To save your Instagram Stories as a Highlight, open your profile, tap New or Story highlight, select your Stories, then choose a cover and name before tapping Add on iPhone or iPad or Done on Android. You can also add an active Story to an existing Highlight, with slightly different controls on Android and Apple devices.
The short version
- Start a Highlight: Select previously shared Stories from New or Story highlight on your profile.
- Add an active Story: Tap Highlight on Android or More > Highlight on iPhone and iPad, then select an existing Highlight.
- Keep future Stories: Turn on Save story to archive so you can select preserved Stories later.
- Use a computer: Create or edit Highlights through your profile on Instagram’s website when your account has the controls.
| Option | Where to use it | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Create a new Highlight | Android, iPhone and iPad | Group previously shared Stories |
| Add an active Story | Android | Use the Story’s Highlight button |
| Add an active Story | iPhone and iPad | Use More > Highlight |
| Press and hold a Highlight | Mobile apps | Open Edit Highlight |
| Open a playing Highlight’s menu | Android, iPhone and iPad | Open Edit highlight |
| Create a new Highlight | Desktop website | Name it, select Stories and choose a cover |
| Edit an existing Highlight | Desktop website | Select additional Stories |
| Enable automatic archiving | Android and iPhone | Preserve Stories for later selection |
| Enable automatic archiving | Website settings | Turn on Save story to archive |
| Archive a Story immediately | Android and iPhone | Archive a published Story before selecting it |
| Publish directly to Highlights | Instagram Plus subscribers with the feature available | Publish directly to a Highlight |
Create a Highlight from previously shared Stories
On Android or iPhone, tap Profile or your profile picture at the bottom right. On iPad, tap your profile picture on the left. From your profile, tap New; when that control is absent, tap Story highlight.
Select the Stories you want to include, then tap Next. Tap Edit cover, choose a cover and enter a name for the Highlight. Finish by tapping Add on iPhone or iPad, or Done on Android.
Add an active Story to an existing Highlight
On Android, tap Profile or your profile picture at the bottom right, then tap your profile picture at the top left to open your Story. On the Story you want to keep, tap Highlight at the bottom right. Select the destination Highlight.
On iPhone, open your profile using your profile picture at the bottom right; on iPad, use your profile picture on the left. Tap your profile picture at the top left to open your Story, then tap More at the bottom right of the desired Story. Tap Highlight and select the existing Highlight you want to add it to.
Create a Highlight on a computer
On Instagram’s desktop website, click your profile picture on the left, then click New. When New is absent, click Story highlight. Desktop availability can depend on your account, so try the mobile creation steps above when neither control is present.
Enter a name for the Highlight and click Next. Select the Stories to include and click Next again. Choose a cover, then click Done to finish.
Add more Stories to an existing Highlight
In the mobile app, open your profile and press and hold the Highlight you want to update. Tap Edit Highlight to open its editor for adding more photos or videos. The label may also read Edit highlight.
On the desktop website, click your profile picture on the left and open the destination Highlight. Click the menu icon at the top right, then click Edit. Click Next to continue to Story selection.
Click Stories beside Selected and select the additional Stories you want to include. Click Next, then Done to save the changes.
Preserve Stories for future Highlights
Automatic archiving preserves Stories so you can select them later when creating or editing a Highlight. It does not automatically create a Highlight.
On Android and iPhone accounts with Stories Archive, tap Profile or your profile picture at the bottom right, then tap Menu at the top right. Under How you use Instagram, tap Your activity, then Archived.
Tap Options at the top right, then choose Settings. Archived media can permanently lose music or animation. Turn on Save story to archive.
Archive a published Story immediately
On Android or iPhone, you can archive a published Story before selecting it for a new Highlight. Start by creating and sharing the Story in the Instagram app.
Archived media can permanently lose music or animation. On the published Story, tap Options, then Archive. Archiving alone does not create a Highlight.
Return to your profile, tap New or, if it is absent, Story highlight, then select the archived Story and tap Next. Tap Edit cover, choose a cover and enter a name. Finish with Add on iPhone or Done on Android.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you open the Highlight editor while watching a Highlight?
Yes, you can also open the editor from Highlight playback on Android, iPhone or iPad. Open your profile and tap the Highlight. Tap More at the bottom right, then tap Edit highlight.
Can you turn on Stories Archive from Instagram’s website?
Yes, on accounts with Stories Archive, click More at the bottom left, then Settings. Under Your app and media, click Archiving and downloading. Archived media can permanently lose music or animation. Turn on Save story to archive.
Can you change a Highlight’s name while adding Stories on a computer?
Yes, you can change its name during the desktop editing workflow. Open the Highlight from your profile, click the menu icon at the top right, then Edit, and change the name before clicking Next. Continue through Story selection, then click Next and Done.
Can Instagram Plus publish directly to Highlights?
Yes, Meta says Instagram Plus subscribers with the feature available can publish directly to their profile or Highlights without appearing in friends’ feeds. You can use this subscriber feature as an alternative to selecting previously shared Stories for a Highlight.