You pin an Instagram post through the menu of your own photo, video or Reel. The post then gets a place at the top of your profile. Go to your profile, open the post and look in the menu for the option to pin it. The name of this option may vary between app versions.
Below, you will read the steps, which posts you can choose and what you can try if the option is missing.
What happens when you pin an Instagram post?
Pinning lets you choose which posts visitors see at the top of your profile. This keeps a post visible in that spot, even when you share newer photos and videos.
The official announcement from Meta in 2022 mentions a maximum of three pinned posts, including Reels. Check your app to see which options are currently available to you.
Suppose someone arrives on your profile through a single video. That person does not know you yet. A short introduction at the top can then show who you are and what you share.
Pinning concerns your profile. It does not mean that your post appears more often among other people’s posts. So use it to show visitors something, not to expect extra reach.
How to pin an Instagram post or Reel
Choose a post that is already on your own account. You find the feature in that post’s menu. The name and location of the option may vary.
- Go to your profile. Check that you have the account open on which the post appears.
- Open your photo, video or Reel. Choose something you want to show at the top.
- Open the post’s menu. Look for the option to pin the post to your profile.
- Choose that option if you see it. Return to your profile and check whether the post is at the top.
Do you want to pin a Reel? Start on your profile then too. Choose a video that a new visitor can quickly understand. Also check how the cover looks among your other posts. You do not need to create a series of matching images.
Are you pinning several posts? Check your profile again after each change. Do not make your explanation depend on a fixed left to right order. Each post should also be understandable on its own.
Which three Instagram posts should you place at the top?
Choose posts that each tell visitors something different about your account. Three almost identical photos add less than an introduction, a good example and useful information. Also Cultuur+Ondernemen advises creators to pin important posts at the top of their profile.
These three types of posts can help you get started:
| Post type | Visitor’s question | What do you show? |
|---|---|---|
| Introduction | Who are you and what do you share? | A short explanation about yourself or your work. |
| Good example | What can I expect here? | A photo, explanation or video that fits your account well. |
| Current information | What is useful to know now? | An ongoing series, activity or answer to a frequently asked question. |
Example for a personal account
Suppose you share photos of walks. You could pin an introduction, a favourite walking route and a post about what you take with you along the way. This gives a visitor more insight into your account than three similar forest photos would.
Example for a creator or local shop
A fictional ceramic maker could choose an introduction, a video of the making process and information about an upcoming workshop. After the workshop, another post can take that place.
Are you unsure what you want to show with your profile? Then read why you should use Instagram. Once you know what you want to share, choosing becomes easier.
When should you replace a pinned Instagram post?
Replace a post if the information is no longer correct or if another post is more useful to visitors. An old post does not need to be removed just because it is old. An introduction can remain useful longer than an announcement.
- An activity has ended. Free up the space if the announcement is no longer needed.
- Something has changed. Check whether your topics, orferings or opening hours are still correct.
- You often receive the same question. Consider a post with a clear answer.
- You have a better example. Choose a new post if it shows what you are currently making or sharing better.
To unpin a post, open that post’s menu again. Look for the option to stop pinning it. Read the wording carefully: do not choose delete if you only want to change the spot at the top.
Then view your profile. Is the information still correct? Do the posts keep saying the same thing? The post with the most likes is not automatically the best introduction.
What should you do if pinning is unavailable on Instagram?
Do you not see the option? First check where you are looking. Without examining your app, it is not possible to determine the cause.
- Check your account. Open one of your own posts on the profile you want to change.
- Check the post type. These steps concern photos, videos and Reels, not Stories or comments.
- Open the post’s menu. Look for an option that describes pinning to your profile.
- Check whether there is an app update. Install it if necessary and open Instagram again. This can help with checking, but it is not a guaranteed solution.
Is the option still missing? Consult the help section within Instagram. Mention which type of post you want to pin and which options you do see. This makes it clearer where you are getting stuck.
How can you see whether pinned Instagram posts are helping?
Start by asking whether your profile has become clearer. Ask someone who rarely views your account to look at your profile briefly. Then ask what that person thinks you share and which post invites them to look further.
Do you want to try different choices? Replace one pinned post at a time. Note the date and what you changed. This lets you look back later at which choice may have made a difference.
Does your account show statistics? Then compare similar periods, for example two periods of fourteen days. Also note other differences. Perhaps you posted more videos in one period or had a well attended activity. This makes it harder to see whether pinning changed anything.
More profile visits or likes after a change do not prove that pinning was the cause. The number of actions is also not always the number of unique people.
Do you also want to know how to get more followers? Then read the separate explanation about getting 1000 Instagram followers. That is a different question: pinning mainly lets you choose what visitors see first on your profile.
