Instagram gives you just a few seconds to impress someone who lands on your profile. That’s exactly why learning how to use Instagram Highlights the right way can completely change your growth game.
Instagram Highlights turn your temporary Stories into permanent, clickable sections right under your bio. Instead of letting your best content disappear after 24 hours, you can organize it into curated collections that showcase your brand, answer questions, build trust, and guide visitors toward action. When you truly understand how to use Instagram Highlights strategically, your profile stops being just a feed — it becomes a mini website that works for you 24/7.
How Do Instagram Highlights Work?
Instagram Highlights are curated collections of your past Stories that display permanently below your bio section. They appear as circular icons with custom cover images and names, visible to anyone who visits your profile on both mobile and desktop platforms.
Unlike regular Instagram Stories that disappear after 24 hours, Highlights remain on your profile until you manually delete them. This permanence makes them ideal for showcasing content you want visitors to see repeatedly. Each Highlight can contain multiple Story slides, and you can create as many Highlights as needed to organize your content effectively.
The key difference between Stories and Highlights lies in their lifespan and purpose. Stories are temporary, spontaneous content designed for immediate engagement, while Highlights serve as a curated archive of your best and most relevant Stories. You cannot create a Highlight from scratch—you must first post content as a Story before adding it to a Highlight collection.
How Do You Create an Instagram Highlight?
Creating an Instagram Highlight requires you to have at least one previously posted Story in your archive or currently active on your profile. The process differs slightly between mobile and desktop, with mobile offering more customization options.
1. Creating Highlights on Mobile
Navigate to your Instagram profile and tap the circular icon with a plus sign labeled “New” beneath your bio section. This opens your Story archive where you can select the slides you want to include.
Select your desired Story slides by tapping on them, then tap “Next” in the top right corner. You’ll be prompted to name your Highlight—choose something clear and descriptive that tells visitors what they’ll find inside.
Tap “Edit Cover” to upload a custom cover image that matches your brand aesthetic. This is where you can truly personalize your Highlights with designed graphics. When satisfied, tap “Add” to publish your new Highlight to your profile.
2. Creating Highlights on Desktop
On desktop, click the plus sign icon beneath your bio labeled “New.” You’ll first be asked to name your Highlight before selecting content—the opposite order from mobile.
After naming your Highlight, click “Next” and select the Story slides you want to include. Click “Next” again to choose a cover image from your existing Story slides. Note that desktop doesn’t allow custom cover uploads—you’ll need to use the mobile app for that feature.
How To Edit an Existing Instagram Highlight?
Editing Instagram Highlights allows you to update content, change cover images, rename categories, and add or remove Story slides. While both mobile and desktop support editing, mobile provides fuller functionality including custom cover uploads.
On mobile, navigate to your profile and long-press the Highlight you want to modify. Tap “Edit Highlight” from the menu that appears. From this screen, you can tap “Edit Cover” to change the cover image to either a custom graphic or a frame from your Story slides. You can also update the Highlight name and select or deselect Story slides to add or remove content.
On desktop, open the Highlight you want to edit and click the three dots in the top right corner. Select “Edit” from the dropdown menu. You can change the name, add or remove Story slides, and select a cover image from existing slides. Remember that custom cover uploads are only available through the mobile app.
Regular editing keeps your Highlights fresh and relevant. According to Sprout Social, updating your Highlights monthly ensures outdated information doesn’t confuse potential customers or followers.
What Are the Best Ways to Use Instagram Highlights for Business?
Instagram Highlights serve as a permanent showcase for your most valuable content, functioning like a navigation menu for your profile. Strategic use of Highlights can drive conversions, build trust, and establish brand identity without requiring constant maintenance.
1. Create a Consistent Visual Aesthetic
Custom cover images transform your Highlights from random circles into a cohesive brand experience. Design matching covers using tools like Canva that incorporate your brand colors, fonts, and icons. Stick to the optimal dimensions of 1080×1920 pixels with a 9:16 aspect ratio for crisp, professional-looking covers.
Consistency in design signals professionalism and attention to detail. When visitors see coordinated Highlight covers, they’re more likely to perceive your brand as polished and trustworthy. You can customize your IG Highlights by adding simple, branded icons to create a cleaner, more cohesive look across your profile.
2. Organize Highlights Like Website Navigation
Treat your Highlights as you would a website menu, organizing them to guide visitors through your most important information. Common categories include “About,” “Services,” “Products,” “Reviews,” “FAQs,” and “Behind the Scenes.”
