To create a highlight on Instagram, you must first ensure your Story Archive is turned on, then select past Stories from that archive to build a permanent collection on your profile. This feature lets you organize your best content into themed categories that stay visible below your bio indefinitely, unlike regular Stories that vanish after 24 hours.
Before you create a highlight on Instagram: turn on your Story Archive
Your Story Archive is the storage space where every Story you post is automatically saved. Without this archive enabled, you cannot create a highlight because there are no Stories to select from. To turn it on, go to your profile, tap the three horizontal lines (Menu) in the top right, choose "Settings," then "Privacy," then "Story." Make sure the "Save to Archive" toggle is switched on. Once active, every future Story you post will be saved here, giving you a library of content to pull from whenever you want to build a new highlight.
How to create a highlight from your archived Stories
- Go to your profile and look below your bio for the Highlights section. Tap the "New" circle or the "+" button there.
- You will see your Story Archive. Browse through your past Stories and tap the ones you want to include in this highlight. Selected Stories will show a checkmark.
- Tap "Next" or the arrow in the top right.
- Name your highlight. Choose a short, clear title that tells viewers what the collection is about.
- Choose a cover image. You can pick a frame from one of the selected Stories or upload a custom image from your device. Adjust the position and size of the cover image as needed.
- Tap "Done" or "Add" to save the highlight to your profile.
Your new highlight now appears as a circular icon below your bio. Anyone who visits your profile can tap it to view all the Stories you added.
How to add an active Story to an existing highlight
If you have a Story currently live on your profile and want to save it to a highlight before it expires, tap the heart icon with a plus sign at the bottom of that Story screen. A list of your existing highlights will appear. Select the highlight category you want to add the Story to, then tap "Add." The Story is now permanently stored in that highlight, even after the 24-hour window closes. This method is useful when you create content like creating a poll on Instagram and want to keep the results visible long after the poll ends.
Choosing and customizing your highlight covers
Your highlight covers are the first thing followers see when they land on your profile, so consistent branding makes a strong impression. To edit a cover, tap and hold the highlight you want to change. From the menu, select "Edit Highlight." Tap the current cover image and choose a new one from the Stories inside the highlight, or upload a custom graphic from your camera roll. You can zoom, rotate, and reposition the image to get the perfect crop. For a polished look, use covers that share a similar color palette, font style, or logo placement across all your highlights. This visual consistency helps your profile feel curated and professional, whether you are showing travel diaries or tutorials on how to go live on Instagram.
How to rearrange, edit, or delete your highlights
Your highlights appear in a row below your bio, and you can change their order at any time. Tap and hold a highlight, then drag it left or right to a new position. Release your finger to drop it in place. To edit the contents or name of a highlight, tap and hold it, then choose "Edit Highlight." From here you can add or remove Stories, change the cover, or rename the highlight. If you want to remove a highlight entirely, tap and hold it and select "Delete Highlight." This action permanently removes the highlight and all Stories inside it from your profile, so save any Stories you want to keep before deleting. Managing your highlights this way keeps your profile fresh and relevant, especially as you add new content like learning how to add Spotify music to Instagram story and wanting to feature those music-filled Stories in a dedicated highlight.
