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How to Add Highlights on Instagram (and Why They Matter)

Updated June 2026

Stories vanish after 24 hours, but Highlights make the good ones permanent — pinned right under your bio. They're prime profile real estate, the first thing a new visitor taps to decide whether to follow. Used well, they sell your account for you.

How to create a Highlight

1. Go to your profile and tap + New (or the + in the Highlights row).
2. Pick stories from your archive to include.
3. Name it (keep it short — only ~10–15 characters show) and choose a cover.
4. Tap Add — it now lives under your bio.

No active story needed; Highlights pull from your Stories archive.

How to edit one

Press and hold a Highlight → Edit Highlight. From there you can rename it, swap the cover, and add or remove individual stories anytime.

What to put in Highlights

• "Start here" / About — who you are in 3 taps.
• Best work, products, or services.
• FAQs — answer the questions you get most.
• Testimonials or results (if you have real ones).

Make the covers consistent

Matching cover icons or colors make your profile look polished and intentional. Use a simple set of icons or a single color theme — it's a small touch that signals you take the account seriously.

Highlights convert visitors — if they arrive

A great Highlights row only helps if people reach your profile. That comes from reach (see why followers don't see your posts) and a genuine, engaged audience. Keep yours clean — find non-followers with UnfollowScan (no login, browser-only) and trim the dead weight.