This organizational approach helps visitors quickly find what they’re looking for without scrolling through your entire feed. According to Later, profiles with well-organized Highlights see higher engagement rates because visitors can immediately access relevant content.
3. Showcase Customer Testimonials and User-Generated Content
Social proof is one of the most powerful marketing tools available. Create a dedicated Highlight for customer reviews, testimonials, and user-generated content showing real people using your products or services. This builds credibility without appearing overly promotional.
If you lack existing user-generated content, run a Story campaign encouraging followers to share photos or experiences with your brand for a chance to be featured or win a prize. This not only generates content but also increases engagement and community feeling.
4. Feature Frequently Asked Questions
A dedicated FAQ Highlight saves time by answering common questions about pricing, policies, shipping, and services. This proactive approach demonstrates transparency and customer service commitment while reducing repetitive direct messages.
Include information about response times, how to contact you, beginner tips, and any policies that might affect purchasing decisions. When potential customers find answers immediately, they’re more likely to convert.
What Mistakes Should You Avoid with Instagram Highlights?
Instagram Highlights are powerful — but only if you use them intentionally. Here are the most common mistakes that can quietly hurt your profile performance:
- Saving Every Story You Post: Not all Stories deserve permanent space. Highlights should contain evergreen, high-value content — not random daily updates.
Ask yourself: Will this still be useful six months from now? If not, keep it in your archive. - Being Overly Promotional: If every Highlight screams “Buy now,” visitors will tune out. Focus on education, testimonials, results, and behind-the-scenes content. Let value and social proof sell for you.
- Neglecting Regular Updates: Outdated pricing, expired promos, or old info can confuse potential followers. Review your Highlights monthly and refresh content to stay relevant and active.
- Using Vague or Generic Names: Labels like “Stuff” or “More” don’t guide anyone. Use clear, benefit-driven names like “Pricing,” “Reviews,” or “Start Here.” Think of them as mini headlines that need to earn the click.
How Can You Maximize the Impact of Your Highlight Covers?
Custom Highlight covers are your opportunity to extend your brand identity and create visual cohesion across your profile. Well-designed covers make your profile appear more professional and established, encouraging visitors to explore your content.
Start by selecting a consistent color palette that aligns with your overall Instagram aesthetic and brand colors. Choose 2-3 primary colors and stick with them across all covers. This creates visual harmony that’s pleasing to the eye and reinforces brand recognition.
Select fonts that are legible at small sizes, since Highlight covers appear as small circles on profiles. Simple, bold fonts work better than decorative scripts that become unreadable when scaled down. Consider using icons alongside or instead of text for even clearer communication.
Maintain consistent styling across all covers—if one uses a circular icon on a colored background, apply that same format to all others. This uniformity signals professionalism and thoughtful brand management. Test your covers by viewing them on different devices to ensure they look crisp and clear. What appears perfect on desktop might look different on mobile, where most Instagram browsing occurs.
Conclusion
Instagram Highlights transform temporary Stories into permanent marketing assets that work continuously to inform, engage, and convert profile visitors. By strategically organizing your Highlights, maintaining consistent branding, and regularly updating content, you create a professional profile that serves as both portfolio and navigation system for your brand.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How long do Instagram Highlights last?
Instagram Highlights are permanent and remain on your profile indefinitely until you manually delete them. Unlike regular Stories that disappear after 24 hours, Highlights stay beneath your bio section as long as you want them there.
2. Can you add to Instagram Highlights without posting a Story?
No, you cannot create Highlight content from scratch. You must first post content as an Instagram Story before adding it to a Highlight. However, you can pull from archived Stories that are no longer active—you don’t need a currently live Story to create or edit Highlights.
3. Can people see when you view their Instagram Highlights?
No, viewing Instagram Highlights is completely anonymous once the Story is no longer active. While active Stories show viewer lists for 24 hours, those view counts disappear 48 hours after the original posting time. After that, all Highlight views are private.
4. How many Instagram Highlights should you have?
There’s no strict limit, but aim for 5-10 well-organized Highlights that cover your most important categories. Too few and you’re not maximizing the feature; too many and you overwhelm visitors. Focus on quality over quantity, ensuring each Highlight serves a clear purpose.
5. Can you upload custom images directly to Instagram Highlights?
Yes, but only through the mobile app. When creating or editing a Highlight on mobile, tap “Edit Cover” to upload a custom image from your camera roll. Desktop only allows you to select cover images from existing Story slides within that Highlight.