coverage of events. This makes it easy for followers to view your best content at any time.
- For businesses or creators, highlights can be used to showcase products, services, or behind-the-scenes moments.
In 2023, data showed that 76% of Instagram users regularly engage with stories, and 58% reported that highlights improve the browsing experience on profiles (source: Sprout Social). Highlights offer a way to keep stories viewable, which increases the likelihood of follower engagement with important content.
How Highlights Can Improve Your Follower Engagement
Well-organized highlights can help you build a stronger connection with your audience. When your Instagram profile includes highlights that make sense and align with your personal or brand identity, it’s easier for followers to engage. Here’s how to maximize the impact:
- Curated highlights that tell a story or share insights make your profile feel more personal and authentic.
- Add text overlays or tags in stories within a highlight to guide viewers and provide context.
- Organize highlights in a way that reflects the interests of your target audience, which can improve both follower engagement and retention.
By following these tips, you’ll create highlights that are not only a visual reflection of your brand but also useful for anyone wanting to learn more about you or your business.
In 2023, fashion brand Chic & Co. revamped their Instagram highlights strategy to better engage their followers. Previously, their highlights were a mix of outdated content and random stories. Recognizing the need for a more cohesive profile, the team categorized highlights into sections such as “New Arrivals,” “Behind the Scenes,” and “Customer Favorites.” They regularly updated these highlights, adding only the most relevant content. Within six months, Chic & Co. saw a 25% increase in profile visits and a 35% boost in engagement on their story content (source: Hootsuite Blog).
Conclusion
Managing Instagram highlights allows you to keep your profile both visually appealing and aligned with your current preferences. Whether you’re looking to delete Instagram highlights, edit individual stories, or simply reorganize your content, these straightforward steps make it easy to customize your Instagram profile. By following this guide, you can curate highlights that engage your followers and showcase the most important moments in a way that reflects your personality or brand.
Remember, if you ever need further assistance, the Instagram Help Center offers additional resources, and exploring related articles can give you even more helpful tips. Keep your profile page fresh and engaging by updating your highlights to match your evolving style and interests.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I automatically delete my Instagram highlights after 24 hours?
Currently, Instagram highlights are designed to preserve stories beyond the standard 24-hour lifespan of regular stories. If you want highlights to expire automatically, consider manually managing them or using regular Instagram stories, which disappear after 24 hours.
What happens to my highlights if Instagram updates its privacy policy?
Changes in Instagram’s privacy policy could impact visibility settings for highlights, especially if Facebook, Instagram’s parent company, adjusts terms. However, updates rarely delete content, so your highlights should remain unless stated otherwise. Be sure to review policy updates in 2024 to understand any potential effects.
Is there a way to recover highlights I previously deleted on Instagram?
Once you delete your Instagram highlights, they’re permanently removed, and Instagram currently offers no recovery options. It’s always good to double-check before deleting any highlights if you may want to keep them for later.
How does deleting highlights impact my Instagram profile’s engagement?
Deleting old or irrelevant highlights can improve your profile’s appearance, making it easier for followers to focus on current, curated content. Highlights make your profile engaging, so keep only the content that reflects your brand or interests accurately.
Can I use any tech tools to help manage my Instagram highlights?
While Instagram doesn’t provide direct tools for managing highlights, third-party tech solutions, such as social media scheduling apps, can help organize your stories and profile. However, they’re limited in deleting or editing highlights directly. For best results, follow the instructions within the app for editing and deleting.
Author Bio
Val Razo
Val Razo is a skilled professional in the field of Instagram Marketing. With over five years of experience as a freelance Social Media Marketing consultant, Val has assisted numerous small and medium-sized businesses in achieving their goals.
